By Anna Oelerich | Contributor
After four years of tenacious effort and faithful witness on and off the field, the men of Taylor's rugby team now have a first-place trophy to celebrate.
The team won their very first tournament last Saturday, becoming the champions of the Indiana Rugby Football Union (IRFU) by beating out six other teams. While the team has placed in previous tournaments, it had never claimed a victory.
"I think this (win) is significant because of our size and background of the game," said sophomore Aaron Hussey. "We are very small compared to most teams . . . and most of our guys never picked up a (rugby) ball until coming to Taylor."
Rugby matches can involve up to 15 players per team on the field, with up to eight replacements. Each player usually has a special skill set that suits them for a certain position, but they are not limited to one spot on the field. Taylor's team has 16 men this year, meaning each player has little time to rest.
Though many spectators were not very familiar with the rules of rugby, senior Will Hussey said that the victory was worth the hard work the team exhibited all year.
"No one sees the late night winter practices in the KSAC or the freezing cold practices in the rain," Will said. "It sounds cliché, but it is so important to us because of all the hard work we have put in."
That work includes conducting themselves well as a team, both within and without matches. Rugby is known as an especially aggressive sport, and Taylor's team has a firm no-fighting policy on the field. The men host regular worship nights and pray together before each game. They even ask opposing teams if they can pray with them once the game is over-an offer that has yet to be declined.
The team also values community service and has worked with Carpenter's Hands in the past. This year, they raked and bagged leaves for members of the community. Serving those in need and respecting other teams has helped to further unite a team that is comprised mostly of returning athletes.
"We have been blessed with a group of men firmly grounded in the idea that we play for one reason, and that is bringing glory to His kingdom through rugby," said junior captain Eric Castiglia.
Castiglia also said that the team's tournament win gives them more credibility among teams from schools such as IWU, Anderson and Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne.
"Rugby is not for the faint of heart, but for those who stuck with it they are now reaping the benefits," Castiglia said. "This is huge for our club and lets other schools know that Taylor is not to be taken lightly on the rugby pitch."
Despite the excitement of the tournament on Saturday, the rugby team's work is hardly finished. Their last home game will take place on Saturday, April 23, and, if this week is any indication, the athletes will still be riding a wave of success.
"When you work that hard and don't win, it feels like you put in a full day's work and didn't get paid," Will said. "Well, on Saturday, we got paid for four years of work, and it felt good."
