Author: Gabe Bernadett-Shapiro
With a consistent showing of 25-30 people at practice twice a week, the women’s rugby team is certainly making an improvement over previous years, and is doing “just dandy” according to team Captain Danielle Seigler (junior). “We have seen numbers out there like we have never had before,” she said.
Even a year ago, the team had trouble filling the field, had to forfeit all of its games and even borrow players from the other team to fill out its roster. “It was never embarrassing,” Siegler explained. “Women’s rugby always goes out swinging, but compared to other years this team is amazing.” Seigler is one of the team’s most experienced players and has put in time playing with both men’s and women’s teams at Occidental as well as in national tournaments.
Although this year marks a dramatic change in student interests regarding the sport, the women’s rugby team has traditionally engaged in interesting recruitment techniques. Rugby player Amber Fandel (senior) said in an e-mail interview, “I was pretty much tackled by Danielle and some other girls while walking through the quad on Club day and just decided to go to practice.”
Though some object to these strong arm tactics, one cannot argue with results. Fandel goes on to explain, “It’s a really interesting game and everyone has a lot of fun watching and playing. And who doesn’t want to watch a bunch of college girls run around and tackle each other?”
As one of the college’s more intense and injury-prone sports, it’s a wonder why people want to join rugby. Fandel explains that coming out to play was one of the best decisions she has made while at Oxy. With the rigorous coursework students face, rugby has become as an outlet for her frustration. “I love going out to the pitch and running around with the girls, taking out some of that aggression that inevitably builds up during the week,” Fandel said.
In past years, the team has struggled with player commitment, a problem that persistently plagues club sports organizations. This presents a problem for the team, as rugby is a sport that demands team unity and synergy. “I wouldn’t say that we have a most valuable player,” Siegler said. “We function together as a team and we all work really well together.” Bolstering the ranks of the women’s team are the new players they have brought up. “We do have some freshman who are pretty monstrous” Sielger explains, laughing. One of these players is Hannah Rule (first-year). Other newcomers include Zoe Walsh (junior), Lauren Meyer (sophmore) and Candy Lubar (sophmore).
The hardest hit of the year thus far belongs to Leandra Lehman (junior). According to Siegler, Leeman is tall and thin, but an incredibly fierce tackler. “She wrecked this one girl who kinda didn’t get up for a little while, which was great. You would not expect it, but she is awesome,” Siegler said.
The team’s first game, against Claremont, ended in a loss, but Siegler explains that it was a great learning experience. “We had a chance to put all the rookies in, they were able to experience their first game,” she said. “Our scrums were very strong and our backline looked great.”
Realistic goals for the team this year include high hopes of wining some games and making sure that people understand the game a little better. Getting the logistics down is key for rugby, where play is hardly ever stopped. In cases of fouls or off-sides, the offense is given the advantage and can capitalize on mistakes that the defense makes in real time.
This makes reaction and recognition of fouls and offenses of key strategic importance, and is especially important for new players in understanding the game, as well as their team’s playing style. “We’ll be a great team,” says Fandel. “And hopefully get some people scared of how awesome we are – and win some games!”
Certainly the team has been making improvements over recent years, and with the inclusion of newly recruited talent and the exuberant tenacity that they bring to the pitch, this will be one club sports team that students should be watching out for.
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