Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 18, 1994 TAG: 9403180216
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-11 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By SYLVIA DAVIS CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
In 1992, the Tech club was undefeated except for a loss to Blacksburg. In the rivalry between the two clubs, Blacksburg remains undefeated.
"Generally, you never have a club that loses to a collegiate team - it just doesn't happen," said Steve Myers, a southwest region rugby referee and former Blacksburg player. "The collegiate teams have some strong, young guys, but the [town] clubs are made up of more seasoned and more experienced rugby players."
The Blacksburg Rugby Club (4 and 5 last fall) claims some impressive achievements in its five year history. Last year, Blacksburg beat Richmond City, the 1993 state champions. In 1992, five players from the Blacksburg club were chosen for the Virginia All-Star Team.
Meanwhile, the Virginia Tech club (7 and 2 last fall) was the top seed in the state last season. Both clubs play in the Virginia Rugby Union.
The first club in the New River Valley started in 1980 when five members of the Roanoke Rugby Club branched off. The new club drew players from Blacksburg, Christiansburg and Radford as well as from Virginia Tech and Radford.
In 1988, the New River Valley club split into three new teams: men's and women's clubs at Radford University and the Blacksburg club. Begun by George White and David Ryland, the Blacksburg team recruited players from all over.
"Basically we started by hunting out the biggest guys in town. Most had never played the game," said White. "As word got out, other players with experience also showed up for the team."
Today, Blacksburg's club is made up of townspeople, Tech graduate students and undergraduates who are ineligible for the university team.
Known as the roughest game played by gentlemen, the demographics of a rugby player -or rugger - are surprising. The average rugger is young, affluent, educated and active and lives in an urban center. Most are between 18 and 49. About half earn over $40,000 a year.
"The biggest thing is that it's a gentlemen's sport - that is the underlying motto," said Sean Flynn, a Blacksburg Rugby Club member. "But rugby players are tough guys too, it's not for whiners or crybabies."
Saturday's match will be held at the Tech rugby pitch on the south recreation field area, near the tennis pavilion. Play begins at 1 p.m.
Spectators may bring a chair or blanket and witness what has been described as "a gentleman's sport played by barbarians."
by CNB