Although there has been a rise in inclusivity within the world of high school athletics, some students continue to feel isolated within their respective sports. Whether they don’t feel connected with their teammates and environment or confident in their abilities, overall performance could take a hit. However, this isn’t the case with rugby. A sport similar to football and soccer, rugby incorporates all personality and body types on the field.
“Rugby is the most inclusive sport, as all 15 positions require a different skill set and size of the player’s bodies, ensuring rugby is accessible to every body shape. We need strength and size in the forwards, and we need speed in the back. It’s part of the coach’s duty to find the strengths that a player shows and place them in the correct position in the team to ensure overall success,” rugby coach Tania Harding said.
Rugby, hailing from England, has multiple moving mechanics that consolidate in a 90-minute and constantly mobile game. The two teams, usually made up of 15 players, attempt to reach the opposite try zone and score points. The tackling comes into play as retaliation against the opposing team, typically done by the center players, while the wing players typically score the tries.
“I like to tackle. I love the physicality. I love being pushed around and being able to push others around. Getting through the opposing team-you feel accomplished,” junior and rugby player Lex Leonard said.
With few differences between the men’s and women’s teams, rugby proves to be an extremely empowering sport for women, regardless of background. The premise of rugby takes all fears revolving around standing out and makes players demonstrate their individualities on the field. Between lineouts and scoring tries, rugby has both personal and communal benefits on and off the field.
“A lot of times, girls can be afraid to be really aggressive and intense. But in rugby, that’s how you win. So, girls get to tackle and get their anger out. It’s a big stress reliever. Sometimes the anger can be beneficial. During playoffs, another team sent our coach a very condescending message. That anger came out on the field and was helpful,” Leonard said.
Recently, there has been an increase in numbers within the high school girls’ rugby team. With more players comes more opportunities to play against the other rugby teams in the Michigan area, such as teams from Grand Rapids and Detroit. As the team finished off their season, extensive practice and hard work paid off.
“We got third in the state, but it would have been great if we got first or second. [But] we’re pretty positive. The most rewarding thing is winning,” senior and rugby player Emily Kozlowski said.
Since COVID-19, Harding has adapted to making rosters for teams and involving Traverse City youth in rugby. Since then, older players have passed down their knowledge to beginners, showcasing leadership skills and educational development through years in the system.
“It became abundantly clear to me that I needed to start a feeder system to ensure the competitiveness of our high school girls team. Therefore, for the last two years, I have a middle school girls and boys team as well as an upper elementary co-ed flag rugby team. I feel the only way that we can be more competitive is by growing the sport from the grassroots level and educating these youth on how to play prior to high school. This year we have started to see the injection of knowledge into our team from girls who have played in middle school already and it has made the hugest difference to our high school team. There is a very special bond that occurs between players that will last a lifetime,” Harding said.
The connection rugby players create in their highschool years goes beyond their team and transmits to all involved in the game, from opposing players from other parts of the state to referees. Rugby, despite being a gruesome and aggressive sport, promotes inclusivity, respectfulness and kindness to all regardless of body or background.
“We have a saying: ‘Soccer is a gentleman sport played by hooligans and Rugby is a hooligan sport played by gentlewomen’,” Harding said.
