Written by Alexandra McClain
Every time they step on the field, the Harding Men’s Rugby Club faces adversity, playing teams far larger and more experienced than they. They hope to turn it around this year by joining a league for college rugby teams.”We’re just a group of guys who love the sport,” said Caleb Callari, a junior rugby player.Callari joined the team in the fall of 2008 and has played every semester since, a rarity among rugby players here.”Most of the guys play a semester, then have to take time off because they have a full course load,” he said. “Since we’re not a scholarship sport, we have a big turnover with guys quitting and new players coming out every semester.” With the rate of new players coming in, Callari said it is hard for the team to find chemistry, but the team is looking good this year.The team has 22 players this year but has lost four due to injury, which leaves 18. There must be 15 players on the field at all times during a rugby match.”This is the first year we haven’t had to borrow players from our opponents to have enough,” Callari said.This is also the first year the team is in the College Rugby Matrix. Since they joined the matrix, the team will now be playing against other college teams instead of men’s municipal clubs.”We’ve always played men’s clubs before, so we’re at a huge disadvantage size-wise,” Callari said.Being smaller than the other team also means more bumps and bruises for the players.”We don’t wear pads, maybe a mouth guard and that’s it. Not all the guys even wear those,” Callari said.During the fall, the team is playing several exhibition games against men’s clubs but will begin their full regular season in January.There will be 12 games within the matrix, six of which will be played at home.Joining the matrix seems to have legitimized the team in the eyes of the university, according to Callari.”We have our own field now,” he said. “We used to have to use the soccer practice field when they weren’t on it or just find somewhere else to throw a practice together. We have a real field now.”The rugby team played in Memphis last weekend against The University of Memphis, losing 15-6. Playing against other teams in the Matrix will give the Harding team a chance against other players of their own age and experience level.”We’re so excited to have so many home games,” Callari said. “We really hope people will come out and support us. It’s a great sport to watch.”
