Written by John Mark Adkison
The Harding women’s rugby team found itself in the midst of a dilemma last semester as its number of players began significantly decreasing. With the spring season now in full swing, the team currently consists of only seven or eight devoted players.
But just because their numbers are small, there is nothing stopping these females from striving to improve their game and keep the intensity turned on high.
However, since the team does lack the players needed to play a game, the Hardinggirls have been teaming up with the Little Rock Stormers women’s rugby team in order to play, according to sophomore Kelsey Deshazo.
“We didn’t have enough girls or enough experience,” Deshazo said. “But whenever the guy’s [rugby team] played, one of the women who plays [rugby] in Little Rock came and refereed the guys, and we were talking with her after the game and found out they were wanting more players. It was kind of crazy the way it worked out, but we were desperate. If it wasn’t for them then we wouldn’t be able to play.”
The Stormers consists of players from a variety of ages, anywhere between college age tomid-40s, and the Harding players try to practice with them once a week in Little Rock, sophomore Catherine Hines said. Since many of the Stormers are older, they have been playing rugby for much longer and have a lot to teach the Harding players.
“The coach is there with so much more experience,”Hines said. “We can teach the girlswhat we know from our few seasons of playing, but the coaches know so many more techniques and drills.”
According to Hines, the Harding girls have formed strong bonds with the Stormers, especially following the death of one of the Stormer’s kickers, Keri Young. Young died in a car accident one night in early January, according to juniorplayer Allie Clay. Young was a Zambian immigrant, and the teams worked together to raise money to bring Young’s parents from Zambia to the U.S. for Young’s funeral by selling jerseys with Young’s name and number, Hines said.
“We never got to play with her [because of a leg injury], but she came to a bunch of practices, and a bunch of us knew her really, really well,” Hines said. “Keri Young did a lot for the team: She came up with their slogan, came up with signs for them, she would help other people learn how to kick.”
Where most opponents considered each other enemies, the opposing rugby teamsusually bond together and the home team hosts a dinner for the visiting team, according to Deshazo.
“I love the closeness you get with a lot of people,”fresh- manBethGibbonssaid.”Asa freshman I came in and was hoping to make a lot of friends, so I joined the team and met a lot of really awesome girls.”
The team has played one game against the Memphis women’s rugby team and lost 34-0, but the players have definitely improved in passing and tackling, Hines said.
The next game will be in Memphis for the prom dress tournament on Saturday, April 16, where the players face off dressed in prom attire.
