Dominating the Competition
Saturday, October 2 was the perfect day for a rugby game! The air was cool, the sun was out and there was excitement in the air. The stands were packed with new students, returning students, alumni and fans! This game was a monumental game for the Life University Rugby Club (LURC) as the club unveiled its all undergraduate team.Up until this point, the teams consisted of a Men’s Division 1 team and a Super League team that combined both undergraduates and DC students on the same field.
The opening game of the season had almost a carnival atmosphere with face painting and a moon jump for the kids, pre and post game parties, food, drinks and a lot of excitement. It also coincided with the New Student Orientation that welcomed in the new students for the fall. The new students were all decked out in their new Life Rugby t-shirts courtesy of the Athletic Department. While most of these students had never seen a rugby game and didn’t understand how it was played, most left excited about the game, looking forward to future games. Several of the DC rugby students were in the crowd, interlaced with the new students, explaining how the game worked and what the calls meant, helping to better equip the new students with a new understanding and appreciation for the game.
Life came out to a slow start while facing off against the Virginia Tech Hokies, with the first try not coming until 13 minutes into the game, but failing to get the 2 point conversion. The Hokies responded with a try and the conversion and took the only lead they would have in the game with a score of 7-5.
During the 2nd half, Life dominated the pitch, scoring a total of six tries in the half and walking away with a 60-7 win over the Hokies. The preparation leading up to this opening game was intense for these young players. Many were new to the team and some saw their first collegiate game play. The practice hours were long, often starting at 6:30am to help teach discipline and increase endurance and drive in the players.
In the coming weeks, Life will face off against some big name teams including University of Georgia, Ohio State, University of Tennessee, Texas A&M, LSU and Notre Dame. Come out and cheer on your Life University Eagles and join the frenzy!
Photo courtesy of Adam Schwarz – Lightning Photography
