2008 Woodie Awards
Rabid Ruggers Come Together For Success
Chloe Pete
Issue date: 4/27/06 Section: Sports
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"Ruck, maul, pillage and burn! Eat the babies!" they chant. Don't be alarmed; this isn't a meeting of the Smith College Cannibals. These happen to be lyrics from one of the Smith College Rugby Club's favorite songs. Maybe it seems a bit extreme, but the rugby team would not have it any other way.
As one of the most popular club sports on campus with a roster of 65 players and 42 active members this season, rugby sometimes seems like more of a cult than a club with all the red, black and prom dresses. Like Co-Captain Effie Mougianis '06, many of them are former varsity athletes that grew tired of the "etiquette" talks with tennis coaches and found the rugby pitch to be the appropriate venue to release their aggression. Plus, Mougianis explains, "there's no feeling in the world that's comparable with laying someone out in a beautiful bone-crushing tackle." But don't be fooled; behind that tough exterior, they really are just a great group of ruggers.
This spring the team has played very well, as indicated by their overall record of 5-1, as well as their impressive 116 points scored against their opponents with only 8 points conceded. The "A" side team has won their games against Wesleyan University, Castleton State College, University of Vermont and Wellesley College. The only game they have dropped was against Vassar College in the championship game of the Seven Sister's Tournament, which Smith hosted on April 15. Vassar, a nationally ranked Division I varsity team, only won by 5 points in a very close game.
Co-captain Eva Gutwein '06 is pleased with their efforts: "The team has improved immensely this semester. We have built up a strong unity as a team and continue to improve and impress every game."
The team's success this year has been due in part to the leadership and experience of Coach Andy Wood, a Smith graduate student. In previous years, rugby virtually had to coach itself, a difficult task when the roster is upwards of 60 Smithies. Mougianis describes Coach Wood as "a welcome relief… it has given the team a lot more structure and confidence."
As one of the most popular club sports on campus with a roster of 65 players and 42 active members this season, rugby sometimes seems like more of a cult than a club with all the red, black and prom dresses. Like Co-Captain Effie Mougianis '06, many of them are former varsity athletes that grew tired of the "etiquette" talks with tennis coaches and found the rugby pitch to be the appropriate venue to release their aggression. Plus, Mougianis explains, "there's no feeling in the world that's comparable with laying someone out in a beautiful bone-crushing tackle." But don't be fooled; behind that tough exterior, they really are just a great group of ruggers.
This spring the team has played very well, as indicated by their overall record of 5-1, as well as their impressive 116 points scored against their opponents with only 8 points conceded. The "A" side team has won their games against Wesleyan University, Castleton State College, University of Vermont and Wellesley College. The only game they have dropped was against Vassar College in the championship game of the Seven Sister's Tournament, which Smith hosted on April 15. Vassar, a nationally ranked Division I varsity team, only won by 5 points in a very close game.
Co-captain Eva Gutwein '06 is pleased with their efforts: "The team has improved immensely this semester. We have built up a strong unity as a team and continue to improve and impress every game."
The team's success this year has been due in part to the leadership and experience of Coach Andy Wood, a Smith graduate student. In previous years, rugby virtually had to coach itself, a difficult task when the roster is upwards of 60 Smithies. Mougianis describes Coach Wood as "a welcome relief… it has given the team a lot more structure and confidence."
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