The rugby team began practicing in the freezing cold, twice a week the week of Feb. 8, prior to when the season actually starts. They hope to bring a different attitude to the new season.
“I want to create a positive relationship with my team this year,” senior captain Brett Prochazka said. “By practicing together in the cold, and relying on each other to get through each day, I think we are already starting to come together as a unit. I want us to be one team, not 15 individuals.”
Senior Matt Crane leads the team along with Prochazka
“It’s a good start to relearn the fundamentals of rugby. It gives everybody a chance to know their teammates,” Crane said. “We should come together and have a successful season.”
Prochazka and Crane are not the only ones that want the team to have a strong relationship. The first-year assistant coach Eric Sutton believes that practicing early will help the team prepare well for the season as well as create a stronger bond, which is key to having a successful team.
“[We’ve been] practicing for two weeks. I think the benefits will be getting these guys fit because a lot of them are going to have to play a lot of the time because we don’t have a lot of subs, so they are going to need to be in shape. And it will help with team bonding,” Sutton said.
Another new face to the team is junior Jonathon Galarraga.
“I’m excited to just get out on the field and play some ball. I know it will be a fun way to hang out and prepare for the football season,” Galarraga said. “I decided to join because a lot of people told me about it and said it was fun.”
According to Sutton, when it comes to strategies and drills for the team, they have covered ball handling, some rudimentary two- and three-men plays, tackling, and the Ruck formation.
The Ruck formation is formed when “any combination of three players from both teams bind together over the ball to try and push over and gain possession,” according to guiderugbyrugby.com.
According to Sutton, the team hasn’t done the scrum yet, which guiderugbyrugby.com says is when the ball is put back into play after an infraction.
“Spatial awareness is what coaches are always stressing, also communication and knowing where you’re supposed to be on the field,” Sutton said. “It’s a very precise game, it’s kind of a mess, but it has to be really coordinated. It’s like nonstop football and that’s what’s cool about it. You just pick the ball up and keep going.”
When new and returning players come to try out for the team, the coaches are looking for determined and eager players.
“We’re looking for hard work and willingness to learn because a lot of people don’t know how to play when they show up,” Sutton said. “At least from my experience, which is very limited, it is more than just giving a lot of effort. It’s being aware of space and listening to what Coach Powell has to say.”
Last year’s JC rugby team had a record of 0-8-1. In spite of that devastating record, the expectations for the 2011 seasons are high ones. A coach, captain, and player have all weighed in on how they feel the season will go.
“We’re expecting to win the championship and a vast improvement from last year,” Sutton said.
“Hopefully we’ll make it to the championships. Our entire A-side will be seniors, so we have an advantage there,” senior Vinny Clough said.
“We should have a very good season. We have a lot of senior players coming back and some new players that could make a difference. We have some new coaches this year that will be able to help us. JC Rugby Rules,” Crane said.
“We had a rough last season, and this year we have a lot of returning players, so I think we will do much better this year. We will have about 10 or 11 starting seniors on the team, so we have a lot of experience and leadership out on the field,” Prochazka said.
Imani Love is a sports editor for “The Patriot” and jcpatriot.com.