By Brandon Spaulding
Few sports combine strategy, strength and teamwork quite like rugby. With its fast-paced action and hard-hitting plays, the game has captivated athletes since its origins in 19th-century England. At Columbus, the Rugby Club offers students the chance to experience the intensity of the sport firsthand, developing both their skills on the field and their sense of camaraderie off of it.
As club moderator Alejandro Levy explained the origin of the club.
“Our students can make whatever clubs they want. If they don’t have any space for them, they can create that space. So the Rugby Club is a great example, as a couple of students came up to me last year to ask me ‘Hey, we’ve been involved in rugby for a long time, we think it’s a great activity for students, as it can help students and our school out.” So they came to me and we talked to Mr. Pugh, making sure we had all the necessary documents. Then just like that, we started the club. We’ve been having meetings for a little bit and hopefully, we’ll get to the point soon where we can start competing, but for now, we got a great group of kids who get to hang out with each other and have a great time, so it’s a great thing for the students.”
After school, the club plays rugby at Banyan Park. This allows students time to get used to the rules of rugby. Players may score by a try- when a player touches the opposing team’s goal with the ball; a conversion- a two-point kick that follows a try; or a penalty kick- a three-point kick awarded when the opposing team commits a penalty. Not only does the club get students to play a relative of football, but it even serves a crucial role for the club's officers. The club president is Ignacio Gutierrez, who believes that Columbus would not be the same without it.
”The main reason behind the Rugby Club was to teach and implement the sport in the school, mainly because we think rugby has team and sportsmanship values like no other sport, and as one of the fastest growing sports in America, we wanted Columbus to be a driving force behind the growth of rugby in Florida,” says Ignacio.
Other people have the same perspective of this sport as well. Lucas Velazquez, an officer in the club, has a positive outlook of the sport itself.
“What I love about the sport of rugby and the club is the companionship with one another either teammate or rival, always learning to respect one another, and to showcase your abilities to play this amazing sport” Lucas states.
It is evident how much this club supports the growth of rugby. The club will grow large in many years to come. If you want to get a first-person view of what this sport entails, join the Columbus Rugby Club.
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