The University of Southern Indiana's Rugby Club is celebrating its 20-year anniversary. The club started in 1991 and has 30 current members. 

Rugby Club President Tyler Pipes said, "The USI Rugby Club functions as a club, but I hope with growing interest and support, USI will one day have an official team." 

In the last 20 years, the Rugby Club has competed on many levels, including placing second in nationals. This year the Rugby Club won the divisional league's season going 3-1 against DePauw, Indiana State, Anderson, and Wabash. The Rugby Club plays universities in Indiana and Illinois.

This spring the Rugby Club hosted the Fulk Tournament in honor of former player, Alex Fulk, who passed away in 2008. "Alex was a great player and teammate," said Pipes. "We are grateful to his parents, Michael and Pamela Fulk, for their support of the club." The Fulk family donated jerseys to the Rugby Club this year. 

Rugby Club actively participates in various campus activities. This year they helped with "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes: The Men's March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault and Gender Violence," and provided security for SpringFest. 

The Rugby Club is always accepting new members and experience is not necessary. "There isn't a body type or level of experience that can't play." Said, Kurt Murrell, Rugby Club coach. "Every position is different and can be taught."

Home games are held on the intramural field located off Clarke Lane. All games are played on Saturdays during their season. The club has two seasons. The first season is from September to November and the second season is from February to May. 

Link to original post: http://www.usi.edu/newsinfo/release/press_detail.asp?num=3969

There are no national championships in the future for the men’s rugby team at the University of Southern Indiana.

Their classification does not fall under the “sponsored” sport category which means they are not an NCAA endorsed sport here at USI. They are simply a collection of individuals with a similar interest: a club.

Combine football and soccer for two 40 minute halves and you have rugby. The ball can be passed or kicked forward in order to score points.

Captain of the team, sophomore Tyler Pipes, explained that the team currently consists of 30 guys who meet two to three times a week to practice.

“Being a club sport means we receive limited funding from the university,” Pipes said.

Pipes said that fundraisers are carried out and dues paid in order for the team to raise money for uniforms and trips to competitions of surrounding teams.

“We compete against schools such as Purdue, Ball state, Southern Illinois and Indiana State,” he said.

Freshmen kinesiology major Justin Mizen said that when they travel to competitions they often car pool with each other.

“I like that, it’s a lot more fun than taking a bus,” he said.

Part of the reason rugby isn’t a school sponsored sport is because it isn’t an NCAA championship sport on the Division 2 level.

When the school considers adding a sponsored sport, whether or not there is a national championship and a league championship are considerations that are looked at, Director of Athletics John Mark Hall said.

“You always have to be open to the possibility of a club forming and then eventually become a sport,” Hall said.

Mizen chose to join the rugby team rather than a school sponsored sport because of the bonds formed.

“The bonding you have among the players is completely different,” Mizen said. “I’ve played every other sport except football and the bonding isn’t the same.”

The lack of a coach or an NCAA structure doesn’t keep the team from being organized and dedicated.

“When other people are there then I want to stick with it,” Mizen said.

Rugby is not the only club sport at USI either. There is also a bowling club and wrestling club and a women’s rugby as well.

“Clubs are very positive for the university,” Hall said.

Pipes would like to see the rugby team get recognition for what they’ve done.  Coming off a 7-4 season, the team has had some success.

“We put a lot of time and effort in to making a name for USI in this sport and have succeeded very well,” Pipes said.

“I think they’re great, they give opportunity to participate in the sport they (students) love,” Hall said. “I think it’s a positive situation because I think anytime someone has a love for a sport that they can’t compete in, the opportunity to compete at (the) club level is definitely a positive."

Link to original post: http://www.usishield.com/2011/04/sports-clubs-provide-opportunity/