Ashley Garcia, Sports Writer
Wingate University’s Rugby Football Club was founded in 2008 and is a member of the Southern Rugby Conference. It is also a USA Rugby Division II Collegiate Conference in the North and South Carolina region.
With the team coming in second place at the last tournament against Wake Forest, Campbell and UNC-Pembroke, the players on the team have some positive thoughts about how the season should go.
“I think the season will go pretty well because we have a lot of new people and everyone is picking up the game well,” sophomore Tyrese Dolberry said.
Many may not be familiar with the game of Rugby, but it isn’t difficult to understand. In fact, it’s very similar to the game of football.
The goal of the game is to score more points than the opponent. The game lasts for 14 minutes for each match. The team with the most points is the winner but games can end in a draw.
Every time you make a try, also known as a touchdown, you get six points. And a field goal is worth one point, just like football. This also includes kicking an extra point after scoring a try.
“There are seven people on each team,” said junior Malcolm Nelson. “The goal of the game is to pass the ball laterally, and the only way you can pass the ball forward is by kicking it. When going into the end zone, you have to touch it down with two hands because that confirms the score of a try.”
Wherever the ball is placed in the end zone is where you have to kick it to earn the extra points.
The players all said that as long as they keep practicing and making an effort to do better they can come on top, and maybe even become conference champs.
Freshman Josh McMillon said, “I love playing the game, and showing up to the practice and getting better overall.”
The next tournament that Wingate will be playing is at Elon University on Saturday, March 16.
Edited by Brendan Shriver
Wingate Triangle 