Ruck, Maul, Pillage, and Burn!

Kaysia Staggie
Staff Writer 
  Idaho Falls has an all-girls rugby team, although Rugby is not well known around Eastern Idaho. Rugby is a high-contact sport; however, there are many safety precautions in place to protect the players, such as uniforms and rules. The rugby uniform is the team jersey, rugby shorts, plastic-bottom cleats, and a mouth guard. Opponents can only tackle below the waist and are not allowed to stiff arm above the collarbone. The referee (also called the sir) will call a back ten yards penalty if someone tackles higher than waistline or does not follow the rules. There are multiple glorious things about joining a rugby team. Not only are the members true teammates, but they are part of a family. Rugby is a very intense sport and requires dedication. 
  Coaches Hope Morrow and Tralise Mangold both played rugby in high school. They are supportive, understanding, and will push their team to their full potential. When asked why she became a coach, Morrow stated, “[I want] to share my favorite sport with young women who are interested in learning it. My favorite thing about coaching is watching [the] kids grow into themselves and learn to love who they are.” When asked the same question, Mangold stated, “I became a rugby coach because I loved the sport and the environment it created for these girls. I wanted to make sure I kept that around for the girls who needed it! It is such a fun sport and everyone is always so nice even on opposing teams and I always thought that was awesome! My favorite part of coaching is being able to watch the girls grow into their sport and have the same passion for it as I do!” 
  For instance, the team requires 15 players to play, although it is better to have a roster of 22 to 24 players. Players have to attend a high school located in Eastern Idaho to be on the freshman through senior teams, however there is a middle school team. Both teams play from February to May. Practices are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m at Compass Academy, and Saturdays are typically game days. Each member is only allowed to play 90 minutes of rugby a day due to the tackling, injuries, etc., because it is important to not over-exhaust the player’s bodies. There are some games where the teams have to travel to Boise, American Falls, Twin Falls, and once Rush even played at a tournament in Missoula, Montana. Interested in having a more enjoyable and lively life? Come join the Rush Rugby family and make memories together.