Make Rugby a Sport at Western New England College

            Currently we have 35+ undergraduate students practicing 5 times a week to become the best team we can be. We consider this a very serious thing. We are putting our own money, man-hours, and sweat, and effort into this club. We have made some huge strides that I would really like to tell you about while coming together last year...

            We originally learned the game from Vic Thomas, the head coach of the Springfield Rifles Rugby Football Club. He has over 40 years of playing/coaching experience. He has worked with USA Rugby, is a NERFU executive board member and currently is teaching our less experienced players the ways of the game. Along with him is our coach and fellow WNEC undergraduate Mike Bonanno. He has over 5 years of playing experience, is a certified coach by USA Rugby and is a great asset to our club.
   
             This past year we were granted our own spot in the New England Rugby Football Union. NERFU as it is called is the local area union under the Northeast Rugby Union , a division of USA Rugby. NERFU has a treasured tradition with bylaws set by a executive committee. It is a athletic conference just like the TCCC or ECAC which our NCAA sports here at WNEC compete in. It was formed in 1975 and now boasts over 6000 athletes and 250 teams throughout the New England Region. Being accepted into this union was a huge step for us as we are now provided with a conference schedule. This past season we competed in the NERFU Collegiate Div. IV Central Division and played against the likes of Southern Vermont College , Curry College , and Brandeis University .

            In this past year we really exhibited the potential every single one of us ruggers believed we had. We boasted a 8-1 record while winning the NERFU Division Title, an amazing feat for a team with no financial backing and limited coaching.

            With this win we also move up to Division III, where we play against our neighbors, Springfield College , Eastern Connecticut State University , and Trinity College .

            We are aware that some believe that Rugby carries with it an inherent culture. This is not so and we will not allow it the culture we have created to decline. Nonsense will not be tolerated our players, let alone our coach, our captain, or NERFU. We plan on doing community service , creating workshops on "How to Play Rugby" for school children, and raising money for good causes.

            WNEC has said that the only deterrent they see is that in these tough economic times, there is no room in the budget for a rugby team. The schools insurance would increase by $4,000 alone. They set a preliminary budget of $12,000 for the bare minimum needs of the rugby team. We collect dues of $50 a player, totaling over $2,000.

We conduct fund raisers by selling team gear, totaling over $5,000. Each student pays a student activities fee of $300 a year. Why shouldn’t that money go towards the activity that means the most to them, playing rugby? Those funds alone total $12,000. With a legitimate rugby program we could being recruiting serious athletes. If one more person than usual were to come to the college because of rugby, their tuition alone would cover the cost of a season.

            The school has not yet looked into the benefits the team could provide. The school has a deep desire to diversify and provide more opportunities for international students. What better way to do so than provide them with an opportunity to play an Olympic sport played in over 130 countries such as New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, France, Australia, Kenya, Argentina, and Japan. This is just one benefit the team could bring, let alone the positive press, reputation, and awareness we would bring to this already great institution. This would in turn have some sort of influx on the number of applications received by the school and would generate more revenue.

            Furthermore, take a look at other colleges in the area. AIC has a fully funded program. Westfield State and Springfield College have club teams. WPI, Holy Cross, Franklin Pierce, University of Hartford, UMass Amherst, all have college teams. What are they doing right that we are not? I believe WNEC always has a desire to be the best and on the cutting edge, so why be behind all of these other colleges? There are over 130 college rugby teams in the New England region. That one more edge 130 colleges have over WNEC when looking to bring the best and the brightest to their school.

     WNEC athletics plans on putting new turf in Golden Bear Stadium, and just built a new softball facility. We are in the process of building and opening a new school of pharmacy. We just opened a new state of the art residence hall in Southwood. These plans cost millions to do. The budget of a rugby team does not even compare.

            We are all set and ready to go. We have overcome great obstacles and have gotten this team mobilized in under a year. We have successfully joined a great rugby union with a history of firm discipline and great sport. We are all insured and cipped players. We have learned the game from one of the best. We are champions and bring pride to the Western New England name. All that remains is to become a part of the great college that we have studied at.

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