By Jonathan Sawyer
Assistant Sports Editor
The men’s rugby team has been going through a rebuilding season. Senior Captain Phil Jackling, says even though the team is struggling, he sees improvement every week in practice and games.
“Our record of 1-5 does not accurately reflect how well the team is doing,” Jackling said. “We have been improving each and every week and when you compare this season to last season, the level of improvement becomes more evident. Last year our team lost to Penn State by 80 points; this year we lost to them by 13 points.”
Team president Pat Hogan believes that the team is talented, but playing in such a tough division has taken a toll on the young men who still have a lot to learn about collegiate athletics.
“Like any young team, there will always be the struggle of learning to play at a very intense level you’re not entirely used to,” Hogan said. “The fact that our team is young, however, is exciting. Many of the freshmen saw the field right from the start, which is great experience for them.”
Trying out new lineups each game is a way to see if the team could build any chemistry, said Jackling.
“We were testing guys in various positions to see where/if certain people would excel,” Jackling said. “Anyone that has ever been a part of a team sport knows that team chemistry plays a huge role in determining how successful a team can be. We are at a point now, where our starting lineup is more certain and our team chemistry can begin to grow.”
Hogan’s advice to the players in the future is to just keep their heads up and not let the year before define their futures.
“My advice to the team would be not to give up, each year we continue to improve and it’s exciting,” Hogan said. “This year we are doing better than last, so we are still improving. If we continue to move in the direction we have been for the last 20 years, this program will become very successful.”
Jackling hopes the players work hard and dedicate themselves to get better for the next season and the rest of thier careers, he said.
“I am hoping that the guys that will be playing next year really dedicate their spare time to improving. If they do, we will definitely be able to beat the teams that we lost to this season,” Jackling said.
The Bonnies will not particpate in the playoffs this season but look forward to the spring season as they compete in 7s Rugby. Which is just seven vs seven as opposed to 15 vs 15.
“It’s a much faster game, and in recent years, we have been very successful placing fifth in the national tournament last year in Virginia Beach,” Hogan said. “After the season, the guys are excited and ready to improve our endurance and strength for the spring season, hoping to place higher this year than we did last year.”
sawyerjp15@bonaventure.edu
