Join UF Rugby!
Joining rugby is a great chance to learn a new sport, play competitively, have a lot of fun, travel, and meet some great people at the same time. Rugby can be played by people of all body types and athletic abilities, and therefore we're looking for all different kinds of people to join the team. We've had people from all different athletic backgrounds; no matter where you're at we'll help you learn the skills you need to have fun playing.
Joining the team is easy. Join us for a practice, we take players year round but prefer players to join at the beginning of the semester so they have other new people to learn with them at the same time. Don't expect to know everything, expect to be really confused, and you'll be fine. Most people who come out to practice have never played rugby before, or maybe have never even seen rugby, but they know it's a tackle sport and would like to try something new.
If you need any more specific information, please contact Eric Keys: erickeys@yahoo.com A few more details if you are interested:
Practices and Game Times
Practices are Tuesday/Thursday 6:00-8:00 at Hume Field, occasionally we meet on off days for optional fitness. Games are usually held on Saturday afternoons. For practice, please wear T-shirts and athletic shorts, ones that you don't mind getting dirty or potentially ripped. and bring a water bottle!!! If you have cleats, please bring those, otherwise, wear running shoes. Don't wear jewelry, watches, hats, and hard hair clips. These things can get broken, lost, or injure someone when we do contact drills. At your first practice you'll need to sign a waiver, this is required for all UF Club Sports. If you can't make a practice, for now, call the head coach. Once we have captains, you'll be calling them. Classes and family are good reasons for missing practice, but please, try to make them, as it will help you learn, will make the coaches job easier, and will help get you in shape. Budget your time.
Costs and Equipment
For protection, we wear mouthguards to prevent concussion and to keep your teeth in. We've never seen a tooth lost in 11 years....by someone who was wearing a mouthguard. We'll usually give these at the beginning of the season. To play in games, you'll want a pair of cleats. Besides buying cleats if you don't have them, your other expense with the team will be splitting the cost of gas money and buying shorts and socks ($25). You can usually borrow shorts and socks for a while if you don't have the money. Before your first game, you'll need to register with USA Rugby in a plan called CIPP. You need to do this in order to play in any game in the US. This costs about $10. We have a team set of jerseys that we wear in games. Otherwise rugby is pretty cheap except for those up-front costs and of course, refreshments after home games.
Socializing
After games, we almost always have a social with the other team. It's good sportsmanship. There we get to meet the other team's players, hang out, compare bruises, and sing songs….No, we don't sing campfire songs, we sing rugby songs. These are usually funny, dirty songs, that add to the spirit of the social. But, you do not need to drink to have a good time, or to play rugby!
Socials are great and the team gets together on other nights! So keep your ears open during the week, and don't wait for an invite. We're rugby players, not socialites, so you need to just ask and invite yourself.
Learning More & How to be Successful in Rugby
Our website has tons of stuff on it, including our game schedule, and contact info, etc. Check out the link to the rookie primer from Radcliffe. You have to stay out until your first game. If you don't love it, you can quit, but not until then. Practice is practice, like any sport, but nothing is like the game, especially a rugby game. We had no clue what was going on when we played in our first game, and we loved it. We love this sport and its culture and the people who play it. We are sure if you give it a shot, you will, too. Call us if you need anything. See you at practice!
