Buffalo Rising Online

Jun 29th 2008, 9:30am By Thomas Tarapacki

Over the past several years, girls' rugby has experienced steady growth in Buffalo and Western New York. One of the hotbeds of the sport locally is City Honors School, which recently won the girls rugby state championship.

Rugby is a fast-moving, free-flowing game that is often called a combination of football and soccer. Like football, it’s a full-contact sport; like soccer, it’s fast-moving and free-flowing. Players attempt to carry the ball into the opposition's end zone (actually called the in-goal area), which results in a “try”, as it is called. A try counts as 5 points, and a successful place kick afterwards another 2 points. The most distinctive aspect of rugby is the scrum, a formation that resembles both teams forming a football huddle and pushing against each other.

Coached by CHS social studies teacher John McTigue along with Mike Hodgins of the Genesee Rugby Football Club and President of New York State rugby, the team recently captured the New York State Rugby U-19 Championship by defeating the Fairport Girls, 46-0, in Delaware Park. Fairport, which had been undefeated, was ranked #1. City Honors’ dominant performance was particularly impressive in light of the fact that, early in the season, the Centaurs had lost at Fairport, 47-5. (Later, in May, the teams played to a scoreless tie at the Northeast Rugby Union's territorial playoffs.)

In 2004 City Honors became the first girls' team in the Buffalo area to play a high school rugby game. Today, there are also teams from Kenmore West, Kenmore East, Orchard Park, East Aurora, North Tonawanda and Grand Island.

So why is girls rugby growing? According to CHS player Ayla Axeloons, one big reason is that many girls enjoy the physical aspect of the sport. She added that, even though rugby is as physical as football, rugby players wear very little—if any—protective equipment. Injuries, from broken noses to broken legs, are an accepted part of the sport.

CHS co-captain Cailin West admitted that the sport often looks like “organized chaos,” but a good rugby team is fifteen people, each with a different role, working together in with precision and coordination. Rugby is a team sport at its core, as it requires the commitment and dedication of all the players, not just a couple of star players. The trust and camaraderie that develops as a result helps make rugby an enjoyable experience for the players.

Axeloons agreed, saying, “In other sports you don’t rely on your teammates as much, but in rugby it’s all about the team.”

Another attraction of rugby is that, whatever your body type, there’s a position that is suited to it. Rugby is also a sport that is readily accessible to everyone. While it can take years to learn many of the nuances of rugby, it is not unheard of for a new player to step in and make an immediate contribution.

Rugby can be a difficult sport to play, but the growth of local high school programs is giving many girls a great opportunity to enjoy the unique aspects of this sport.