Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 29, 1976)
Rugby; the enjoyable alternative to football By JOHN HENDERSON Of the Emerald The blue Volkswagen rumbled down Franklin Boulevard. It looked no different from any other Volkswagen except for the tell tale signs of its owner’s interests. On the back windshield were two Blitz stickers, and the rear bumper was adorned with a sign reading "It takes Leather Balls to play rugby.’’ While the sports fan's view of the American rugby player pic tures a drunken sadist running rather than winning," says Brady Sullivan, who played football at Sunset High and was offered scholarships from many Oregon small colleges. "We weren’t upset when we lost to the Portland Pigs by one or two points because it was a good competitive game. "We avoid all the B.S. We don’t say, You have a duty.' You only have a duty to yourself.” Sullivan typifies the attitude of American rugby players. The game was founded in Australia to further the building of amateur ath letics. In the United States, how emerald sports V amuck on a muddy field, the ap peal to the game is much more than beer and destruction. To the members of the Oregon Rugby Club, rugby provides an enjoyable alternative to the pressure-filled atmosphere they grew up with in football. "Rugby thrives on competition _ ever, it has yet to be recognized by the NCAA even though clubs are popping up on campuses every where. To the Oregon ruggers, that's just fine "I've never seen a football team that practices two days a week," said junior Craig Gordon. "If you could do that in football it would be great. But you have spring ball, fall ball and you lift weights all year. It’s too highly structured. I like to hit and can do that here as well as stay in shape. ” Gordon sees other appeals in rugby. ‘‘There's more interaction in rugby," he says. "Football is too impersonal. It's more of a job, while we're helping others. In football the line doesn’t get much of an image, but ours gets to run, kick and do everything the others do." Rugby can be described as a combination of soccer and foot ball, played with no pads and negotiable substitutions. The speed and aggressiveness found in football is just as important in rugby, but the training table and game films are absent. "Why do you play football?” Sul livan asks. “For the enjoyment. But there's too much pressure as sociated with it. You’re told to make a sacrifice for the team, but you end up sacrificing yourself and not getting enjoyment." Enjoyment is the key word in describing the appeal to rugby. Junior Tom Peterson, who was an Oregonian all-state lineman at Beaverton High before playing two years at Southern Oregon, sees a big plus on rugby’s side. “In my two years at SOC, I went to most of the college towns in the Northwest," he says. “But we never got to do anything. We’d just come home right after the game. In rugby we can mess around af terwards because there's no hurry.’’ Rugby tournaments are geared toward this kind of attitude. In a tournament in Seattle two weeks ago where Oregon beat Washing ton for its first win, 40 kegs were tapped to greet the 32 participat ing teams. “We re sponsored by Blitz and beer plays a big part," says Sulli van. “It's an international tradition to go to a tavern and exchange dirty rugby songs with other teams. There’s even an album of rugby songs." “I’ve seen guys doke it out and be friends drinking together after wards,” says junior Von Gigrich. So if you happen to wander over to the intramural field near Hay ward Field Saturday to see Oregon face the Portland Jester Rugby Club at noon, don’t expect to see any pre-game prayers, television cameras or cheerlead ers. There will just be a handful of fans, some hard-hitting and a cold keg of Blitz waiting on the sidelines. The Oregon Rugby Club wouldn't want it any other way. GB, maybe Lee takes Trial spot Greg Baiiard, a first-team all Pacific 8 pick this year, has been invited to the United States' Olympic Trials for basketball to be held at the University of North Carolina May 30-June 6. The 6-7, 215 pound forward from Pomona, Calif., will be among 50 candidates trying out for 12 final spots. Ron Lee, who also received an invitation, hasn’t made up his mind to attend yet. Lee, who is taking 26 hours this term in an ef fort to graduate in the spring, is also expected to go in the first round of the pro basketball draft in June. Rioto by Greg Clark Rugby may be less structured than football, but determination shown duhng the game is the same. Here, two muddy Ducks scramble for the ball in a lineout. Fly Cheaper AUSTRALIA $758 Portand-Sydnay-Portland JUNE to SEPTEMBER Open to all University students, staff, faculty, active alumni and their immediate family members You must book early!!!! I I L INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION CENTER 202 Erb Memorial Umon Ext. 3721 see Ralph at the Student Travel Desk A non-profit educatonal service agency of the ASUO J -Hear j i * DON WILLNER * | Candidate for Attorney General | TODAY 12:30 EAAU FREE Naturally Beautiful Carved from fossilized Alaskan woolly mammoth and walrus, this bone and ivory jewelry looks great with everything from blue jeans to long skirts. Skeie’s Jewelers 1027 Willamette, 345-0354 Valley River Center, 342-4496 -—■—.. S ,
