Crouch, bind, set; the three daunting words heard before five girls on each team push each other as hard as they can to win the ball. Fifteen as one, the UNC Wilmington women’s club rugby team takes on various other NC based colleges on the pitch.

First played in Europe during the 19th century, Rugby is a sport of extreme physical labor. Each position requires a certain amount of expertise and strength. Unlike the more familiar soccer, the forwards in Rugby are considered more defensive and the backs are more of an offensive position. Both work toward getting the ball down the pitch to score a try.

“Rugby takes all of the fun things about football, soccer, cheerleading and hockey and mashes them into two 40-minute halves of nonstop badassery,” said scrum-half Natalie Romstadt in an email interview.

Although the sport isn’t for everyone, the stereotype that a player must be large and strong isn’t necessarily true. Some of the quickest and best players on the UNCW club team are on the smaller side. The size of the UNCW team ultimately doesn’t matter.

“You don’t have to be big and buff to play rugby,” said Romstadt. “There is a position for every body type. If you want to play rugby, play rugby.”

‘Play rugby’ seems to be a common phrase coming out of the mouths of the UNCW women’s team. For the team, their small numbers seem to be one of their greatest disadvantages. However, their positive attitude and common goal gets them through each game with a smile on their faces.

“People should join rugby to be a part of a community that will always support you and have your back, not just on the field but off of it as well,” said back player Genie Mason. “My favorite part about rugby is community. My team is my family on and off the pitch.”

The girls on the team support each other through thick and thin. Although the team suffered a loss in the first game of this semester’s season against North Carolina State University, the girls came out stronger than ever. A few weeks later, the team traveled to Coastal Carolina University with their heads high and their hearts full. Wilmington put up a great fight, playing better than they had in a long time, but was unable to take the win.

“My favorite part of the rugby match experience is having socials with the teams afterwards and being able to put our differences aside for the common love of the game,” said member Zoe Greene.

For the aggressiveness that the game of rugby puts forth, everyone who plays rugby feels as though they are on the same team: the rugby team. However, the players feel like the sport is underappreciated, especially as a legitimate sport on college campuses in America.

“I do think the women’s rugby club is underappreciated, because it is not a well known sport,” said Mason. “If people were to try the sport or watch it, I feel they would fall in love with the sport just as I did.”

“It’s definitely not as taken advantage as it should,” said Greene. “It’s a great opportunity for women at UNCW, and more people should play.”

The family that the team has created is one filled with love and respect. The team meets every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, usually between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. None of the players dread going to practice, but rather enjoy the exercise and company of their fellow players.

“You don’t have to know anything about rugby,” said Romstadt. “You don’t even need to know how to spell rugby. We will teach you everything, and all you need are cleats and a mouth guard.”

“Your team becomes your second family, and there is a strong sense of camaraderie between players and other teams,” said Romstadt. “No one judges you when you eat three plates of spaghetti and still have room for dessert… and maybe more spaghetti.”

The club, simply stated, scrums for possession, runs for the try zone, bleeds for the team and lives for the game.