Every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon a group of 23 women gather at the gazebo field on the UNCW campus. What they do there might shock many. For two hours the students on the newly established women’s club rugby team, otherwise known as the Lady Clamdiggers, are not afraid in getting down in the dirt.

Formally established as an official UNCW Sports Club in November 2010, many of the team’s members are brand new to the sport. Even though freshman Lindsey Crews just learned how to play, she happens to be a natural.

“I liked the energy that comes with the sport. Even though you’re getting knocked down, you always seem to find a way to persevere and continue playing,” said Crews. “Plus, it was something new that I haven’t done before.”

Even though there are many teammates that have just been introduced to rugby, it would not have been possible without Amber Wright, the team’s captain and founder. Wright came across the idea of starting a rugby team as what started as a joke.

“I joked about starting a team before I left for school in August. Once I got here, I talked to some of my old teammates about their new teams and was a little jealous,” said Wright. “They sounded like they were having an awesome time.”

Wright gathered some other girls who were interested, got help from the men’s rugby team coaches Jim Wiseman and Paul Collie and attended UNCW Sports Club meetings regularly.

After much advertising, Wright was able to gather a sufficient group. “There is a lot of heart on this team, and no matter what the situation very few of the girls give up, which is awesome because those are some things that are hard to teach but can make the difference between a good team and a great team,” Wright said.

Sophomore Kirstie Knox has grown to love rugby by initially being a spectator to actually playing a position as a second row forward. “It is a lot of fun being on the team,” said Knox. “The girls are all super cool and between practicing and playing I’m definitely going to be in good shape by the end of the season.”

The two-hour practices that the team endures are no walk in the park. The practices usually start with running twice around the gazebo field while passing a rugby ball down two lines. If the ball is dropped, the team stops running and does either a set of 30 push-ups or 50 sit-ups.

After the warm-up, the team continues to practice passing the ball to each other while running. It is after about a half hour of passing that the women finally get to practice one of their favorite parts of rugby, tackling.

Meg Hooker, a senior, said that even though the sport is so aggressive, there is a high level of sportsmanship. “The level of respect is amazing,” she said. Even though graduation is approaching, Hooker is planning to continue to be involved in the game. “I love rugby. I want to be involved in some way for the rest of my life. I plan on still playing on a club team,” she said. “I want to work with a team eventually.”

Crews added that being on the team is like being a part of a family. “Even though we’re a big group of girls, we still come together and everyone that joins is a part of the family,” said Crews.

The women’s rugby team has yet to win a game but was the only team that scored against East Carolina University at an away game this past weekend. “Everyone needs to get experience under their belt and understand how the game runs,” said Wright. “Rugby is very confusing, but once we get everyone comfortable out on the pitch it will make a huge difference.”

Not only does the team have a united goal in improving its knowledge of how to play the sport, members of the team have their own personal goals as well. Junior Sarah Ashley said that her personal goal is “taking the skills I have and be able to apply them to rugby not only physically but be able to play a strategic game.”

The Lady Clamdiggers encourage and welcome anyone to join no matter what level of experience. The team’s next game is scheduled at home on the gazebo fields April 1, at 1 p.m.

As captain, Wright promotes the club team to all female students at UNCW. “Being on a rugby team is one of the greatest experiences you can have. There is no way you can join a rugby team and not get close with your teammates,” said Wright. “Even if there are personality conflicts, there is a level of respect you have for each girl out there. Not everyone can get hit, get back up and keep fighting. It’s a sisterhood like no other.”