The UW-La Crosse Women’s Rugby Club went up against UW-Stevens Point on Saturday, who is considered to be one of the biggest and best teams within the club bracket.  While the women’s club managed to put up a tough fight, they ended up with a final score of 50-24, giving the game to Stevens Point.  The UW-L Women’s Rugby Club fought hard despite the fact that they were down some players due to injuries, starting off the game with only 14 members, and ending with 13 members while still managing to hang in there.  It is also important to note that at halftime, UW-L managed to be up by 5 points before Stevens Point managed to mount a comeback in the game.  

In the end, despite the overall loss, it did not bring down the morale of this close-knit team.  Even witnessing smiles and laughter as players trudged off the field caked in dirt and sweat.  

Margaret Faulds, a flanker on the UW-L Women’s Rugby Club team, said, “I think I had a pretty good game!  I was proud of myself for working hard.”  

There are typically two flankers on the field per side.  They are set in the forward position and placed on the outside of the formation.  Their job is to detach from the group as early as possible in order to get to the play before the opponent’s forwards.  Flankers are also key participants in the tackling process, putting more of an emphasis on speed rather than strength.  

Faulds went on to comment that, “We all played really well together, no one gave up, even though we were short-handed from the start.”  

This idea was embodied when one of UW-L’s younger rookie players set up against an opposing member who was roughly a foot taller and still managed to take down the opposing member with considerable force three separate times in a ten second time frame!  

When it comes to team bonding, the UW-L Women’s Club has spaghetti dinners together every Friday before their Saturday games for team bonding.  Everyone is seen laughing together and having a good time.  They enjoy spending time together both on and off the field.  There is also a large amount of compassion towards teammates with injuries, noting that support is always readily available to players during the healing process.  

When asked about what people should learn about rugby, Faulds replied, “It’s an intense game, but definitely not just for the boys.  You can join the team with literally no experience needed, only a positive attitude, the ability to work hard, and the desire to get a little dirty!”  

The UW-L Women’s Rugby Club is always open to new members, eager to teach or inform anyone who is interested in learning more about rugby.  It is a great team bonding sport that challenges people to work collaboratively to succeed and does not allow for members to try and outshine one another.