For a explanation of positions and basics of rugby click here.
Frequently asked questions by prospective players:
Do I need experience to play rugby?
Absolutely not. About 90 percent of the members of our team never played the game before college. There are some U.S. high schools with rugby programs, but most of them are in Virginia and the New England area.
Will I get hurt? How rough is the game?
Rugby is a contact sport and with any contact sport there is a chance of injury. The best way to avoid injury is to learn the proper technique. The Furman coaches will help you play injury free by teaching you the best method to avoid injury. Very few of our players incur injuries outside the typical bumps and bruises.
How much does it cost?
Not much. Dues are only $40 per semester. Furman foots the bill for equipment, field maintenance, travel and referee fees. Furman also pays our annual dues to USA Rugby, which governs our sport in the U.S. In addition to the dues, you will need to buy some rugby shorts (about $12,) socks ($5) and a mouthpiece ($2).
What is the time commitment? How often are practices?
We understand that academics come first at Furman. Generally practices are held two days a week, but the squad may hold practice three times a week if it is approved by a team vote. Practices are normally Monday and Wednesday from 4:30-6:15. The coach is flexible on practice attendance and understands if a player is late because of a lab or other academic concerns. Also, some players also elect to attend off-campus practices with the local men's rugby club, The Greenville Griffins, on Tuesday and Thursday from 7-9 p.m. Those practices, though, are not mandatory.
Will I get to play as a rookie?
Certainly! During each contest Furman will hold an A and B game. The A game is for the starters, or experienced players. The B-game is for new players and reserves. Learning is stressed in the B-game, and the referee will often stop the game to explain rules and called infractions.
How much travel is involved?
Our players enjoy the travel aspect of rugby and seeing other campuses. Each team will play roughly 4-6 away games a year. We load the team up in university vans and take off for a Saturday of rugby. We try to schedule these away games so that the girls and guys can travel together. These road trips are seldom more than 2 hours away. A notable exception is the annual Rugby Beach Weekend in late spring when the guys and girls team rent a beach house in Charleston and are hosted by The Citadel men's rugby team and the College of Charleston women's team.
What are the practice facilities like?
Furman has perhaps the best rugby practice facilities in the Southeast. Our pitch, or playing field, is world class and was constructed specifically for the Atlanta Falcons, who hold their summer training at Furman. We also have a new scrum machine (similar to a football sled) to practice on this year.
What's the social aspect of the club like?
Nothing binds like sport and our teams are a real close group. The enjoy spending time together both on an off the pitch. Our clubs also enjoy socializing with other rugby clubs. After each home game the Furman team will host the other squad at a post-game party. These teams return the favor when Furman travels to their campus.
