By: Marese Hudson, Staff Writer

To most, rugby looks like football without pads. But for the student members of VSU Rugby Club, the real difference isn’t just the rules and playstyle, it’s the family bonds. 

Rugby shares a lot of physical intensity with football. The difference is after the games with players from opposing teams, it’s about camaraderie.  

“The one thing about rugby, it truly is a brotherhood,” said Jordan Hall, Rugby Club president. “No matter who you play against, no matter what team it is everybody is here to protect each other.” 

With the fellowship that rugby brings, it opens to a wide range of students willing to join the club.   

Allison Dinapoli, a scrum half, describes rugby as super friendly and supportive, like a big happy family.  

 Since it is a student-led club, some members are new to the sport, and some have played rugby before and that is OK, according to the organizers.  

 A new player, Henry Domyslawski, joined the club to make new friends and stay fit. 

“Really right now getting the basic of the fundamentals the biggest thing,” said Jordan Hall.  

 Rugby has two main formats: 15s in the fall and 7s in the spring, which are the number of players on the field. The match is 80 minutes long with very few stoppages.  

 Rugby version of the ball is oval-shaped, which is larger and rounder than a football. The only way to advance the ball in rugby is by running forward or kicking it forward.   

 The VSU Rugby Club has been established since 2010.  

 The VSU Rugby Club has practices on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6:15-8:15 p.m. on VSU’s north campus.  

 The D2 rugby club’s first home game is against the Georgia College and State University on Oct. 4. 

Photo by: Marese Hudson