Rugby returns to the pitch with high hopes
Johnnie Rugby started their season with a win over St. Thomas. This latest victory brings the team to No. 9 in the preseason polls and they hope for a return to Nationals. This weekend they will travel to UW-Stout.
St. John’s rugby is off to a hot start in the 2021-2022 Fall season. The Johnnies sit at 2-0 after two games. Their first win came against longtime MIAC rival St. Thomas. Win number 2 came this past weekend against Concordia-Moorhead.
St. John’s Rugby enters the season with high expectations. The Johnnies came into the season ranked 9th in the country in the preseason poll. SJU Rugby won Nationals back in 2013-2014 and made it to the final eight in the fall of 2019. Senior and club president, Chris Berry, hopes that the Johnnies can make it back to Nationals this season.
“Our goal for this season is … to return to Nationals and hopefully live up to our current standing of ninth in the Nation,” Berry said.
Like many other athletics teams during the COVID-19 pandemic, St. John’s Rugby was unable to have much of a season last year. Although they were able to practice and have intrasquad scrimmages, they couldn’t play other schools.
Berry emphasized how great it has been to be able to get back on the field.
“I think we’re all really privileged to be able to participate in rugby again,” said Berry. “There’s a lot of comradery around it and just to get back to that is really important for a lot of people because I think it plays a really big role in a lot of our players’ lives.”
Berry elaborated on his personal passion for the sport and why rugby is such a great club for students to get involved in.
“I think club rugby offers so much to students,” Berry said. “You have something to do on the weekends, people to hang out with of all grades, a way to stay in shape and something to strive toward in competition.”
Berry also emphasized that the rugby club is always looking for new members and encourages students to join.
St. John’s has six games this fall season, meaning they have four more before post-season play. The Johnnies will look to continue their win streak this weekend when they play UW-Stout on the road.
