Notre Dame Rugby // Notre Dame Rugby

A 7s Rugby experience to remember forever!

2012-04-23T09:00:00-04:00

In the historic Notre Dame Football Stadium, the Notre Dame Men's Rugby team hosted a 7s exhibition match against the Men's Rugby Club of Aspen, a group of US 7s olympic team hopefuls. One of them was James Aldridge, a recent Notre Dame Alumnus and former running back for the Irish.

After his stellar career for the Irish, Aldridge changed directions and decided to pursue rugby, training with the Irish for a bit, before moving to New Zealand to train full time.

Apart from Aldridge, who played many games in that stadium, it was the first experience for all of the other ruggers, in front of 32,000 cheering fans. And boy were they cheering. Rugby is a sport that contains all the excitement and impact of football, with the non-stop action of hockey. The fans were instantly delighted by the fast pace and hard hits.

The roars began to build up about midway through the period when winger Dom Carsaro tried to win the corner, but was pushed out 10 yards away from the end zone. The first and only score came with about a minute left in the 7 minute Exhibition, when first, senior Dan Scheper made a crucial interception and passed to sophomore Byron Henry on a cut back. Henry split 2 defenders and found senior David Harrington who offloaded in contact to senior Chris "Sparky" Pesigan who sprinted 60 yards for the Irish try. "It was the best experience of my life" stated Sparky, a sentiment echoed by many of the Irish.

The 7s portion of the season is now in high gear with fitness baseline tests this week and skill sessions with 7s Coach David Fee. The Irish will make their next 7s appearance in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the 7s Collegiate Rugby Championships June 2nd, and 3rd. It will be the Irish's third consecutive year to be featured in the tournament and they will look to continue their success from last year as they made it to the Challenger Cup Final.

For more photos click here

ND 16 - Texas A&M 34

2012-04-21T22:00:00-04:00

On Saturday, the Irish finished their season with a hard-fought yet tough loss against the Aggies of Texas A&M.

The Irish came out strong against the Aggies. They gained momentum in the early stages of the first half, and managed to capitalize on Aggie mistakes. They scored two quick penalty kicks to take a 6-0 lead.

But momentum quickly shifted and the Aggies were able to pound the ball over the line for a try. The conversion was made, and they were also able to add a penalty kicks to take a 13-6 lead.

The Irish would not be held out. Right before halftime the Irish forwards continued to show their determination and domination as they mauled a line-out 15 meters and Captain Victor Sadauskas put the ball over the line for the Irish.

The Irish went into the break with all the momentum, and picked right back up where they left off. Off a scrum from inside the Aggie 22, scrumhalf Byron Henry and winger Dominic Carsaro found each other and Henry was in the try-zone to take a 13-16 lead.

That wasn't enough however, the Aggies were able to capitalize on Irish mistakes and Conor Mills was able to kick a number of penalties through the uprights. They added a couple of tries to finish the game. The final score was ND 16 - TA&M 34.

ND 13 - Life 98

2012-04-15T11:00:00-04:00

The Irish met a very strong and fast Life University team looking to claim the top spot in the Division 1A Mid-South, and compete for the Division 1A National Championship. The Irish struggled early in the first half with their tackling, but Life gave the Irish a few scoring opportunities from excessive penalties. However Life's strong attack was too much for the Irish.

The bright spot for the Irish came through the continued effort from their forwards. The Irish were able to contest the scrums, and did not back down from the large Life pack. The Irish converted a couple of penalty kicks, and their lone try was scored from an interception by fullback David Penberthy. The final score from Saturday was 98-13.

ND 46 - Oklahoma 12

2012-04-07T15:00:00-04:00

Better late than never. The Irish post their first victory of the season (1-6) and they do it in convincing style. After last week where the Irish showed that their defense can compete against some of the top teams, this week the offense was the key focus. Lead by their strong pack, the Irish dominated both line-outs and scrums, as well as controlling the ball in loose play.

The Irish continued to take advantage of the forwards and pounded the ball inch by inch, where it paid off in multiple cases. Forwards Nolan Welsh and Tyler Plantz were able to touch the ball across the try line.

As the forwards wore down the Sooners with slow ball and hard, physical play, the Irish backs were able to take advantage. Inside center Ryan Robinson was able to get through the line on multiple occasions and it paid off twice, as he recorded two tries. Winger/Flyhalf Dominic Carsaro was also able to break through the strethched the defense and scored under the posts.

It was a great day for the Irish, and a well-deserved, hard-fought victory, our first this season. But the game ball goes to the forwards, who dominated every phase of the game, and used their skill in the scrums to secure the ball for the Irish. Their hard play won the possession battle and kept the Sooners off the scoreboard in the entire second half. The final score from a beautiful day in South Bend, was 46-12 to the Irish.

As well as the Irish played today, they will need to prepare hard and bring it again next week, against a very skilled and very strong Life squad. The game will be played next Saturday on West Quad Fields next to the Bookstore.

Happy coaches

For more photos from Saturday, visit Men's Rugby Facebook album.

ND 0 - ASU 41

2012-03-31T20:10:00-04:00

Notre Dame Men's Rugby earned their stripes this afternoon, proving why they are called the Fighting Irish. On their home turf in front of enthusiastic support on the homefront, the Irish showed their determination and heart. This crop of players showed time and time again the same tenacity and agression that the team displayed in the fall against top ranked opponents such as Navy and Air Force.

Against nationally ranked Arkansas State team, who embarrassed the Irish in their in their first game of the season by a score of 99-0, the Irish proved today that they were not the same team they were five weeks ago. Surprising not only Arkansas State, but the Irish as well, a combative Notre Dame dug deep within themselves to fight during every moment of the game, surpassing team and individual expectations.

Right from the beginning, the tone of the game was far different from when the teams first meet five weeks ago. The Irish contested in every scrum and each line- out, never backing down. Defense was communicating, allowing the Irish to dominate their tackles, formally an Irish Achilles' heel last time.

After an intense coming-together moment during a scrimmage against Davenport last week, the Irish discovered what was lacking in the first four games of the season, which enabled the team to find their rhythm and identity at last.

The Irish only gave up 19 points to Arkansas State in the first half, A stark contrast to the 64 points they gave up during their last meeting. Arkansas State, stunned and disoriented by the appearance of a much different team, was unable to react. Defensive pressure and sheer determination kept the Irish's energy alive in the first half, knocking the Wolves back on their heels by such an unlikely opponent.

Technique, skill, and ball movement, evenly matched by the Irish, was not enough to punish and squash the Irish, thus the Wolves game became increasingly frustrated. As intimidation was a factor in their former match-up, the Red Wolves found that the Irish did not back down and did not retreat a second time.

Although the scoreboard did not end up in the Irish's favor, it was a victory on many levels for the Irish. First, a team that had previously put up 99 points in 80 minutes barely reached half of that today. Secondly, the Irish found something inside of themselves that had been previously lacking: team work, leadership, integrity, energy, and fun. If this Notre Dame team that showed up today continues to exhibit the same qualities down the road, this season will indeed prove exciting and successful for the young Fighting Irish squad.

Visit Notre Dame Rugby Facebook page for game photos.

Home at last!

2012-03-25T12:00:00-04:00

After a disappointing loss away to Texas A&M last weekend, the Irish Rugby team hosted Davenport yesterday to start the first of 5 Saturday home fixtures. The scrimmage came at the halfway stage of a difficult Spring season for the Irish and allowed them to regroup ahead of 4 home games against Arkansas State (3/31), Oklahoma (4/7), Life (4/14) & Texas A&M (4/21). Also on 4/21 the Irish 7s Team will play an exhibition game at halftime of the Blue/Gold Football game.

Yesterdays scrimmage served different purposes for both teams. Davenport used it to work on some structure and correct some areas of concern, in a controlled enviroment, in preparation for their second D1-AA National Championship in 2 years. The Irish used it to rest some players, blood some new players (3 freshmen started their 1st game) and work on areas that have been deficient recently (ball security & support at the breakdown).

After a difficult first period and a candid chat during the break, the spirited Irish demonstrated the qualities necessary to become sucessful team; playing for each other, working hard to support the ball carrier and no little skill. This try, see video clip, in the second period is indicative of these qualities.

Match Report by Byron Henry

In their first break from Division 1-A competition, the Fighting Irish took this opportunity to continue developing their skills for the second half of the season. In a friendly scrimmage, the Irish played against Davenport, last year's Division 1-AA champions. Davenport welcomed the invitation, as the also used it as an opportunity to shore up some of their skills as they have qualified for nationals for the second consecutive year. In a controlled setting, where the focus of the day was to eliminate as many mistakes as possible, both teams were looking for some good, clean competition.

However, the Irish found themselves in a familiar position. Early in the first 30 minute period (of 4 total), the Irish had let up a couple of tries. The all-too-familiar sting of defeat was beginning to permeate throughout the team, and criticism turned a bit negative as the frustration surmounted. As the first period ended, the Irish were unable to put together any sort of sustained attack, and turnovers gave way to Davenport scores.

When the Irish stepped off the field for a break in order to assess their play, the players and coaches immediately knew why the team was struggling and what needed to be done. When asked back in December, during the winter camp, one of the main things that separated this year's team from their opponents was the care that players showed for one another. Through the struggles of the beginning of the season, and the tough losses to very skilled teams in the highest level of collegiate rugby, frustration and anger replaced that sense of care and respect.

During that 15 minute interval, and the ensuing 3 periods, the Irish somehow found it again.

The level of play from the first period and the last three was dramatically different. The team began to work harder, and put together beautiful strings of quality rugby. It appeared as if another team had taken the field after the short break. The first try was scored by winger Dan Palmer, after a quick offload by hooker Greg Allare, and a nifty behind-the-back pass by fullback Dave "Colt" Penberthy. The forwards were hitting rucks, and securing quick ball; the backs were running hard and fast lines, breaking the Davenport defense.

After the 2nd and 3rd periods, both teams began to integrate their second sides on the field, and the level of intensity and passion was maintained. The B-side or "The Killer B's", as they call themselves, continued right where the A-side left off. They put pressure on the defense with hard running, and aggressive tackling. The final whistle blew, and both teams were happy with their performances. Not only was it a chance to work on skills, but for the Irish it was another leap forward on their continuing development as a team. Their growth on the field, during this scrimmage, will be a key focus point for this season, as they prepare for Arkansas State for their first home game next weekend.

ND 8 - Texas A&M 38

2012-03-17T14:25:00-04:00

Irish hugely disappointed with loss at Texas A&M on St. Patricks Day.

On a warm spring day in Texas, the Fighting Irish were in College Station to face the Aggies on a very special day. The date was March 17th, St. Patrick's Day. A day when every single person around the world toasts to the Irish. With the world behind them, the Irish took to the field against a formidable opponent. Right from the beginning both teams were on attack, the Irish looked to bang it up with their strong forwards, while the Aggies looked to spread the ball the width of the field and attack the flanks of the Irish defense. For a moment, the two teams were at a stalemate, with each of their attacks halted by turnovers and costly penalties. After 10 minutes of play, the first score of the day was recorded when the Aggies took a long break down the sideline, and mauled the ball over the line.

The Irish saw their first chance for a score, as prop Tom Nield fielded a loose ball on the fringes and bounded his way across midfield, but the ball was unfortunately knocked away in the offload. The Irish continued to attack and notched their first points on a penalty kick, converted by flyhalf Sean Peterson. The Aggies quickly countered with a burst up the middle, the try was converted and the score was 12-3. The Irish continued to pound the ball up the middle, but remained unsuccessful. After many attempts deep within the Aggie territory, the Irish could not come away with a score. Winger Dominic Carsaro dove into the try zone, but was called back for stepping out 5 meters before the try zone. Loose forward Joe Vanderberg was unluckily driven out of bounds as he was reaching for the try zone as well. The score at halftime remained 12 - 3.

The second half commenced with the Irish continuing their attack. Scrumhalf Byron Henry found Peterson multiple times during an offensive movement and the Irish were finally able to get across the try line to bring the game closer with a score of 12 - 8. Unfortunately that was the closest the Irish would ever get to the lead for the rest of the game. With the wind at their backs, the Aggies put overwhelming pressure on the Irish with deep booming kicks to the corners. The Irish saw their long attacking drives completely nullified with the Aggie's boot. The final whistle blew, and the score was 38 - 8 in favor of Texas A&M.

With the last away game of the season, the Irish scrimmage a tough Division I-AA team in Davenport, in order to prepare for the second half of the season. After that, the Irish will have 4 home games to finish the season, and have a second chance at each of the teams they faced prior. As the season continues, and the team begins to grow and develop, the Irish hope to make a turn around the season, and finish on a high note.

Rugby for Relay

2012-03-16T10:00:00-04:00

It is a gorgeous Spring Break week in South Bend and Men's Rugby spent their time off classes preparing for their upcoming match against Texas A&M. After a tough loss to Life the previous weekend, the team decided to stay on campus to focus on the basics and to work on the game plan for the Aggies.

Yes, that's Greg and Garrity sporting special SBSB12 tanks made just for the occasion.

Before taking off to travel to College Station, Men's Rugby spent time on Friday volunteering with RecSports1st Annual Three-Point Contest during noontime pick-up basketball. The contest began at noon on Court 4, and all donations made on Friday went to Notre Dame Relay for Life. The club helped shag balls and cheer on noontime pick-up players as they vyed for the title of Best Three-Pointer on campus. A few players even participated as contestants, with Tyler Plantz winning the Rugby bracket. Thanks to the club's help, Relay for Life was able to raise over $300 in the lunch hour and awareness for their upcoming event in April.

ND 7 - Life 80

2012-03-10T10:00:00-05:00

“Leaps and bounds” were the words used by Head Coach O’Leary after the game against Life University on Saturday, won by Life, 80-7. Although the scoreboard did not reflect the actual feel of the game, the Notre Dame Rugby team continues to grow and get better with every match.

Against a very good Life squad, under the lights, and in front of a large crowd of rugby enthusiasts in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the Fighting Irish showed that they had all the fight in them. Possession was fairly one-sided, and although the tackling was there for the Irish, it eventually gave way to the pressure of the Life attack.

The Irish continue to make strides during this season, which has turned into development process for the entire club. Their next test will be against a tough Texas A&M squad down in College Station, Texas. The team will be preparing all week this week during their spring break. The team has decided to stay in South Bend to focus on the basics and to work on the game plan for the Aggies.

This will end the long and tough road season for the Irish in the Division 1A conference. After a friendly match to be played in Ohio against Davenport, the Irish will see their conference rivals in familiar territory with four home games to end the season.

New Rugby Gear

2012-03-09T14:00:00-05:00

The Boathouse online offer to ND Rugby supporters ends Monday, Mar. 19. Notre Dame Rugby will be offering exclusive new gear through this website. Click for this one-time offer for new ND Rugby gear. This is a limited time offer while supplies last.

ND 22 - Oklahoma 29

2012-03-04T15:00:00-05:00

The beginning of the match started with hard physical play by both sets of forwards. Each team was determined to establish an hard, inside presence. Notre Dame struck first when 8-man Tom Hickey picked the ball in a ruck, and dove over the line to score for the Irish. The Sooner got on the board when their prop got out into open field and found himself over the try line.

Things looked up for the Irish when the second half began. The Irish capitalized on securing quick ball, and marched up the field and Hickey found himself out in the open again to score his second try. The Sooner did not back down however, they caught a break when their center burst through the defense and placed the ball right in between the posts.

The battered Irish could never recover. It was a tough day for them as they suffered injuries to both centers, and their scrumhalf. Hopefully they recover in time to face a tough Life squad in neutral territory: Charlotte, North Carolina.

ND 0 - Arkansas State 99

2012-02-28T16:00:00-05:00

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish went into Jonesboro, Arkansas knowing that they had a tough test ahead of them, opening the Division 1-A season against the No. 3 team in the nation. 80 minutes later the test was over, and it was tough indeed. The Irish suffered their most crushing defeat in club history, losing 99-0. A lot of factors played a role in the loss, but after watching the game film, one key one stood out. Tackling, or a lack thereof, was a key component to the loss last Saturday.

Although the loss was a tough one and the margin of defeat was fairly large, some positives could be taken away from the game. The Irish were able to see their deficiencies and the areas that needed improvement other than the tackling. These areas will be the main focus of practice during this week, in hopes of bouncing back from such a thrashing. The Irish will focus on the fundamentals as well as working on continuity and the flow of the offense. The team is fairly young and relatively inexperienced, so the loss will serve as a learning experience.

The Irish will head down to Norman, Oklahoma next week to face the Sooners. Oklahoma is coming off of an 88-0 loss to Texas A&M last weekend.

Last week to save on 7s Tournament tickets

2012-02-15T13:00:00-05:00

Click here for reduced pricing on weekend passes to the CRC 7s Tournament in Philly this June.

For more information on event click here

Sevens Season Starts

2012-02-02T22:15:00-05:00

Our preparations for the CRC Sevens in Philadelphia in June began on Sunday night, Jan 22nd with a 60 minute session indoors in Loftus. We are fortunate to have David Fee as our 7s Coach this year. David played for the USA National Team in 7s & 15s and is currently the Backs Coach for the All American High School Team, and Assistant Coach on the All American Collegiate 7s Team. David will drive in from Chicago each Sunday night to work on our 7s skills as we continue to play our 15s League schedule.

Spin-A-Thon Wrap Up

2012-01-24T15:00:00-05:00

Men and Women Rugby teams filled an incredible 48 bicycles during the hard hours of 2 to 5 AM early Saturday morning in support of the 24 hour Spin-A-Thon hosted by University of Notre Dame Recsports, Women's Basketball, and the College of Science Pink Zone project. The Ruggers enjoyed watching the classic Notre Dame movie "Rudy" during these three hours, and in doing so rode a phenomenal 450 miles. The teams had an incredible energy throughout the event and made a huge impact and contribution to the Pink Zone.

Thanks again to every one who supported us and Pink Zone in this event. Visit Recsports website and their Facebook page for photos and more information from the event!

Go Irish!
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Rugby Players Ride Against Breast Cancer

2012-01-15T15:00:00-05:00

The Notre Dame Men's and Women's Rugby have volunteered for the Pink Zone 24 hour Spin-A-Thon, a RecSports sponsored event designed to raise awareness and donations for the Pink Zone project. The two clubs will team up with the Number 2 ranked Women's Basketball team as well as other students and faculty to ride exercise bikes for 24 hours straight. Entertainment, free food, mini contests and free giveaways will be provided throughout the event. Every hour has a fun theme and RecSports will be covering the event via Facebook, posting photos, videos and updates. The Spin-A-Thon will begin noon on Friday, Jan. 20 and end noon on Saturday, Jan. 21. The Men's Rugby team has volunteered to ride during the hardest hours of the event from about 2 AM until 6 AM early Saturday Morning. The Rugby teams have volunteered more than 50 riders total for the event.

This is the first of many Pink Zone events that the Rugby teams are involved in. Future events include a Pink Zone sponsored Women's Basketball game in February where the Rugby team helps to take donations from the crowd, and a Pink Zone sponsored Rugby match against Davenport in March.

For more information on the event see the facebook for instant updates and photos. Check the Rugby webpage for more news and information about the team and their upcoming season. Pictures soon to follow.

Go IRISH!
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HTFU Day 2

2012-01-15T09:00:00-05:00

The final day of winter camp started with the usual 7:30 wake up, breakfast, and yoga. After that, though, the coaches had a unique and challenging day prepared for the players. The morning session began at perhaps the only hill in South Bend. Somehow, even in the flatlands of Northern Indiana, the coaches managed to find a hill to keep the challenges unique for the boys with “Hills and Skills.” Alternating between fitness on the hill and ball skill sessions in the snow, the morning helped ensure that the players remained focus on the final day. The combination of a fitness work out and rugby skills also helped prepare the team to be ready for the last crucial minutes of a tight rugby game where the team is now confident they will have the upper hand. As sophomore Rob Mungia put it, “the snow hills and ball work was cool, and it really showed the team’s true grit.”

After returning to campus, Coach Neil MacDonald led the players on a jog to the Grotto, where they took time to speak to Our Lady about whatever was on their mind near the end of camp. Junior David Penberthy described the experience as “a nice chance to take a step back and remind the team what representing Notre Dame is about.” After the emotional experience, the team was lead back to the Rock by newcomer, freshman Alex Wray showing just how much the team has come together so quickly. Senior Chris “Sparky” Pesigan and David Penberthy commented how much they enjoyed getting to know the younger and newer player. David also mentioned that “it brought a smile to my face to see the passion our new players have for the game.”

The second session of the day and last session of camp was held in a whole new environment. The team went to the Rolfs Aquatic Center for a workout in the pool. Professor Meredith Chesson, a former water polo player, led the team through a grueling water polo work out testing the many of the players far more mentally than they had been tested all camp. Junior and newcomer Greg Allare noticed that the toughest part of the session was the unfamiliarity with being in water and added that it proved the team could be successful when they were unsure about themselves. Overall the swim session turned out to be a huge motivational boost for the team as no one gave into their worries about their personal swimming abilities.

The day was brought to a close as the team was spoiled with a delicious prime rib dinner and a large cake with the words “Well Done” written across it. Coaches then announced, to cheers, that the purposed hill session for Sunday morning had been canceled and the last day of camp would end with yoga and a meeting. They also told the team that they had designed this year’s camp to be much harder than last year, which came as a surprise to many of the players and was attributed to the excellent condition they came into camp in.

New players were thankful for the experience as junior and newcomer Joe Vanderberg said that he believes he was able to learn more about rugby in this week than he would ever been able to be. He also added that he almost wished the team had another day of HTFU because he believes mental toughness is something often overlooked but that was a big almost. The team then celebrated the final day of HTFU and camp by remembering some of their favorite moments during the week. Memorable moments varied from Gerg Allare remembering the rug burns he received while doing the body weight workout in the hotel’s ballroom to junior Ryan Mitchell enjoying the chance to work on real game situations early in the week to junior Dominic Corsaro appreciating time to spend with friends while doing something they all loved.

HTFU Day 1

2012-01-13T22:55:00-05:00

The toughest day of camp began in the routine way with breakfast and yoga to start. During the night and early morning, more than a foot of snow had fallen in South Bend, which was perfect for our HTFU run. The day started with a casual 6-mile run around the lakes and through the freshly laid snow. The trail then led to Stepan fields and a very tiring sprint through the snow across the entire length of the fields, which left the players' quads burning. The team continued to the north side of campus where the players sprinted through the snow in a relay race event. After this, the players carried on their run all the way around to the east side of campus, down to Purcell Pavilion and across all the way to the bookstore for a brief break. Under the false impression that there was another lap to take place, the run ended at Rockne where the players earned a moment to warm themselves and dry off with snacks and refreshments. Freshman Gerry Kelliher commented that, "it was a great expereince, although it was hard with the snow and the cold, but it was a great team building experience."

The first half of the day was tough. With the wind blowing and the snow never ceasing, the players were physically and mentally put to the test. Every single player showed drive and determination as nobody ever let up. The veterans and new players alike showed great enthusiasm as well as persitence throughout the day. Although they experienced more pain then they are used to, every player welcomed it with the hopes of improving their fitness and strength.

After lunch and a break, the players were then put through a tough fitness and body work regiment in the ballroom of the hotel. Led by Coach Neil Macdonald, the exercises included a 6-minute straight core regiment, a 12 station total body circuit, then a final relay race consisting of various other excercises. Although the boys were tired physically and mentally, they showed their willingness to compete and the intensity that they maintained throughout the entire day. Although throughly beaten up from the days extensive activities, the players continued to give their full effort during the training. Another Freshman Garrity McOsker saw the benefits of the workout saying, "It's a unique training with a military background. It was very challenging but beneficial as it could be translated to the last minutes of a game when we are the most fatigued."

It was a great day of work all around and the team really put in the effort we demanded of them. Junior president of the club Daniel Palmer really enjoyed the work today, "I'm really proud of the team as a whole, especially on the run. Everyone finished and no one ever gave up. From the old heads to the new, this sport brings a real diverse selection of body types, but everyone was able to make it and that's impressive." Tomorrow looks to be equally as intense, as camp comes to an end. Stay tuned for more updates and photos.

If you are looking to support the club in any way, please visit our club website at Rugby.ND.edu, and navigate the bar on the left to purchase merchandise, or click on the banner at the top to purchase tickets to the 7's Collegiate Rugby Championships that the team will compete in this Summer.

Also for more pictures of our activites visit our facebook page and like it for instant updates!

Go Irish!
Faugh a Ballaugh!

Winter Camp Day 3

2012-01-12T22:00:00-05:00

The third day of camp began as usual, with breakfast and yoga. With a snow storm looming, the team went into the fieldhouse at the JACC to work on passing skills and defensive lines. The team worked really hard in the drills and even though today was a designated "rest day", the team did not let up in effort. The team focused primarily on 2 on 1 and 3 on 2 situations, and showed great success, especially in the new recruits who make up a substantial amount of players this year. The team then shifted focus to defense, specifically on defending loose play from rucks and transitioning to the next breakdown. The new players picked up on the terminology quickly and the first session was very successful.

During the team's break for lunch, Tony Alford, the wide receivers Coach for the Notre Dame Football team and new Rugby fan, spoke to the players about their dedication and willingness to commit. He also commented about the players demeanor and how they represent more than just their teammates but the university as a whole. He really admires the hard work the team has put in this week and he urged us to continue our work to pursue success not only in our sport but in life as well.

Although today was supposed to be light, the team did not let up at all. They continued to give the same effort despite the two HTFU training days tomorrow and Saturday. Despite the hard work, freshman Zac Plantz realized the value of it saying, "Being that it is my first year with the team, although it is a lot harder than I expected, you can really see the improvements with the team, especially with us younger players."

Although the HTFU training days look to be quite tough, the team is really enjoying camp and the benefits it has for us. Junior captain Victor Sadauskas notes the benefits that go beyond learning the skills, saying, "The team is working hard and we are coming together closer than I've ever seen before. I'm looking forward to seeing the team in the future, and how well we will work together and play together." The camaraderie and bonding will really come to play as the players physical and mental boundaries will be pushed like they have never been before.

If you are looking to support the club in any way, please visit our club website at Rugby.ND.edu, and navigate the bar on the left to purchase merchandise, or click on the banner at the top to purchase tickets to the 7's Collegiate Rugby Championships that the team will compete in this Summer.

Also for more pictures of our activites visit our facebook page and like it for instant updates!

Go Irish!
Faugh a Ballaugh!

Winter Camp Day 2

2012-01-11T21:00:00-05:00

Winter Camp Day 2

The second day of camp began a little later than the first day with a 7:30 AM wake up call. After a quick breakfast, the team started the day off again with a yoga session in the hotel. Without wasting any time, the team proceeded to the field to make the best use of the fantastic weather that is sure not to last long. The early morning practice focused on individual skills, mainly passing and running support lines. The teams then split up into forwards and backs to continue working on line outs and scrums. The backs worked on set plays as well as counter-attacks from kicks.

After a lunch break, the team got back to work in the afternoon. This time things got a little more physical. The team worked on tackling techniques and positioning for the first half of the session. The team then put together their individual work on set plays and came together in the early evening before the sunlight ran out.

All in all, the team put in a good day's effort. Although the weather has been more comfortable than previous winters, the day was significantly cooler than day 1. Despite the cold, the team worked hard and is looking forward to what the rest of the week holds.

If you are looking to support the club in any way, please visit our club website at Rugby.ND.edu, and navigate the bar on the left to purchase merchandise, or click on the banner at the top to purchase tickets to the 7's Collegiate Rugby Championships that the team will compete in this Summer.

Go Irish!
Faugh a Ballaugh!