Sports today, are more pivotal and influential than ever before. Between actual participation and the hype constructed by various media channels, it is very rare to go a day without experiencing some form of sport in society.

Coming to college, I hoped to continue my sports career from my youth; all the way through to my high school years. Football was a major focus of mine in choosing schools. However after playing Division II football for a semester, the joy and passion I once had for football had vanished. It didn't feel the same. I am not exactly sure why, but I wasn't going to take a spot on the field from someone else if my heart wasn't fully into it.

Upon my return to Coastal Carolina for my sophomore year, I really had no intention of playing a collegiate sport. My sole focus was academics, staying fit, and having a good time. It wasn't until one day in my Sport Coaching class when a classmate of mine turned around and introduced himself.

"What's up, dude? My name's Mike."

Mike Tillman. Had never met him before. But he started with some small talk before getting to his point.

"So do you play any sports here?.... If not you should come check out rugby."

I thought about it for a second. I had never played rugby before. I had seen it being played on TV here and there, and watched a movie involving rugby once, but I had no idea about the rules and culture. However after seeing me contemplate, Mike set the ultimatum:

"Practice is at 6 at the track. Just come check it out, and if you hate it then you never have to come back and there won't be any hard feelings... What do you have to lose?"

He was right. I had nothing to lose. No other sports obligations, and the fact rugby is nationally considered a club sport in the USA allowed for the freedom to get school work and occupational work done in spare time. I wasn't sure what I was in for, but I agreed to meet him at practice after my late class that day.

I laced up, and at first, some of the guys were just staring at me. I could tell the veterans were pretty close knit. It started off with some simple warm-up drills and sprints. The coach at the time, Mr. Matt Mendelssohn, asked me if I'd be cool with contact and hitting on my first day of practice. Of course, I said yes, coming from a football background, making tackles and laying hits were my favorite part.

Some people criticize or have predetermined opinions about rugby and how there is full contact with no pads. However, you learn how to hit & tackle the right way, which makes it more "safe" than people perceive it to be.

BOOM.

I made my first hit. Something about the full collision of my shoulders to the ball carrier's abdomen with no pads, just body to body, was exciting. It was rough but it felt natural, the way a game was supposed to be played.

From then on I never looked back. I continued to attend practices and learn the game from the current members of the team and during my own free time. I paid my dues and eventually began traveling with the team to games on Saturdays. (Saturday is a rugby day, in case you didn't already know.) The guys on the team began to open up more and more to me, after they had cracked my shy shell. Most of those same guys are the guys I call my best friends today.

I have played for three years now, and can with the utmost certainty say joining the CCU Rugby Club was one of the best choices I have made since the beginning of my time at Coastal. Some call rugby “A Gentleman's game, played by hooligans”, which is true to a sense. But rugby is larger than the hard contact and beer drinking; it digs deep to your core and brings out a gear you never knew you had, along with emphasis on the following:

You must work together, there is no individuality in this sport.

You must respect your opponent and the referee. There is no back talk to the higher authority.

You must focus on fundamentals to be successful.

You take pride in your nation.

You respect your opponent enough to social with them after the competition, regardless of how many times during gameplay you may have roughed each other up.

You find your inner strength. 80 minutes with no stoppages, except halftime, and final substitutions.

I cannot be grateful enough for the lessons this sport, and this culture, have taught me. Furthermore, I am blessed to have met some phenomenal dudes, teammates, and brothers, who will be my best friends until the day I pass. The countless memories on and off the field could not be traded for the purest riches.

I have played my last competitive collegiate match. Who knows what activities wait ahead of me, but regardless if rugby is one of those activities I will continue to be a strong advocate for this great sport. All that is left to say is thank you.