College students from around the state found themselves on the rugby pitch in a showdown of intercollegiate play to decide which school boasts the strongest rugby 7s team. The UCF rugby team lost 21-12 in a semi-finals match to the University of Miami. UM went on to beat USF in the championship game in the first ever Rugby 7s Tournament hosted on UCF’s rugby pitch on Saturday.
The 30 Knights who make up the UCF Rugby club team geared up to play against other university rugby programs, according to UCF Rugby Coach Dan Irion. Roughly 100 fans, family and friends watched on as the burly-college rugby players battled each other in an impressive showcase of speed, strength and skill.
Schools from all over the state were invited to face off in …show more content…
The eight teams competed in the tournament for a total of 15 games.
Rugby 7s, as compared to the more traditional "Rugby Union," is characterized by more speed and ability, according to Jose Perilla, a junior political science major and rugby player.
Teams send seven players out on to the pitch. There are two 7-minute halves with a 1-minute break between them, Perilla explained. Because there are less players on the field, teams are more spread out over the pitch and explosive plays occur more frequently.
2016 is a big year for rugby, as the sport is making its return on the international stage at the 2016 summer Olympics hosted Rio de Janeiro.
Tristan Dignan, a sophomore double major in sports and exercise science and theatre, is UCF's rugby team captain. "I know that it may be weird to hear that I am a theatre major and play rugby, but I've been playing since 7th grade," Dignan said.
Dignan's mother, who is an actress, pushed for him to sing and dance in high school, as well as play rugby. "It turns out I was pretty good at both. So, now I am a theatre major and the captain of UCF's Rugby Club," he
The 30 Knights who make up the UCF Rugby club team geared up to play against other university rugby programs, according to UCF Rugby Coach Dan Irion. Roughly 100 fans, family and friends watched on as the burly-college rugby players battled each other in an impressive showcase of speed, strength and skill.
Schools from all over the state were invited to face off in …show more content…
The eight teams competed in the tournament for a total of 15 games.
Rugby 7s, as compared to the more traditional "Rugby Union," is characterized by more speed and ability, according to Jose Perilla, a junior political science major and rugby player.
Teams send seven players out on to the pitch. There are two 7-minute halves with a 1-minute break between them, Perilla explained. Because there are less players on the field, teams are more spread out over the pitch and explosive plays occur more frequently.
2016 is a big year for rugby, as the sport is making its return on the international stage at the 2016 summer Olympics hosted Rio de Janeiro.
Tristan Dignan, a sophomore double major in sports and exercise science and theatre, is UCF's rugby team captain. "I know that it may be weird to hear that I am a theatre major and play rugby, but I've been playing since 7th grade," Dignan said.
Dignan's mother, who is an actress, pushed for him to sing and dance in high school, as well as play rugby. "It turns out I was pretty good at both. So, now I am a theatre major and the captain of UCF's Rugby Club," he