October 10, 2006

Manhattan, KS (CSTV U-WIRE) -- Rugby originated in England in 1823, according to brittanica.com. The story goes that William Webb Ellis, a student at Rugby School in England, was playing a version of soccer with his classmates when he picked up the ball and ran toward the goal. Two decades later, the rules were formally written and a new sport - named for the school - was born.

Over time, rugby has evolved in a number of ways. It has changed internally, but also it has been the inspiration for many new sports, namely American football and Australian football.

For those who have never seen a rugby match, it can be difficult to understand, said Luke Amey, graduate student in architectural engineering and member of K-State's Men's Rugby Football Club.

It has retained many characteristics of soccer, like the length of play and the manner in which substitutions are made. The game is scored much like American football. However, the manner of play differs, Amey said.

One of the biggest differences is the mentality of rugby, said Hale Sloan, senior in biological engineering and K-State rugby team member.

"It's a gentleman's game," Sloan said. "The camaraderie it builds among players on both teams is one of the best things about it."

Today rugby can be found globally. It is still most common in England and Australia but has spread to places like Manhattan. In fact, there has been a rugby team at K-State since 1972.

Since its founding, K-State's rugby team has grown both in size and popularity, said rugby coach Danny Blea.

The current roster includes 35 players, few of whom had rugby experience before college, and the team always takes new players, Blea said.

"The action is the biggest reason (to attend a game)," Blea said.

So far this season, the team has a 3-3 record with four games remaining. The team plays Johnson County Community College at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium before finishing the remainder of the season on the road.

"It can be fun (to watch) even if you don't know what's going on, but if you do some homework, it can be even more enjoyable," Sloan said.

For more information about the rules and intricacies of rugby, visit www.scrum.com.

(C) 2006 Kansas State Collegian via CSTV U-WIRE