SIU has produced many
fine players who have gone on to represent the club and the university in
select-side competition on the regional level as well as on the national
level. Upon graduation, our rate is about 90%, most of SIU "ruggers" go
on to play for men's sides. Currently, SIU OLD LOADS play competitively
in 18 different states throughout the United States and Canadian provinces'.
Rugby is the largest
club sport in the country today. SIURFC is recognized by the university
as a club sport and therefore receives little financial support as compared
to those teams recognized as a collegiate sport receiving funding and scholarships.
The lack of monetary support does restrict our playing sites around the
country yet does not limit our level of play. We have, on numerous occasions,
won the Illinois Collegiate Tournament as well as the Mid-west Collegiate
Tournament. We often times compete above the collegiate level by playing
against men's clubs on a competitive basis.
Our club is unique in
the sense that we have player-coaches as opposed to a single coach. It is
the responsibility of these coaches to teach the game to other members and
prepare them for all aspects of the game. Many of our new players have never
been exposed to the sport and find the adaptation process to be easier through
this instruction. We never "cut" any player from the club and even guarantee
everyone a chance to play in Saturday's match. Our constitution allows for
five officers who are elected by club members to serve and ensure the running
of the club for a school year. Although our sport may seem like mayhem,
it is extremely organized, both on and off the pitch, from our club to the
USA Rugby Union.
SIURFC is host to the
largest collegiate rugby tournament in the mid-west. The All Fool's Classic
draws clubs from sixteen different colleges and universities from eight
states. Some of last year's entrants include: Depaw, Fort Leanordwood, Eastern
Illinois, University of Illinois, Illinois State, Western Kentucky, Western
Illinois, Fort Campbell, Scotts Air Force base and University of Illinois
Chicago. SIU tries to provide for some of the highest quality of rugby around
with the Classic, and has previously won the Golden Privet Award for hosting
the finest rugby tournament in the mid-west. This year the Classic will
be held on April 3rd.
The game of rugby is
divided into two forty minute halves with no more than a five minute break
between, during which no player may leave the field. At the final whistle,
both teams clap each other off the field and shake hands with their opposite
number, or mark. This tradition is seen in no other sport that we know of.
Thus, beginning the "third" half.
The "third" half is
another strictly kept tradition which dictates the host team to provide
refreshments and food for overnight visitors as well as a place to sleep
after the game. In this third half, songs
are sung, cigars are smoked, stories swapped, techniques compared, and friendships
formed.
The third half allows players to put behind all the dastardly things done to one another on the field in order to part the game friends. Such socializing keeps: tensions eased, players familiar, needless injury at a minimum, standards of play high, and of course, the tradition of camaraderie.