By Emily Bayci

Contributing Writer

High contact sports like football and wrestling have long been labeled male-dominated sports.

However, the Illinois Women’s Rugby Football Club is trying to change the label, as 25 women partake in a sport that could be considered a combination of the two.High contact sports like football and wrestling have long been labeled male-dominated sports.

However, the Illinois Women’s Rugby Football Club is trying to change the label, as 25 women partake in a sport that could be considered a combination of the two.

An obscure sport in the U.S., rugby is often called the father of American football. The rules are similar to football, except for the scoring, as rugby players can score touchdowns (five points), conversions (two points), drop goals (field goals from anywhere on the field worth three points) and penalty kicks (three points).

Rugby has 30 players on the field at once and the field is 110-by-75 yards, whereas a football field features 22 athletes on a 100-by-53 yards.

“Rugby is similar to football in looks and in scoring, but the rules are a bit different,” senior captain Jessica Travers said.

Established at the University as a club sport in 1975, women find rugby as an aggressive and fast-paced sport.

Illinois has players with different levels of experience.

“I have been playing rugby for seven years and I’ve loved every minute of it,” sophomore Erica Wheeler said. “It is a great way to make friends and to stay in shape.”

Many women started playing rugby when they came to college.

“I joined rugby on Quad Day. I tried lacrosse and field hockey too, but I became addicted to rugby my freshman year of college,” Travers said.

Women are attracted to rugby because it’s a unique sport, but they stay for the competition and the relationships built with teammates.

“As the back of our shirts say, we are a team by day and a club by night,” Travers said. “Rugby girls are the funniest girls that I have ever met.”

Although the sport is fun, it is very physical.

“Rugby is definitely a contact sport,” senior and club president Joan Boska said. “Tackling is the best part because it is a relief to channel out all of your frustrations and anger on the field.”

Due to the toughness that comes with the sport, many may be surprised that players differ greatly in size, from five feet to nearly six feet tall.

“We have girls of all sizes on the field, they just have to be fast and tough in order to succeed,” Boska said.

The Illini must be strong in order to deal with some brutal injuries.

“Last spring we were practicing on astroturf and I tore my ACL. I have also gotten countless minor injures,” Wheeler said.

Currently ranked No. 14 in the nation under the direction of head coach Carl Spoerer, the team stands undefeated with a record of 7-0 and hopes to qualify for Nationals.

The team’s biggest success so far this season was winning Rugerpalooza, a tournament at Southern Illinois University held in September. In the championship match, Illinois faced Indiana’s A team in a tight game, winning 13-10.

The Illini’s toughest match of the season is Oct. 18 against Michigan State at home. It will determine whether or not the team qualifies for Nationals.

“Rugby here has a very long tradition of winning and we are always looking for new members to join a fun bunch of people,” Spoerer said.