The hardest hitting sport at Fresno State may not be Bulldog football anymore.

Rugby has now come to Fresno State with hard hits and without pads or helmets to protect the players.

This year is the first official year for Fresno State rugby, but rugby has been in the city of Fresno for 75 years. Collins Okoroike has played rugby for two years and thinks Fresno State will be positive for the sport.
“Bringing [rugby] on to Fresno State gives exposure,â€Â Okoroike said.

Last year some players on the current team played for the City of Fresno Rugby Football Club, but this year they get to play for their own school. Fresno State rugby is a Division II sport and will play other colleges throughout California.

The rugby team is not a part of the NCAA and will most likely not join the NCAA.

“Rugby doesn’t have the drive to become a NCAA sport,â€Â Coach Barry Foley said.

He also said the infrastructure does not exist for rugby to join the NCAA. But USA Rugby can still offer appraises and awards to teams that are members of its organization, like Fresno is now. USA Rugby can even offer the title of All-American to players that are a part of its organization.

Currently, the team does not have a place to play on campus, but Foley hopes to get the team on campus. He wants to play on the women̢۪s soccer practice field, with permission from the women̢۪s soccer coach. The team will play its home games at Fresno Regional Sports Park.

The team does not have tryouts for its members. According to Foley, the players find out quickly if they can handle the sport or not. The part of the sport that might prove tough for some to handle are the injuries. Keith Ream, a Fresno State rugby player, can attest to the rough nature of the sport.

“I got both tackles and took a number to the face,â€Â Ream said.

Ream plays inside and outside center and also plays wing. These three positions are known as backs, which in football would be known as offensive positions.

While it is the newest sport on campus, there is more to Fresno State Rugby than practice and games.

The team is a club on campus that gets its money from Associated Students, Inc. (ASI), fundraising and fees from the members of the club. The fees from ASI can only be used for certain items, so fundraising is essential to the team. Last year the club had fundraising at the Vintage Days along with other fundraising.

According to Foley, “The money from ASI is only for equipment.â€Â

The player fees are for club dues and for registration with USA Rugby. The club provides the game jersey for the players. Since rugby is a physically demanding sport, members are required to have a minimum medical coverage of $100,000.
The season starts on Oct. 17 and continues through April. The first game of the season is against San Jose State, which is the same day that the football team plays the Spartans.
The club does have a spot in the Free Speech Area on campus for those who would like to know more about playing for the club.