Jeremy Vigna locks into position for a scrum during rugby practice. The Augusta Maddogs Rugby Club is gearing up for the Fall season and the first game scheduled Saturday Sept. 7 against Golden Isles Rugby Club. The game will be hosted by the Maddogs at their new pitch, a rugby playing field, located at 100 Wood St., Augusta, Ga., and admission is free.

Rugby is a full contact sport that predates American football by almost 100 years, originating in England during the early 19th century. It is based on running with an oval ball on a level field with a grass surface.

Each team consists of 15 players divided into a pack and backs. Larger players usually play in the pack and faster ones play back positions.

One great thing about rugby is that no-matter what size or shape someone is, there’s a position they can excel at, said Brian Kaufman, team president.

“There are 15 positions on the field that all add up to a different size and shape. It is more important to be fit and agile, than to be strong and big. In fact, one of the best players on our team who plays wing is only 5’6’’ 150 lbs.,” said Kaufman.

Judson “Boomer” Hickey goes over defensive assignments during a practice session held at Maddog Field located near Lake Olmstead. Photos by John G. Vannucci According to Team Captain Boomer Hickey “The team was founded by Medical College of Georgia students more than thirty years ago.

“The Maddogs have had doctors, surgeons, lawyers, teachers, salesmen, scientists, researchers, students, military, foreign military, stay-athome fathers and everything in between.”

The team features several Signal Corps Soldiers such as first time rugger 2nd Lt. Nicholes A. Hughes, B Company, 442nd Signal Battalion.

“The Augusta Rugby Club has been able to provide a great atmosphere for someone with no experience. It’s a good way to get a great workout while meeting a great group of guys,” Hughes said.

“Rugby is a great workout and excellent comradeship. It’s something productive and meaningful to do with my free time while I’m [on temporary duty] at Fort Gordon,” 2nd Lt. James P. Micciche, B Co. 442nd Signal Bn.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that Rugby is more dangerous than American football. The lack of pads actually contributes to Rugby’s relative safety.

“Rugby is a contact sport; however, it is much less dangerous than football. This is because there are no pads in rugby. Most think because of the lack of pads this would increase chances of injury. However, with pads, men think they are invincible and hurl themselves into a tackle in order to stop action. With rugby there is no such thing as stopping the action. Rugby is non-stop action for each of two 40-minute halves. Because there is no stoppage, the players have to be in better shape, thereby decreasing risk for injury. In Rugby, tackling is done to stop the flow of the offense and gain possession of the ball, rather than in football where the play totally stops after a tackle,” said Kaufman.

Two great aspects of Rugby are camaraderie and fitness, “regardless of the outcome of a match, the host team hosts a social where we feed the opposing team and sing songs and revel in the sport of the day. The camaraderie is very high in rugby,” he said. “Rugby is very demanding physically. It is 80 minutes of nonstop sprinting, running, and tackling.”

The Maddogs are always actively recruiting players of all experience levels, shapes, sizes, and levels of athletic ability. To check this addicting sport out for yourself, grab a pair of shorts, an expendable T-shirt that may be ripped, a mouth guard (any mouth guard from a sporting store will do), and a pair of cleats (if you have them, otherwise cross trainers will work fine to start). Then just show up at the Julian Smith Casino softball field at 2200 Broad St. any Tuesday or Thursday. Practice is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

For more information about rugby, contact Brian Kaufman at bkaufman184@yahoo.com

or visit www.augustarugby.org.