Ruggers to travel to D.C. for tourney

Rugby players are an odd sort. They go out and play on a field which they call a pitch. They begin a series of play with a group face-off which is named a scrum. They beat the snot out of each other for an hour or so and then have a party to celebrate the beautiful thing they have just completed.

The Penn State men's rugby team is very good at what it does.

Prop Greg Gooch said the trip was a bonding experience for the squad, making them a closer, and better, team.

"The competition (in England) was tougher, and it gave us a head start on most of the competition this weekend," he said. "So we should be ready for a good showing."

Flanker Joe Pullara said it is going to be a quality tournament which should be a stepping-stone to a successful season.

"We are up against some good teams who we haven't seen yet," Pullara said. "It will definitely be a good gauge for where we are as a team."

The Penn State team is entering two squads this weekend, one in each division of the tournament. Two of the teams in the "A" division, Virginia Tech and Navy, have already faced Penn State this spring. Penn State defeated Navy 20-12 then lost 30-15 to Virginia Tech Feb. 28 in Charlotte, N.C. Flanker Eric Rose said the team suffered some key injuries which left the team vulnerable to Virginia Tech. The key to this weekend, according to Rose, is to stay healthy.

Last fall the team was plagued by injuries, leaving Penn State on the national tournament bubble. Without an automatic bid, the team is hoping for an at-large invite. A good showing this weekend would bolster its standing in the eyes of the selection committee.

All the hopes of the Penn State rugby team will be much clearer after this weekend. The Ruggers will test their ability to withstand the injury bug, their resilience to avenge the defeat to Virginia Tech, and their desire for a return to the national stage.