Injured Ruggers still geared up for Navy

Last February, the Penn State men's rugby team suffered a huge loss when second row Dave Scrymgeour broke his hand. This weekend, he gets his chance to don a Penn State uniform for the first time in three months when the Ruggers host Navy.

Scrymgeour has been participating in practice and has been receiving hits from teammates. He said he is looking forward to seeing how the hand holds up in competition.

The majority of the players and coaches are happy to have Scrymgeour playing this weekend because of what he brings to the team -- size.

Coach Fraser Grigor said last weekend in a loss to Indiana University of Pennsylvania the Rugger forwards were being pushed around, but the size of Scrymgeour will be a big help.

"We lose 100 pounds in our scrum," hooker Keith Fitzpatrick said about Scrymgeour's absence. "He brings experience and helps us out a lot."

Injuries aren't something new for the Ruggers. Two players, flanker Joe Pullara and Fitzpatrick, were injured before the championship game last weekend against IUP, which the team lost 14-13.

"We've had injuries all year," Scrymgeour said. "Players get injured a lot, it's just part of the game."

Pullara suffered a sprained ankle in the match against Oswego last Saturday. It will be a last-minute decision if he plays this weekend, but Pullara said he wants to play.

"I plan on playing the whole game," he said. "I'll put the pain behind me and just play."

Pullara said if he doesn't play, it will hurt the team because he has more experience, but he believes in the other players 100 percent. Grigor said Pullara is important to the team and if he doesn't play it will be a big loss.

Fitzpatrick said he wants to see Pullara suit up because he's the emotional leader on the field.

"He is all geared up for this game," Fitzpatrick said. "There is not much that will keep Joe off the field."

There doesn't seem to be much to keep Fitzpatrick off the field either. The team didn't have Fitzpatrick for its game against IUP, but he said the team did well without him. He is recovering from a deep thigh bruise and a swollen knee which is restricting his movement, but said he plans on playing.