While some students will be basking in the sun this week, working on their tans, the men's rugby team has something else in mind. Each year they travel overseas to play rugby against top-notch teams.

This year is no exception. The Ruggers will trek to Ireland to play three different universities. On March 4 they will take on Limerick University.

"Limerick has a good tradition of rugby," coach Terry Ryland said. "They are well established."

Ryland will not be accompanying the team on the trip, however. Instead, Brett Hoffman will coach the team.

Penn State will also be playing the University of Cork on March 6 and the University of Dublin, Trinity on March 8.

"Cork University is the most prestigious in rugby skills," Ryland said.

Due to the high level of play by these teams, senior Kirk Neubauer said that these trips help his team better themselves.

"This one especially," he said, "since we are going to Ireland, will benefit us with skills. They are better teams. The quality of play is better. We go over there and we pick up a lot."

It won't be completely foreign, however, as one of the coaches at the University of Dublin, Trinity is a former U-19 coach. Some of the players from Penn State have played with him in the past. Although the players will have this familiarity, things will still be very different.

Rugby in Ireland is essentially the equivalent to football in the United States. The players start young and a lot of money gets put into the sport.

"People start playing at such a young age that the quality is better," Neubauer said. "It's taken pretty seriously over there."

Neubauer has never been to Ireland before and when asked if he was excited, he replied, "Extremely."

The team won't be playing rugby the whole time though. When they aren't playing games, the Ruggers are planning on sight seeing and relaxing, which might just be what the doctor ordered.

"It takes awhile to get over a rugby game," Neubauer said. "Especially when it's a hard one. You're pretty sore."

The only thing that seems to be worrying this team is something called "foot and mouth disease," Neubauer said. It hasn't gotten to Ireland yet, but some precautions are being taken. Some of the other teams have cancelled some games as a precautionary measure. And there is a question as to whether or not the Ruggers will play a few games.

"No eating meat while we are over there," Neubauer said.

Other than that minor setback, the team is ready to go. At practice last night, the coaching staff let the players who are going to Ireland play with each other.

Overall, Neubauer believes this trip will prove beneficial to the entire team.

"It sets up communication with those teams. Let's say that if in a year I want to go back to Ireland, I'd have places to stay. And since rugby is more popular in foreign countries, it shows the rookies that this is a popular sport and to stick with it."