Rugby is one of the most unique sports in the world of athletics, and Mississippi State University’s rugby club offers students the opportunity to experience it first-hand.
The club plays as part of the Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference (SCRC). When it comes to recruiting players, the team searches for a range of athletes across campus, from complete newbies to more athletic students.
Teammate Aaron Foster spoke on his appreciation for the team’s versatility in experience.
“We get people who’ve never played sports before in high school or middle school,” Foster said. “This is their first sport they’re playing, and we get dudes who’ve been playing sports their entire life, … some of them actually even played rugby in high school, which is not very often, but it’s always awesome to see the contrast between the athletes and how they all just come together.”
Despite not being familiar with the rules of rugby initially, Mississippi State Rugby club captain Ethan Ruiz always knew that rugby was the sport for him.
“I’ve always loved sports,” Ruiz said. “Growing up, I played soccer because it was so fast paced, but being one of the bigger guys, I was at a bit of a disadvantage that I couldn’t use any size in soccer. So I felt like rugby was just the best place for me. And between, you know, it being a fast-paced game, but also a game that is really physically demanding. It felt like something that was just right for me.”
Once on the team, practice is typically held three times a week. Six games are played during the fall, followed by several tournaments in the spring.
Foster expressed that students involved in the club can easily strike balance between their duties on the rugby team and their academic responsibilities.
“For me, it’s honestly not that hard because at the end of the day, we’re asking [four hours a week at most], and it really just comes down to time management,” Foster said. “It’s really not that much time that it takes out of your day out of your week to play some rugby.”
Of course, it would not be a team without camaraderie, which is something Ruiz highlighted when speaking about his experiences with the team.
“It takes a certain type of person to want to play rugby, especially in you know, Mississippi where it’s not exactly like a big cultural thing to play rugby,” Ruiz said. “So instantaneously, all the guys really, really meld together like I’ve made a lot a lot of good friends on the rugby team, you know, some of them that graduated I still keep up with from day to day.”
All games are free to attend and are located on the university’s intramural fields just off Blackjack Road. Information and updates about the team can be found by visiting @hailstaterugby on Instagram.

Gallery • 1 Photos

Courtesy Photo | MSU Rugby Club

Mississippi State's Carl Jones during a hard-fought match at home against the University of Auburn.