The South Tampa News & Tribune
Hard-Hitting Fun Is Name Of Game
story. Tampa Tribune staff photo/Greg
Krewe rugby team member T. J. Lane gets off a pass before being tackled in a match with the Orlando Griffins
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Published: March 12, 2008
To watch a video report on Krewe Rugby go to TBO.com Keyword: Rugby
INTERBAY - By day, they are mild-mannered professionals: high school teacher, chiropractor, pilot, neurosurgeon, and health and safety engineer.
By the time they make it to the pitch, all bets are off. Dirt flies and blood flows as the Krewe Rugby team battles it out against its opponent. On March 1, it was the Orlando Griffins. Somewhere before halftime, Eric Saunders, 27, was bleeding from his head.
"Actually, I have no idea how or when I got cut. It sometimes just gets rolled into one big beating," Saunders, an environmental health and safety engineer and the team's vice president, said after the 12-10 loss. "The cut wasn't bad, though, just a flesh wound. Some Super Glue, and we were back in business."
Saunders, who lives in Town 'N Country, is one of about 30 active members of Krewe Rugby, which was founded in 1989 and is based in Tampa. Divided into Division II and Division III teams based on skill, Krewe practices at the North Tampa Boys & Girls Club, 2313 E. Yukon St., and plays home games in South Tampa at Skyview Park, 6203 S. Martindale Ave.
The team competes in the Florida and U.S. Rugby Unions and has played in national and international tournaments. It plays year-round, but only the spring season counts toward the national title.
"It spans the entire range from rookies to veterans who are just a little long in the tooth but still hanging in there," said Sam Meyers, 30, a Hyde Park resident and St. Petersburg chiropractor. "All you need is a good attitude and no fear of contact."
The team's president and vice captain, Michael "Goodie" Goodwin, said the variety of skill levels makes the team a good fit for many. After time, most players receive a suitable nickname: "Skunk-Ape," "The Punisher," "Peaches," "Lunchbox" and "Kobra-Kai."
"Everyone can join," he said, "those with wives, kids, those in varying stages of divorce. There's lots of diversity and personality."
Similar in its fluidity to soccer, rugby union is played by teams of 15 players who pass the oval ball by hand laterally or backward. The ball also can be kicked. A try is the equivalent of a touchdown; the field is called the pitch; and a scrum is similar to the line of scrimmage.
The game is logical, but players need to be versatile, Krewe members say. Speed, the ability to take a tackle and good hand-eye coordination are key.
"It's a lot more in control than people think," said Captain T.J. "Stay in Your" Lane, who lives in Odessa and plays Division II. "The rules of the game dictate when you move."
Krewe members share a similar story on how they found the sport. Most were high school athletes introduced to rugby in college. After graduation, they found a local team.
"You can travel anywhere in the world and there'll be a team," said Kevin "KC" Connolly, 41.
Connolly, who is in marketing, plays Division III but is nursing an injury. He is the Krewe's match secretary.
"It fills that competition void," said Lane, the wide receivers coach for Plant High's football team. "It's a lot simpler than football, but you have to be fit to play."
Meyers played for five years in Seattle after college. When he moved to Tampa in 2006, the first thing he did was find a team.
"I came down during Gasparilla, and I automatically had 46 friends," said Meyers, who plays Division III. "The camaraderie, it's almost like a fraternity."
Games draw about 60 spectators, including wives, children, friends, girlfriends, former players and sport enthusiasts.
A registered nonprofit organization, the team raised $8,000 for Tampa Thunder, a youth wheelchair soccer league, at its annual golf tournament last summer, Goodwin said. It also donates a rental fee for use of the Boys & Girls Club field, which is offered to the team for free.
Rugby etiquette calls for the home team to host an after-game party. Krewe is sponsored by MacDinton's Irish Pub & Restaurant on South Howard Avenue, and the players can be found there Saturday afternoons after home games singing songs and spreading cheer.
"We beat the crap out of each other for 80 minutes, and then we buy the other team a beer," Meyers said.
KREWE RUGBY
MEMBERS: 50, including 20 alumni
AGES: 18 to 40s
OCCUPATIONS: Marketing, sales, pilot, surgeon, teacher, military, engineer
TEAM COLORS: Red, gold and black
PRACTICE: 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at the North Tampa Boys & Girls Club, 2313 E. Yukon St.
HOME GAMES: 2 p.m. Saturdays at Skyview Park, 6203 S. Martindale Ave.
MEMBERSHIP DUES: $160 twice a year
CONTACT: Michael Goodwin at (813) 841-4913 or gootwin @hotmail.com; Eric Saunders at (813) 610-0549 or ESandaz20 @aol.com; or go to www.krewerugby.com.
Reporter Jamie Pilarczyk can be reached at (813) 835-2114 or jpilarczyk@tampatrib.com. Keyword: Rugby, to watch a video report on Krewe Rugby.
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