 "Photo: Michael Bonn")
 "Photo: Michael Bonn")
Saddle up in the scrum; rugby has arrived at Clackamas Community College. The sport that has found its niche all over the United States is now a club sport here in Oregon City.
The band of 15 players with varied rugby experience from first year players to four years of high school and club team experience come together select Saturdays and battles teams from across the state from college teams to select club teams.
Travis Hedrick, who has four years of experience playing rugby, said, “We tried to get a team together at [Portland State University], but it fell through, so we started the club here.”
While the team looks to have fun first and foremost, they face uphill challenges. Clackamas student and rugby club organizer, AJ Vanderpool said, “We only have 15 players, so all of them have to play the entire game.”
First year player Adam Decknadel said, “I love rugby; the team is full of good guys, too.”
In their first game against the Oregon Rugby Sports Union Division Two team, the Cougars experienced a rough start and eventually fell 22-47.
While they lost handily, Vanderpool said, “We fought hard. It was tough.”
While the scrappy underdog Cougars fell, they will not give up. The team has great chemistry for only playing with each other for two months, which will surely help them.
Their next game is against Southern Oregon University on Feb. 27.
Rugby, a sport very popular in the United Kingdom and Australia, has recently risen in popularity in Oregon. In fact, most high schools in Clackamas County have a way for kids to play rugby and even have youth clubs.
The ORSU Division Two and Three clubs, an adult club team, participates in the Pacific Northwest Rugby Football Union league, battling eight teams from all across Oregon, Washington and Idaho.
Clackamas’s rugby club has dedicated time to assist the Oregon City High School club.
The rugby team is also actively searching for new players, as they only have enough players to play the entire game, no bench to be seen.
Also using their own funds and fundraising, the team has to purchase jerseys and even goalposts for their field, located off campus off of Leland Road in Oregon City.
Every sport has its beginnings, and rugby’s beginning at CCC starts now.
New players are welcome and can contact Vanderpool at (503) 314-9171 or e-mail clackamasrugby@yahoo.com.
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