The Owls are looking to take their team to the 2024 Women’s Rugby Tournament Championship in Houston, Texas at the end of the season.
Women’s Rugby Team President Sam Pinnell gave her thoughts about the upcoming season as well as some history about the team.
The club was founded between 2008 and 2009 and has seen a long lineage of successful members in its history.
“We have gone through a really long history of really great women,” Pinnell said.
Pinnell said she wanted to be part an outlet for people to get together and enjoy the sport of Rugby. Rugby is not as big in America as it is in other parts of the world, and she really wanted to help bring the sport more into the spotlight.
“We wanted the outlet for people to get together and really enjoy and grow the sport because rugby is not as big in America as it is everywhere else,” she said.
She said that the Women’s USA Olympic Rugby team really helped them recruit players and players having a lot of interest in joining rugby.
With the Olympics last year we have had a lot of interest,” Pinnell said
Pinnell said the club’s focus and mission is all about cohesiveness.
“We’re working on collaboration, communication and sportsmanship,” Pinnell said.
No matter who you are, Pinnell said the club promotes a welcoming and familial type of atmosphere.
“This is a family, anyway you slice it it’s a family. We are here to make sure that everybody is in a safe and happy environment,” Pinnell said. “We want to spread that love as much as we can,”
With new faces on the team this season, the club makes sure that newcomers are given opportunities to become acquainted while learning and growing with the club.
“We have two rookies assigned to veteran players. I think everyone has been driving well and we have really great team chemistry,” Pinnell said. “We have been able to mix and match and everyone get to know a little bit of everyone.”
The club is still an up-and-coming organization, Pinnell said they are being diligent and patient about everyone getting a feel for things and trusting the process when learning the game.
“We’re still working on our basics. We are a very slow to start club sport just so everyone feels that they can learn,” Pinnell said.
When Pinnell and her staff go about recruiting, she said that they focus on those interested in the sport, but don’t require any prior experience. Everyone can play and everyone has an opportunity.
“We love to share the sport. It is such a beautiful thing, and our biggest thing is that we make sure that everyone does not have to have any experience to start,” Pinnell said. “You could have never played a sport before, and we would love to have you out there.”
Pinnell herself did not play any other sports prior to rugby. Members can be a first-time athletes and the team would love to have you on their squad.
“I was a band kid before I played rugby. I played clarinet. This was a great way for me to get active so I can share that with people,” Pinnell said.
A new season is underway with the rugby squad with second year coach John Salyer and new faces in new places.
“This is our second year with (coach Salyer),” said Pinnell. “He played four years with LSU rugby, so he has a lot of experience that he is able to share with us.”
Finally, goals are an important part of every team’s success. For the club, motivation comes from giving back to the sport they love.
“We have spent a lot of time focusing on our goals this year. What do we want to give to Rugby that the sport can give back to us?”
