Its been some time since I've done one of these and I've actually had this sitting in que for quite a bit. I want to thank the entire women's wolf pack team for being patient with me on getting this posted. The Western Oregon University rugby clubs have always been a cherished program and university for me to follow. in the shadows of University of Oregon and Oregon State University lays another great university and a great rugby program. Situated in Monmouth is Western University Oregon, Both the men's and women's rugby clubs have carved out there own corner of the NW of tradition and support. I want to thank the women's club for taking some time and answering these questions below, I truly look forward to seeing how much this club continues to grow and position themselves to being the power house of the west.
WOU- 2003. During this time we've completed at Nationals three times, twice for 15s and once for 7s, which was last year.
LLR- What conference and division does the team play in?
WOU- Cascade Collegiate Women's Rugby Conference DIII (Small College)
We have a total of 4 teams in the conference: WOU, Willamette University, Reed and Lewis & Clark Community College, University of Puget Sound (WA).
We also are registered through National Collegiate Rugby, one of several rugby organizations in the country.
LLR- If you had to choose, who would be the Wolves fiercest rival on the pitch ?
WOU- At this time Willamette University is our biggest rival.
LLR- How is the relationship between the women's rugby and the other club teams on campus?
WOU- We maintain healthy relationships with other club sports, though our closet relationship is with the men's rugby club.
LLR- Is there any engagement with the local community?
WOU- Absolutely. Since my time as head coach I've started to build relationships with local high schools' rugby programs as well as the PNW Loggers, which is part of USA Rugby's National Development Program, creating pathways and opportunities for those pursuing rugby at the next level.
LLR- What is a tradition that the club has that not many people may know of?
WOU- Rugby has several traditions, rooted in its deep culture. One of the most prominent traditions is the social, which is where players from all the teams gather after the match—win or lose—to share drinks, food, and stories. This reinforces rugby’s ethos of sportsmanship and respect. There is typically a theme where everyone dresses up, sings songs together, and chooses players of the match based on performance.
LLR- What type of events are done for player recruitment?
WOU- Through our outreach to local high school rugby programs we've created an opportunity to recruit players through multiple pathways. We invite the individuals to games where they can interact with the team, provide tours of the campus, and assist them with the ins and outs of transitioning from high school to college such as FAFSA applications, navigation of the variety of scholarships available to them, housing, and job searches.
LLR- There does seem to be an upswing in more girls playing rugby around the country, what sets WOU apart for incoming students to come out and have a run?
WOU- What we're doing here at WOU is taking the existing foundation that was created and elevating it to the next level. We've become more competitive, playing higher level competition outside of our conference. We went to NCR's Collegiate Rugby Championships last year where we placed 14th in the small college division in the country. This year we have our sights set on the top 5. We value and honor our history with hard work and commitment, creating an environment that fosters diversity and inclusiveness, promoting success both on and off the pitch.
LLR- Lastly, what words of encouragement can you offer to young girls right now playing rugby or going out for their first time to a practice ?
WOU- Rugby is an amazing sport that strips away pretense and reveals a lot about a person’s character, resilience, and values. It highlights your strengths and builds upon your opportunities. It gives you the opportunity to find your chosen family, build lasting relationships, and be a part of a team that puts value in teamwork where you empower and motivate one another. If you have the opportunity to be a part of a rugby club, I encourage you to go through it with an open mind and put your best foot forward. Be a part of something great.
* I want to thank the whole team for being patient in me getting this posted, I am truly grateful that they answered these questions and agreed to a Q&A. i hope you all get a chance to follow their journey and great stories through one of there socials.