From the various clubs offered to students on campus the Rugby club has become the first and only sports clubs registered at Pierce College.
Club president Reed Sigmon, 18, is a current Pierce College student who is majoring in history, shared his experience on how they were informed about being the first sports club registered on campus after turning in their paper work.
“I didn’t even know we were the first sports club to be honest with you, until after we did the paperwork,” Sigmon said. “That’s when they said [ASO] ‘We don’t know what to do with you guys, you’re the first ever sport’s club.’”
From Sept. 17 to Sept. 24 the rugby club had over 100 students signed up to join. Before club rush, they originally had 10 people interested but after two days, Sigmon, rugby coach Phil Grieve and the other members of the club decided to recruit students by standing outside and informing all who passed by. Approximately 150 students gave their information and showed interest in wanting to join. From the people that signed up 110 were male and about 40 were female, according to Sigmon.
Pamphlets were handed out that provided information about the club and rugby. One of the pages gave a small description explaining the game of rugby.
“It’s a sport that joins all the different skills of football, basketball, and wrestling into one sport. People looking at it might think it’s almost like football with no pads,” Grieve said. “It’s got that perception that it’s brutal. Safety is a huge factor in the coaching philosophy.”
Grieve is from New Zealand and started playing rugby when he was six-years old, with his last competitive year at 36 years old. After six years at California State University, Fullerton, a friend convinced Grieve to get involved in the organization of the club in which it is affiliated with the Rising Eagles Rugby Academy For Men and Women.
Club member Paul Maingi has been playing rugby for five years, including his high school years back in Kenya where he was born and raised before moving to the United States last year. Grieve, Sigmon and Maingi shared their hopes on the future of the club.
“For now we are Division III. Give it a couple of years and I see Pierce College becoming a Division I,” Maingi said.
Pierce has had the opportunity to help their athletic department students transfer and play for well known teams. Sigmon shared how he hopes it can be the same with his club.
“I just want the club, yes of course to be Division I, but I also want it to be a point where you can go other places,” Sigmon said. “Pierce is known to get their players out and transfer to other schools and I kind of want to have that same idea for the rugby team. Like saying, oh you played for this rugby team, oh you must be pretty good. It’s the hope to get you out there. To get you seen by other places.”
The first game for the rugby team will be on the road on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015 against California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. For updates on the club you can visit their website at risingeaglesacademy.com, theroundupnews.com or Pierce College Rugby Club on facebook.com.
