As the University of North Alabama’s rugby season comes to a close, the young team looks optimistically toward next spring’s recruitment for a strong Fall season.
“I respect all of my guys,” said UNA Rugby Club team captain and social media manager Cohen Cantrell. “I wouldn’t ask them to do something if I didn’t fully believe in each and every one of them.”
UNA’s record for rugby this year was four wins and four losses: just one short of this year’s playoff qualifications. This wasn’t always the case though with UNA’s rugby club.
Since its inception in 2010, UNA’s rugby club has taken home five championships, including two Western Division championships, two Dixie Conference championships and one Regional championship in 2016. The rugby club also fostered three all-American rugby players, two of which went on to play professional rugby in the United States.
Above all else though, Rugby Club members put their academic lives first. UNA Rugby Coach Eddie Roberts hammers that the overarching goal of the program is not to win championships, but to create disciplined men.
“We’ve had a lot of successes, wins, a lot of championships,” said Roberts. “But what I’m most proud of is developing these young men to be good fathers, good husbands, and good friends.
While official UNA sports football can be very demanding, the opportunity for a physical challenge through a club is what many first-year Lions need as they transfer into college life. UNA rugby hopes to provide that alternative while working towards their next season.
“New [teammates] coming into an unfamiliar environment and finding a brotherhood [in Rugby Club],” said Cantrell. “It has helped some of our guys get through their freshman year.”
This is Cantrell’s third year on the team and first year as team captain alongside UNA students Hlomla “H” Hlabangana, Matt Blake and Jackson Bonney.
If you are interested in joining UNA Rugby, find them on Instagram at una_rugby or email [email protected].
