Rugby squad sets sights on Hokies

When a First Baptist Church bus is spotted on Fifth Avenue, look again because it might be Marshall's men's rugby club.

The Thundering Herd men's team will ride the bus Saturday to play Virginia Tech. The Hokies' squad is ranked No. 2 nationally.

"The expectation is that it is a real long shot for us to win this game, but we could do it," rugby club adviser and professor of economics Dr. Al Wilkin Wilkins. said Virginia Tech is Marshall's target, but the Thundering Herd is not their target.

Beating Virginia Tech would move Marshall closer to their goal of winning a Division II National Championship. If that happens, the club would like to move up to Division I.

The rugby club will face Kent at 2 p.m. Sept. 23 behind Veteran's Memorial Field House.

The home games were scheduled so tailgaters at Thundering Herd football games can watch the rugby team play.

The club's motto is "Marshall rugby football: Have you ever seen it played, the way it was meant to be played?"

The way it is was meant to be played may be found in rugby fundamentals which the Thundering Herd follows. Wilkins said to win games the club must keep possession of the ball by throwing good passes, running upfield, staying inbounds and keeping their composure.

Wilkins said another important fundamental is eliminating penalties by lateral passes and tackling below the armpits. The club must remember the captain only talks to the referee, he said.

The Thundering Herd rugby club is ranked No. 3 in the Ohio Union and No. 8 in the Midwest conferences.