Above: Members of the freshman rugby team after a recent practice at Pier 40.

Sports Update: Freshman Rugby Begins Grind to Greatness

By Billy Malewich '12

The Xavier rugby program has been a staple on 16th Street since its inception in 1976. When players make the varsity team as juniors and seniors, they are expected to have full knowledge of the game and to continuously work on perfecting their craft. To get to that point, the players must learn the sport. With rugby not being a sport many kids start playing at a young age in America, the freshman coaching staff is tasked with teaching the players every single aspect of the sport before they play a game. Freshman rugby head coach and Associate Director of Admissions Billy Maloney ’01 is the man responsible for getting these players ready for the next four years. The Xavier E-News caught up with him to find out how he and his coaching staff get the players ready.

Xavier E-News: How many players try out for the freshman team? What do you think draws those players to rugby?
Billy Maloney ’01: Every year there is always a big turnout for freshman rugby. This year, we had 76 players try out. In the past, we have had as many as 95 trying out. We are currently ranked third in the United States. Our program has won a few national championships as well as the honor of international touring and hosting visiting teams from around the world. With the travel and reputation, it is no surprise that incoming freshmen want a piece of the action.

Xavier E-News: With few students having any experience with the sport before coming to Xavier, how do you prepare players adequately?
Maloney: I would say that 90% of the young men trying out have never played rugby before, and about half of them have never seen the game. It is a complicated game with many laws that might not be "common sense," but four of the five members of the freshman coaching staff played at Xavier. We start with the basics (passing, running, timing, spacing, tackling), and we drill those until they are what are called "non-negotiables." Everyone must be able to do the basics and do them well. We then build upon that foundation. It is a slow process, but it works very well.

Xavier E-News: Finally, how do you prepare players for the junior varsity and varsity teams?
Maloney: We try to prepare these young men for JV and varsity by challenging them, mentally and physically. We try to instill a sense of competitiveness but also camaraderie. In life, you have to work hard—sometimes harder than the person next to you to get what you want. It is helpful to have teammates to challenge you. My coaching philosophy is "Iron Sharpens Iron." Basically, if I push you and you push me, we both get better. We encourage kids to go for it. Don't be afraid to try, and definitely do not be afraid to fail.

The freshman team will travel to Leesburg, Virginia, for a two-day tournament at the end of spring break. For all information regarding Xavier Rugby, including schedules for varsity, JV, and freshmen, click here.