As MHS girls rugby team officially kicks off the season, the MHS student body is pleasantly surprised. Only two games into the season, and they have already spiked the interest of many.
MHS girls rugby player, sophomore Annavella Lomas, stated, “Our first game was a really big learning experience for everyone. We went against a really good team and we lost, but it was worth it because we all learned what not to do the next time.”
Every single player this year is completely new to playing rugby. And, most girls who joined didn’t exactly expect to fall in love with the sport.
“I literally just joined because Lilly asked me to,” Annavella stated.
Lilly Longhurst, also an MHS sophomore girls rugby player, said, “Me and my dad started playing over the summer, and it was super fun. I needed a friend to play with me, so I asked Annavella to join, and she actually did.”
After the first few weeks of rugby, the girls have all realized how much they love it. It’s not just a sport to them; it’s a way for them to have fun. The difficulty and the enjoyment create a balance that makes rugby worth a try for everyone.
“Truly, rugby is so fun. It doesn’t have many rules, so it just feels like a constant adrenaline rush. Not just that, but our coach is also amazing. I wouldn’t enjoy rugby if he weren’t the coach,” Lilly stated.
Rugby is extremely challenging and takes a toll on the players’ physical health during games, but it doesn’t affect them for long.
“A couple of girls literally flew across the field last game. Lilly was just lying on the ground hurt for a while,” Annavella stated.
“I got hurt pretty bad, but I jumped right back in the game for the second half, and I felt amazing. Even if I get hurt, I still enjoy playing because it’s just so fun. Our coach does a really good job at encouraging us to do better and to never give up,” Lilly stated.
Overall, both Lilly and Annavella love playing Rugby. It’s very difficult at times, but with the support of their coach and teammates, it’s easy to stay determined.
Annavella shared, “I would absolutely recommend rugby to other people. It’s super fun even when it’s hard. The only thing I would warn people about is the risk of getting hurt, but that’s pretty easy to look past when you get better every day and are surrounded by people who push you to work harder.”
The rugby team is not perfect by any means; everyone is still learning, as expected. But the environment that the coach and surrounding teammates have, and will continue to develop, will certainly help improve the team in the long run.
“We definitely have lots of room for improvement this season, but we’re getting better and better every practice. By the end of the season, we’ll be rugby pros,” Lilly shared.