First game down, a season to go. While rugby is seen to be similar to football, the players have absolutely no protective gear, no team is playing specifically a defensive or offensive side and there are no time outs.

Last fall, White Station’s rugby team went to the state competition in Murfreesboro for their 7s season. Only seven players are permitted on the field at a time, and the team has plenty to live up to for this spring season. The current spring season is known as a 15s season, in which fifteen players are permitted for each team. This season, advancing to the state competition is their goal.

After losing their first game 54-10 to Power Center Academy High School, the players hit the practice field in order to improve. Based on the first game results, head coach David Scott believes the team needs to focus on knowing their positions and being prepared for what will occur next.

“The game indicated that we do have fight and will and grind,” Christian Hollowell (12), the team captain and outside center said. “We have everything we need, we just got to put it all together and keep going from the minute the whistle blows to the end of the game.”

Although some of the positives in the game showed the team’s “fight and will,” there are weak areas like any other team. For these Spartans, it is back to basics.

“This year what I’d like to concentrate on is the basics of tackling, catching, passing and moving the ball forward, the good basic rugby skills,” said head coach David Scott.

This season the team has five new players who have never played the sport before, but their brotherly bond has not suffered. Even off the field, the players hang out regularly and organize self-run practices for fun on weekends.

“We’re family, we’re one,” Alex Schrachta (9), an inside center and rugby rookie, said.

In the south, rugby is one of the more uncommon sports, so most of the Spartan Rugby team discovered rugby through television, family or friends.

“I grew up watching it… my brother played, and as a kid, his friends taught me a lot of stuff, so I kind of grew up learning the game,” flanker Brayden Martin (9) said. “So now I’m carrying on the torch that my brother lit.”

The team has quite a few tough games left before qualifiers for state, but their strong brotherhood will make the road to state worth it.