SLU loses big, with a Tigers' win of 39-3

By Allie Blood

Published Oct. 2, 2007

The Tigers out-rucked and out-scrummed Saint Louis University on Saturday, winning 39-3.

Donning gold and black striped socks, MU men's rugby faced SLU at home and brought their record to 4-0.

Before MU began playing, they huddled and chanted:

"One, two, three, kick ass, Tigers."

And kick ass they did.

Some fans lined the grass-covered hill drinking beer and cheering for MU.

Not all fans said they had seen a rugby game before.

"This is brutal," MU junior Katherine Bauer said. "This is like wrestling meets soccer meets football meets cheerleading."

Rugby allows players to tackle each other without wearing pads, punt the ball or run with it and at times lift teammates into the air to contest for ball possession.

Also, players' jersey numbers do not identify individuals but rather their positions.

It is played in two 40-minute halves and each team can make five player substitutions in a game.

Saturday's game featured senior Jeff Rehder, who filled in for the regular fullback and president John Victor, who had broken his left arm during a practice two weeks ago.

"Jeff really had the chance to exhibit his skills against SLU," Victor said.

Victor will be out for the remainder of the semester, but he said he is optimistic that he will be able to play during the spring semester.

The win against SLU maintains the Tigers' undefeated record and gives the Tigers a win in the MU-SLU rivalry.

Although it is unclear where the rivalry originated, events in recent years have perpetuated hard feelings.

"A couple of years ago they beat us in the Langenburg Cup," senior Brian Bage said.

Bage said the Langenburg Cup is important because it qualifies teams to Western Collegiate Rugby Championships.

There is a general feeling among team members that SLU does not play fairly.

"They're dirty players," Bage said. "They don't play the game like they should."

Traditionally, rugby is associated with fighting. In previous decades, it was common for players to throw punches.

Coach Matt Moore said there has been an effort in the past 10 years to eliminate fighting from the sport.

"We want to get away from that image," Moore said.

Despite trying to move away from the violent stereotype, even legal plays are rough.

Some of the crowd gasped when a MU player had a breakaway and was suddenly tackled by a SLU defensemen.

MU plays Nebraska on Saturday, and some players, including Bage, said they anticipate it will be their most difficult match of the semester.

"We're going into the game fairly open-minded, because this will be a test to see where we stand and how we're going to do at the Big 12 at the end of the semester," Victor said.

After the Nebraska game on Saturday, MU will play host to an "Old Boys' Game" on Sunday where alumni can play against current Tigers.