As dangerous as it seems, rugby is not as bad as any other sport. With Guy McCoy as the Tupelo High School rugby coach, he has high expectations for this year’s team.

This year a total of 30 students signed up, but McCoy expected some to back down. Rugby differs from many sports because of its lack of usage for protective gear.

“There’s a common misperception of rugby being dangerous because the players wear less protective gear than other sports, but it has the same potential risk as any other sport can have,” McCoy said.

The THS rugby club also competes against other schools.

“The schools that we compete against are in the West Tennessee Conference,” McCoy said. “Some schools that play there are Christian Brother, Brighten, Soulsville, Germantown, Freedom Prep and more. The majority of the schools we play are mostly private and some public.”

There has been some changes made to the rugby team due to a good number of seniors leaving. One of those changes are new players replacing the available spots left. “There’s always new players joining every year, and the experienced players show dedication to what they’re doing,”McCoy said. Another change would be getting adjusted to the team as one rather than thinking it is just a club.

The rugby club doesn’t get to win a state title; instead, they play for fun and dedication.  In sports, there’s pros and cons based on athlete’s size. But McCoy thought of something else when it relates to rugby.

“Even though size might contribute to one’s advantage in rugby, that doesn’t mean he will be a good player. In basketball, height may be useful, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that athlete will be a good player. In football, strength is a benefit, but that also doesn’t mean he’s going to be a good player. It all depends on proper technique,” McCoy said.

McCoy said that technique matters more than size, and any physical or mental strength can be beneficial to the sport as well.

“If you send someone out in the field with no technique and confidence, that could be dangerous,” McCoy said.

 “Anyone willing to give it a shot then go right ahead,” he said. “ It’s all about responsibility that makes a difference in what you can do.”

To McCoy, rugby is a sport that is special to him because he thinks that people will learn what it means to be in a team.

“You learn from your teammates and value each other, and I think that’s what it means to be in a team sport,” McCoy said.

The rugby club meets every Tuesday and Thursday at Church Street School from 4 to 6 pm. They practice by doing drills, and they play rugby with each other if possible. Rugby is a sport that requires responsibility and dedication along with great mental and physical strength. Then, the rest is up to you if you want to give this club a try. There is nothing to lose. It doesn’t matter how big or tall someone is; instead, it matters about how much technique and experience a person has. In McCoy’s opinion, the person with technique will always win in a game.

“At first, rugby starts out as a club and not a whole,” McCoy said. “But as we play more games, we become like a team and become closer like a whole.”