FURFC's Charleston Tour Reflection

New Rugger Rich Podpirka reflects on FURFC's Charleston Tour

On Thursday afternoon, FURFC  were treated to a three-hour long bus tour of the prestigious city.  Some highlights of the excursion included historical sites like Battery Park, Fort Sumter, and the Old Slave Mart Museum.  Fordham student-athletes learned firsthand of the significance of the Battery, a civil-war coastal defense artillery battery that stretches along the shores of the Charleston peninsula.  The well-experienced tour guide navigated us to Fort Sumter, a brick sea fort located in Charleston Harbor.  It is best known as the site of the shots which initiated the American Civil War on April 12, 1861.  The Fordham Rugby team was privileged enough to walk through the Old Slave Mart Museum, which recounts the history of Charleston's role in this inter-state slave trade by focusing on the story of the museum and the slave sales that occurred in that very location.

Old Slave Mart Museum in Charleston, SC

On Saturday, August 17^th, the USA Eagles battled the Canada Maple Leafs in a 2015 Rugby World Cup Qualifier at Blackbaud Stadium.  Despite the tenacious effort of the American side, the young Men’s Eagles fell to the large and experienced Canadians 9 – 27.  The Canadians started perfectly with a try in the first minute of the game by Phil Mack, who chased his own kick into the try zone and touched it down to give the visitors a quick lead.  The Eagles had a tough time responding to the endless pressure of the Canadians who went up 13 - 0 at halftime.  In the 43^rd minute, Chris Wyles scored the first 3 points for the Eagles with a 25—meter penalty kick.  Despite the Eagles’ offensive pressure, Canada responded minutes later with a try from Harry Jones and a 2 point conversion from Pritchard to go up 20 – 3.  Despite two more penalty goals from Wyles, the determined Eagles could not defeat the quick started Canadians.  On August 24, the Eagles will travel to Toronto for the second leg of the Rugby World Cup Qualifier and look to defeat the Maple Leafs on Canadian soil.

FURFC enters Blackbaud Stadium

USA and Canada prep to test the new scrum laws

Fordham Rugby’s first tour was an enormous success on both personal and team levels.  The grueling three-a-day practices in the intense heat and ceaseless rain enhanced the team’s rugby skills as well as strengthen team camaraderie. Fordham Rugby was especially blessed to work with elite coaches Luke Gross and Josh Sutcliffe.  Being a new player to rugby, I loved the ability to bond with my team and further improve my knowledge and skills of the game from some of America’s top tier coaches.  Never in my life have I fathomed the opportunity to meet and work with professional rugby coaches and players, but Fordham Rugby has surpassed any of my dreams and expectations.  Furthermore, tour gave Fordham Rugby the ability to progress to the next level and start this fall season on the right path without any distractions from home in the Bronx, New York.