Women’s rugby gaining popularity
A 2010 study by America’s Sporting Goods Manufacturers’ Association, based on a survey of sporting participation in 120 different sports, reported rugby was the fastest-growing team sport in the United States.
Women’s rugby sevens was voted in as a new sport in the 2016 summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. On the campus of Utah State, the sport is seeing similar growth.
“I started playing five years ago,” said Dani Gomm, the Aggies’ fly-half. “When I started it was still really small, and there were a lot of colleges that still didn’t have teams. We have seen colleges who didn’t even have a rugby program that have women’s rugby now.
“I am always running into girls all over, just when I travel, who play rugby, and you wouldn’t have seen that five years ago. As soon as you meet someone that plays rugby, there is an automatic bond there somehow. It just happens.”
Utah State has 23 women that travel with the team this year and even more that come the team’s bi-weekly practices.
“I think that rugby is becoming a lot more popular, just in general,” said the Aggies forwards coach Victoria Pierce. “In the states, it is growing in popularity. Our team is getting a lot better as the years go on too.”
Last season, USU had about 18 women that participated in fall rugby, which is played with 15 players on the pitch.
“We have been building the program more,” Pierce said. “The more girls we get, the more sustained we can be through the years and continue to build the program.”
Wynter Holtman, USU’s starting 8 man, compared the team to a family.
“This year I feel like that there is a lot more girls that are excited about it,” Holman said. “We have a lot of new players. It’s kind of like a party every practice. Everyone is excited to be here. It’s a lot of fun. I always have someone to go lift with, hang out with. It is just like a family.”
So far this season, Utah State is 2-1 and has three more matches before the playoffs.
“There is a lot of team bonding and team unity,” Gomm said. “A lot of people have the same priorities, and we just like to get out and have fun.”
The next game is on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. on the Aggies’ Legacy Fields against conference opponent UVU.
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