– Photo by Jeff Primozich/For the Review

Julia Long

Review staff writer

Sweat drips from foreheads as arms interlock in a testosterone-filled group hug; cleat-clad feet from all directions scramble to gain possession of the muddy ball in the middle of a human tunnel.

Also known as a scrum, this description paints a picture unmatched by the experience of a fundamental moment in the game of rugby.

Students can now participate in this English sport, as the rugby club kicks off for the first time this spring.

Senior Brad Farnham, the vice president of the club, has a positive outlook. He hopes the team will win many matches.

The object of the game is to score as many points as possible by kicking, passing, carrying and grounding the ball. Each team consists of 15 players.

The team won’t officially be established until next season, but it is getting a head start with pickup games, called “friendlies,” and practices.

Friendlies are games played solely for the sake of playing rugby. Teams battle with an equal amount of enthusiasm as in regular league games, but the final scores are not tallied for standings.

“Both teams are still out to win, and there will still be a great deal of intensity,” club president Craig Sinclair said.

With practice every Wednesday and Friday evening, team members are working to learn the rules of the game and how to collaborate as a unit.

“Our team is filled with really athletic people and has a great dynamic,” Farnham said. “We all get along with each other and work well together.”

The Wildcats participated in their first two friendlies against University of Puget Sound and Seattle University this past weekend with encouraging results.

The team proved victorious in both matches, with final scores of 10-5 and 15-10, respectively. 

Sinclair is working to gain Linfield recognition from the Pacific Northwest Rugby Football Union, which would place the team in the collegiate Division II league for the 2008-2009 seasons.

The PNRFU is a territorial union and a division of USA Rugby, which  includes senior men’s and women’s leagues and collegiate and high school leagues.

Recruitment will occur in September, along with a preliminary informational meeting before the real competition ensues.

Students interested in participating in the sport should contact either        Sinclair at [email protected] or Farnham at [email protected]