Rugby is game rich in history that has been growing in popularity for years in America. For those who may not know, rugby is a padless, full-contact sport in which opposing teams may only pass the ball backward in order to advance to the other teams end zone. This game is 80 minutes long, with continuous action, where the play is stopped only for halftime and injury. Rugby combines finesse and physicality to create a sport enjoyable for any player or spectator.

John Carroll University, unbeknownst to some, has a storied rugby club that was founded in 1966 as the Gators Rugby Football Club. Over the years, the program has evolved into an official club sport, unlike when it was founded. The program has enjoyed success, including a second place finish at the NSCRO Challenge Cup National Championship in 2017.

The 2018 campaign has started off well for the Gators, who compete in the Great Lakes CRC. The season started off with a 19–0 victory over Cleveland State.

Junior Matthew Crudele punished defenders and recorded two tries while freshman Leo Minard had one try.

The second game of the season resulted in a 56–10 drubbing of University of Akron. This all-around team effort included tries by Crudele, junior Jake Lenti, sophomore Reggie Frost, first-year Willis Goodwin, and junior Josh Bens. This match featured a low point for the Zips when a player decided to quit the team mid-game as a result of the domination the Gators displayed on the pitch. The Gators are continuing their run from last year, hungrier than ever for another shot at a national championship.

The next match will be at Denison University on Sept. 29, while the next home game is Oct. 6 against Baldwin-Wallace.