2008 Woodie Awards
Walks-ons vital for rugby team
Brandy Provaznik/Columnist
Issue date: 8/27/08 Section: Sports
Walking on to a Division I team, immediately starting and being a contributor does not usually happen.
But for Eastern rugby players, it is something they definitely do not overlook.
"The nice thing about being a rugby walk-on is that there are other girls trying to learn the rules of the game and how to play at the same time you are," said graduate assistant coach Eileen O'Rourke.
Having walked on her freshman year, she knows what the process is like.
O'Rourke was recruited to play Division III basketball but chose instead to come to Eastern for academic reasons.
Once she realized that she needed sports back in her life, and intramurals weren't going to cut it, she turned to rugby.
"I was the only one to show up for the (walk-on) meeting," O'Rourke said. "It was kind of nerve racking, but I had always defined myself as an athlete and was kind of lost without sports."
O'Rourke later went on to earn a scholarship and a starting spot at the scrum half position.
Eastern head coach Frank Graziano said rugby is more about just having the athletic ability - like balance, quick feet, great hands and strength - than technical skills.
"Can you imagine trying to walk on to the soccer team if you had never played soccer before in your life?" Graziano said. "It would be nearly impossible, because it is too technical and those other sports are so much further along and established that you need to start playing those sports early in order to compete at this high of a level."
With rugby, Graziano recruits players from all different sports including cross country, softball, basketball and track. He then teaches them the skills and fundamentals needed for the rugby field. Graziano said he thinks once rugby is played at more high schools, it too will become just as technical as other sports.
Walk-ons also help to add depth to the rugby team's roster. Last season there were only about 17 women on the roster and quite a few times the Panthers had to play shorthanded because of injuries.
When the Panthers played Indiana last year, they were at one point playing with only 11 of the 15 positions filled. This year the Panthers are already up to about 21 players with three new walk-ons so far and four new freshmen recruits.
While Graziano said he is impressed with a number of his walk-ons, one in particular has earned an important starting role. Red-shirt freshman Narissa Ramirez will be starting at scrum half.
"Narissa probably has the largest challenge," Graziano said. "She is playing a very skilled position but once she started in January, I had her penciled in for that because she is a natural athlete, and a quick and tenacious player. She is not real big, but she's a tough kid."
Brandy Provaznik can be reached at 581-7944 or at blprovaznik@eiu.edu.
But for Eastern rugby players, it is something they definitely do not overlook.
"The nice thing about being a rugby walk-on is that there are other girls trying to learn the rules of the game and how to play at the same time you are," said graduate assistant coach Eileen O'Rourke.
Having walked on her freshman year, she knows what the process is like.
O'Rourke was recruited to play Division III basketball but chose instead to come to Eastern for academic reasons.
Once she realized that she needed sports back in her life, and intramurals weren't going to cut it, she turned to rugby.
"I was the only one to show up for the (walk-on) meeting," O'Rourke said. "It was kind of nerve racking, but I had always defined myself as an athlete and was kind of lost without sports."
O'Rourke later went on to earn a scholarship and a starting spot at the scrum half position.
Eastern head coach Frank Graziano said rugby is more about just having the athletic ability - like balance, quick feet, great hands and strength - than technical skills.
"Can you imagine trying to walk on to the soccer team if you had never played soccer before in your life?" Graziano said. "It would be nearly impossible, because it is too technical and those other sports are so much further along and established that you need to start playing those sports early in order to compete at this high of a level."
With rugby, Graziano recruits players from all different sports including cross country, softball, basketball and track. He then teaches them the skills and fundamentals needed for the rugby field. Graziano said he thinks once rugby is played at more high schools, it too will become just as technical as other sports.
Walk-ons also help to add depth to the rugby team's roster. Last season there were only about 17 women on the roster and quite a few times the Panthers had to play shorthanded because of injuries.
When the Panthers played Indiana last year, they were at one point playing with only 11 of the 15 positions filled. This year the Panthers are already up to about 21 players with three new walk-ons so far and four new freshmen recruits.
While Graziano said he is impressed with a number of his walk-ons, one in particular has earned an important starting role. Red-shirt freshman Narissa Ramirez will be starting at scrum half.
"Narissa probably has the largest challenge," Graziano said. "She is playing a very skilled position but once she started in January, I had her penciled in for that because she is a natural athlete, and a quick and tenacious player. She is not real big, but she's a tough kid."
Brandy Provaznik can be reached at 581-7944 or at blprovaznik@eiu.edu.
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