Due to COVID-19, rugby has been put on hold for this school year. 

“I think it’s the right thing to do,” rugby coach Tom Foley said. “I don’t think there’s a way to meet the mandates in the game of rugby, it’s just too much of a contact sport.”

Foley coaches girls rugby in the fall and boys rugby in the spring, but because of COVID-19 he wants to see if he can run both boys and girls in the spring this school year.

“Most of the surrounding states play in the spring,” Foley said. “That might allow the girls rugby teams in Michigan to travel down into Ohio or Indiana and play games then.”

Foley plans on coaching rugby next school year as well. 

“If COVID-19 is still an issue, but not as much, the touch version of the game is a possibility,” Foley said.

He hopes to get more people involved in rugby and says you don’t have to be a scholarship athlete.

“I think what’s unique about rugby, that’s maybe different from other school sponsored sports is that if people are interested in playing at the next level, that possibilities are open for everyone,” Foley said.