A Profile of Mason Rugby

The George Mason University club rugby team, known affectionately to all those who play as the Gang Green, has been competing against fellow squads since 1965, making it the oldest club team at Mason. And each year, the club has seen growth and interest in the sport.

“The Mason Club membership has grown by 45 percent since I started coaching,” said Frederic Bardot, coach of the team since 2002. “This is due mostly to student leadership and internal recruiting.”

The word of mouth approach has led many to come out and watch the sport, and additionally encouraged more students to get involved. The coaches and players would not have it any other way.

“Having new players is always a great thing to see because you have new faces, which is a plus since one more person knows about rugby,” said Edward McRorie, rugby president. “Even if they decide not to play, you have a fan and it shows that your recruiting paid off. We always enjoy and welcome new players and are willing to teach, if they are willing to learn.”

As the team website states, players with no experience are welcome to come out and play. Unlike other club and varsity sports on campus, which require skill and experience, the rugby club has an open door for athletes.

-The Broadside, "Oldest Club Team Continues to Bring in Players, Fans Alike"

When I went to my first Rugby practice at the end of August 2005, I was not only ignorant where the sport was concerned; I had spent a lifetime being a lazy slob who didn't play any sport.

Coach Bardot and the boys on the team had infinite patience with a new recruit who had to work three times as hard as the rest of them just to be the worst player on the team. In the end, it got me in better shape than I'd ever been before, I made a connection with a group of people at Mason, and I fell in love with the sport. It also made me curious about other sports, such as Baseball in particular, but also Football to a certain extent--and I've taken the time to watch the games and learn about them as a result.

I've had to sit this season out for reasons of both work scheduling and a bit of health trouble, and it's been rather depressing. It's nice to see the team getting some recognition; few students at GMU are aware of the fact that we're the longest standing club sport that the university's got.

If you live in the area, I encourage you to check out the games. The website provides all the information you'll need, including contact information for people who can answer any questions you've got.