Haines

This time of year is challenging for me.

As football wraps up, I realize that I am sad. Football has been a part of my family since I could crawl. My dad played at at Penn, my brother played, and if he was not such a knucklehead, he could have played Division I college football. While I was not as skilled, I still played and my son played as well, and I got to coach and watch him excel. I treasure all these memories.

But around here, I am known as the “Rugby guy.” After my high school football career was over, I found rugby. I played in college, and then a total of 30 years on the pitch for various men’s club teams. I love rugby as much as football, and I am thrilled to introduce athletes to our sport and learn how similar rugby is to football.

This past fall, several alumni continued to excel at rugby in college. At Robert Morris, Jack Steiner, a 2024 Hollidaysburg grad, has earned the Most Valuable Player award from the Allegheny Rugby Union for his standout play. Colin Butler, a senior at Susquehanna, and a former BG football standout, is finishing his fantastic career at SU, being nationally recognized for his play.

Down south at Frostburg in Maryland, Mackenzie Link, a 2024 Hollidaysburg grad, is playing outstanding rugby for this growing team, and receives financial assistance from the University for playing . She has played overseas in New Zealand as well.

Rugby is growing not only here in Blair County, but regional colleges, such as IUP, Slippery Rock and St. Augustine are advancing deep into the national playoffs for college rugby. Over in Butler, the blue turf field at Pullman Park is now hosting National College Rugby games.

Overseas, starting in February, Six Nations starts in Europe with England, Ireland, Italy, Wales, Scotland and France playing each other in stadiums that will hold 80,000 fans. You can watch rugby on Peacock, Paramount and occasionally ESPN or Fox Sports. It is accessible and easy to watch, plus games are over in two hours, not the four-hour marathon of football. No State Farm commercials, too!

On our boys side, we have an amazing statistic — several sons or grandsons of current and former local football coaches play for our team. Longtime football coach Dave Baker is one of our biggest fans. He sees the benefits of playing rugby in the spring because it makes you a better football player in the fall.

Our local program, Blair United, features players from 12 area schools with over 70 boys and girls playing rugby, from grades 6-12. We welcome new players all the time, and on Tuesday Jan. 27 at 7 pm, we will hold a Information meeting for new and returning players at the Hollidaysburg Area Public Library. Join us and follow us @blairunitedrugby.

Andy Haines is the director of rugby for Blair United Rugby Club. For more information, contact him at blairunitedrugby@gmail.com