The unofficial online home for fans of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

In case you were wondering what former WMU OL Jackson Day was up to....he's tearing it up on WMU's rugby team. He was named to the All-D1AA 1st team by FloRugby.

His big presence in the middle led WMU to a 6-2 regular season record. 1-1 in the MAC playoffs. 1-1 in the national qualifiers with a win over Rowan and a loss to Kentucky. We've built a pretty darn good program at WMU, considering its still only a club sport. The team finished the year ranked 34th in all of division 1.

I played on Western's B-side for a year and it was a hell of a time! Tough sport, but lots of fun.

Regular season:
9/2 U of M W 45-10
9/9 Oakland W 44-5
9/16 MSU W 26-7
9/23 BGSU L 15-29
9/30 CMU W 91-5
10/7 Davenport L 28-21 (DU has a varsity rugby program)
10/14 BYE
10/21 NIU W 61-0
10/27 Notre Dame W 21-20
11/4-5 Playoffs

MAC CHAMPIONSHIP
11/4 Louisville W 26-22
11/5 Bowling green L 35-21

National qualifier (top 8 in D1AA)
11/18 Kentucky L 58-25 (UK were SEC champs and national runners-up)
11/19 Rowan W 22-15

Thanks for the info. Rugby is a man’s sport! Pretty cool our club team can make such a strong showing.

(01-01-2018 06:35 AM)Dirty Ernie Wrote:  Thanks for the info. Rugby is a man’s sport! Pretty cool our club team can make such a strong showing.

Yes it is. And the after parties and rugger huggers are the best!

Great news. Do Rugby players still not use head protection, or is it more commonplace now? Seems like a necessity with all the concussion concerns lately.

(01-01-2018 10:43 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  Great news. Do Rugby players still not use head protection, or is it more commonplace now? Seems like a necessity with all the concussion concerns lately.

It's common for one or two guys to wear scrum caps, but they're nothing like football helmets. Most guys still wear little to no padding or protection of any kind outside of mouth guards.

Despite having less protection, injury rates between the sports are relatively similar and may even be better in rugby. I think this is in large part due to football players feeling invincible in their suits of armor and going for the big hit every time. It has become commonplace to try to injure your opponent in football. Both sports are violent, but rugby is a controlled violence (partly because referees are more respected and are the ultimate authority in rugby, there's a culture of respect. You never see players or coaches arguing with the officials). Without that padding, you are vulnerable and more likely to practice proper technique to avoid injuring yourself. Rugby players are more focused on taking down the ball carrier and winning back the ball than absolutely laying out the guy with the ball and then celebrating as he's laying there writhing in pain. At least this was my experience with the sport.