On the first weekend of April, on the 5th, the BGSU women's rugby team traveled to Central Michigan University for the annual Ruck the Mountain 10s Tournament. The ladies played four games that day and placed second overall in the tournament. Their first game was a muddy victory against Ferris State University, winning 17 to 7. Next, they played Grand Valley State University. The Falcons had a hard-fought loss with a score of 22 to 24. Their next game was against Calvin University where the ladies shut out the knights with a score of 24 to 0. After this win, the women's rugby team had to play Grand Valley State University once more. After a long muddy day, the women fell short with a score of 12-28.

The next weekend the BGSU women's rugby team played against Akron, a women's rugby club. This game was a 15s match for the ladies. This was a very aggressive game with a tough loss. The score was BGSU 10 and Akron 43.

I was able to catch up with our Women's Rugby athletes, who shared some important information on how their season has progressed, what their obstacles are, etc. 

    "We have been playing challenging teams that are above our conference all spring in preparation for nationals. Playing these talented teams has made us better. It is training us for the higher level of play we will see in Maryland. It has also helped us get our fitness in, since we will be playing up to 4 games in two days.", shares Jordyn Barr, Sophomore impact player. I was also able to get some info from Head Coach Roger Switzer, who gave an insight on the history of BGSU Women's Rugby playing 15's and 7's recently;
    
    "We've had a very good run at 15s. As we have qualified for the sweet 16 NCR championship every year since 2019. The 15s game is more physical, and 7s is more endurance. We started playing 7s 3 years ago. Just to get in shape for 15s. As the players realized 7s was a path to better 15s performance, they up their work ethics. This translated to better teamwork, better skills, and better knowledge of how to play rugby and have fun. With the success we've had at 15s, this team of 7s knows what to expect. They have the knowledge of how the game is played they just have to go out and perform and have fun doing it." 

Jordyn Barr also gave me an idea of the biggest obstacles faced by the Women's Rugby team this season, stating, "Due to injuries and other factors we have changed our lineup a few times. One of the strengths of the players on our team is their flexibility. Everyone is willing to learn something new or change positions to better benefit the team."

BGSU Women's Rugby is hoping to make a big play this year at Nationals in Boyds, MD, but the team will need all the support they can get. Also, for any future players interested in knowing more about the program, Junior Social Chair Vivian Novak gives an insight; 

    "One of the best ways to get in contact with us and get a feel for our team nature is our Instagram. We constantly post and check our direct messages so prospective players can expect quick replies."

The next event for BGSU Women's Rugby is the NCR Women's tournament at the National 7s Tournament in Boyds, Maryland. Make sure to support the ladies in their first-ever National 7s Tournament.

To follow along with the rest of the season or to keep up with the team, be sure to check out their social media platforms listed below: 

    - Facebook: BGSU Women's Club Rugby
    - Instagram: @bgsuwrugby