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Home > Archive > Apr 17, 2008

Rugby Club Grows, Succeeds in Inaugural Season
By Layne Roberts
Just months ago, the St. George High School Rugby Club (SGHSRC) Knights were just beginning and searching for more players.
Now, with three games remaining on their schedule, the Knights have a rare opportunity for a team in their first season, to win more games than they lose.
Though their final three contests will be played away from St. George, the Knights have proved they can play with the best of rugby clubs.
Consider Highland as one example. Though Highland won the match, the perennial powerhouse scored their fewest points of the season agianst the first-year Knights squad.
To the surprise of many, rugby is much more about statistics and victories.
“Rugby is a gentlemen’s sport. It is not what people describe it to be,” said Siotame Uluave, who plays the prop and lock position.
“(Rugby) is such a gentlemen’s sport. We room them, feed them, hang out with them,” Kevin Bitnoff, a California native, said, referring to their opponents.
Bitnoff, who plays the scrumhalf position for the Knights, actually received a scholorship to play rugby at BYU-Hawaii this season, but moved to St. George after the sport was cancelled at the school.
Because Bitnoff was a college-ready rugby player, playing with the Knights was an adjustment. More importantly, though, he is very grateful there is a team he can play on, and because he is still 18, he is eligible to play for the Knights.
“It was a really tough adjustment. I was ready for the college level, and now I am back to learning the basics. I did not know St. George had a team. It is really nice to be able to help out and play rugby,” Bitnoff said.
Joe Feula, also a California native, is playing the first rugby of his life for the Knights even though he grew up watching the sport his whole life.
“In California, high-school rugby is not very prominent, but I watched my dad play a lot,” said Feula, who scored for the Knights in Saturday’s 21-12 victory over Alta.
The new team not only offers the community something new, but it gives players another opportunity for sport, and gives coaches another opportunity to get involved.
After first playing rugby in the early 90s with a team made up of Dixie State College and Southern Utah University students, Jeremy Lister became addicted to the sport.
His first team would go undefeated for two seasons. Lister, now an associate coach for the Knights, later played for an all-Army team and even in Euorpe. Lister also played for Haggis, another Utah powerhouse club, and has also played and coached for the rugby Highland team, a team known throughout the country for its success.
Lister describes rugby as an addiction and says though the sport is physical, he was actually hurt more playing football than rugby.
“It really becomes an addiction. After our first game, I asked the guys, ‘So what did you think?’ and you could just see it in them,” Lister said.
Because so many are new to the game, the road has been bumpy, but well worth it.
“It has been hard. Not many guys with real experience. These guys are mapping their own roads out, but they work really hard, and they get better every time we play,” Lister said. “They have really exceeded my expectations. We held Highland to less points than anyone else has. That shows the kind of talent we have, and that we play with a lot of heart.”
As much as he loves coaching the kids, Lister acknowledges there are some drawbacks.
“It is tough. It drives me nuts, I would rather be on the field,” Lister said, laughing. “But I love watching them. Any time they score, it is like Christmas for me,” Lister said.
Although the Knights have already played their last game in St. George this year, there are still plenty of opportunities for anyone wanting to be involved. There is a team for those older than 19, and next year, the U19 (under 19) team will be eligible for post-season play, as they are now in their one-year probationary season, which is a requirement for new teams.
For more information about the St. George High School Rugby Club (SGHSRC) Knights, contact Jay Day at 632-0279 or e-mail jday@oneill.com.

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