| Siegel has home for ruffians' game |
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By: By JOSH EZZELL - March 17, 2007 - 2:56 p.m.
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Rugby is known as a ruffians game played by gentlemen.
Often the gentlemen play the ruffians' game in rough conditions. Siegel, however, is trying to break that trend.
Siegel has played two games this season — Father Ryan on March 3 and the Riverdale Chiefs on March 15 — on the Stars' football field. According to Siegel coach Danny Demonbreun, the Father Ryan game marks the first time in state history a high school has played a rugby game at its home stadium.
"It's huge for the program," Siegel junior Thomas Demonbreun said. "We're pretty much the first team in (Tennessee) history. It feels like we're part of the school."
ONE TEAM, ONE SCHOOL
Last season Siegel didn't stand alone as a team. It teamed with Oakland to form the Murfreesboro Mud Dogs.
This season, however, each school had enough players to form its own team, and the Siegel High School Rugby Football Club was born. Oakland became the Oakland Mud Dogs, and both teams compete in the Middle Tennessee Rugby Conference, which also features the Riverdale Chiefs, Brentwood Brumbies, Father Ryan Fightin' Irish, Franklin Rebels and Ravenwood Raptors in the boys league. The MTRC isn't associated with the TSSAA.
" It gives kids self-esteem," Danny Demonbreun said of Siegel having a team and playing at home. "We really love this. It's convenient."
Being at home has enabled students to become aware of rugby. In some cases students attending the game decide they want to participate.
Zeke Anderson, a senior who played quarterback on the football team, was one of more than 200 people to watch Siegel lose to Father Ryan 22-20. He liked the sport and atmosphere so much that he decided to compete.
"I came out to the game and was like, 'Man, that looks like fun,'" Anderson said. "Coach said, 'Come on out.'"
Like many newcomers, Anderson didn't know the rules when he started and is constantly learning.
"After the first practice I loved it," Anderson said. "I didn't know the rules. Gage (Estes) has been my biggest help."
The team recently had a booth at freshman orientation, which should help the team attract more players.
"Hopefully we can get some good freshmen," Estes said. "For the first time in three years we had people come up to us and say good game (after playing Father Ryan)."
PERMISSION TO PLAY AT HOME
Siegel had its own team. Now it needed a home.
To get a home one person — Principal Ken Nolan — had to be on board.
"He was skeptical initially," said Danny Demonbreun, who played football for Nolan at Oakland. "Being one of his former high school football players helped."
Nolan decided to let Siegel play two games on the football field.
"It was the first time to my knowledge we had a team made up of only Siegel students," Nolan said.
"Their coach was a former player of mine, and I was for (letting them play at Siegel). That combination made it a no-brainer.
"There's no reason not to provide opportunities to participate," Nolan added. "We had 30 kids dedicated to the cause."
Siegel has 27 players on its roster and an assistant coach in Chris Kelly.
The football club was 1-2 after beating the Riverdale Chiefs 58-5 Thursday night.
So what does the future hold for the Siegel High School Rugby Football Club? Will it get to play at the football stadium next season?
Nolan, who attended the Father Ryan game and said it was "cool," has no problem with Siegel playing in the stadium next season.
"If everything goes the same I'll let them play two games," he said. "It's a good time of year to allow them to play."
The gentlemen have a home to play the ruffians' game.
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