It’s exciting, fast, a great work out, social and its not as rough as everyone thinks it is. It’s rugby. While not too many people here in the Commonwealth are acquainted with the sport, it’s quickly picking up converts. That is quickly changing, now with the sport officially a part of the South Pacific Games to be played in Guam in 1999. The team is also seeking to expand its team by starting touch tournaments and for the first time in its history sending a national side to compete in the prestigious Bangkok 7's tournament.

Established in 1990 and boasting an impressive winning record, Saipan Rugby Football Club (SFRC) was once known only to a few hardy players and their families and friends. Despite its overwhelming record against the Guam national rugby and Andersen Military teams, Saipan has never competed in any major international tournaments — until now (hopefully). Or as one of the founding fathers of Saipan rugby, James Hollman, who when not playing rugby is an attorney, says "Some of our players were recruited by Guam to play in Bangkok last year and the Guam team did well. And we (almost) always thrash Guam. So now it’s time for Saipan to put together a team and compete internationally."

ABOUT RUGBY

Rugby is a popular game played by men and women of every race and creed, from under age five to well over fifty, in over 100 countries of the world. In a few of those countries it is the national sport — some say religion.

One afternoon in 1823 during a soccer game at England’s Rugby school, William Webb Ellis picked up the ball in frustration and ran with it toward the goal — a maneuver clearly against the rules. Thus began the game of rugby, or rugger, according to legend. There are two types of rugby: Rugby Union, the amateur game, and Rugby League, a primarily professional game played mainly in northern England, Australia, New Zealand, and France.

Rugby has many similarities to American football - - except it is much more exciting and played without pads or helmets. Similar to its later off- spring, Rugby is played on a rectangular field 110 yards long and 75 yards across and like American football, beyond each goal line is an in-goal, or end zone, and at the center of the goal lines stand two goal posts 18 ½ feet apart connected with a crossbar 10 feet above the ground. The game ball is similar as well, but longer and a bit fatter but still oval in shape and of leather.

The game is usually played in two 40-minute halves but unlike American football with the game stopping after each play and endless substitutions, rugby is non-stop: There are no time outs or substitutions (except two for injuries), and there are no "plays" or "downs", the game only stops when a try is scored, the ball goes out of play or with the referee’s whistle.

A team scores when a player touches the ball down in the opponent’s goal area, which is called a "try" worth 5 points and by kicking the ball over the crossbar between the opponents’ goal posts, worth 3 points. After each try the player has an opportunity for a 2-point conversion. The teams usually are of 15 players but there are now popular variations with 7 or 10 players a-side which makes for a faster game

The ball may not be passed forward (though it may be kicked forward) and players may not receive the ball in a offside position, nor may they wait in such a position. Players may not be tackled or blocked without the ball. The players may use their hands and catch the ball, throw it laterally, or run with it. They may also maneuver the ball with their feet. The scrum, or scrummage, is the method of putting the ball in play from a set formation of eight or six players (forwards) on each team. They form a closely packed group. The ball is thrown onto the ground between them and each team tries to get possession of it.

CLUB INCEPTION

Prompted by information provided by Bill Sakovich of the N.M.I. Amateur Sports Association in 1989, then CNMI prosecutor James Hollman and U.S. District Court Law Clerk Bruce Jorgensen joined together with Polynesian entertainer Mii Tekopoa in an effort to gather interest in starting a Rugby Club in Saipan. Since that time, the team has relied on a diverse mixture of lawyers, bankers, students, government employees, and accountants as well as those who work in the entertainment field. The team now wants to expand its membership to include the greater Saipan general public.

MATCH PLAY: SAIPAN-GUAM RIVALRY

The team traditionally played their larger neighbors to the South (Guam) in an annual match and recently Andersen Air Force has put to together a team. And there have been occasional matches against visiting military ships from Australia and the USA. Overall, Saipan’s team record is impressive: 8 - 2.

1990 At the site of what is now the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, Saipan first clashed with what to be their main rivals, the Guam Football Ruby Club (GRFC). Despite wet conditions, Saipan prevailed and ran away with the match in the second half with a final score of 28 - 6.

1991: Guam once again traveled to Saipan in 1991, and again Saipan won the day despite the tropical heat with a final score of 20 - 12, this time at the Hopwood Junior High School Paddock. The team also played the visiting state champion clubside from Queensland, Australia — the Brisbane Brothers. Despite a valiant effort, the Aussies prevailed at Hopwood with a final score of 20 - 6.

1992: Guam decided to sit this one out having lost two in a row. Instead the Guam side concentrated on obtaining various corporate sponsors and professional trainers. Saipan chose to remain strictly a "get-together-a- week-before-the-match-and-have-fun team. So in this year, the team met for several informal intra-squad scrummages.

1993: With GRFC having undergone its transformation into a modern club, the 1993 match became a truly classic contest. SRFC made its traveling debut in Guam at the "Big Navy Field". In a dramatic finish, Guam managed to score a try in the final seconds to pull within two points but missed their conversion kick as the Saipan Ruggers held on for a 20 - 18 victory.

1994: Saipan hosted the annual rivalry in 1994 and routed their rivals to the south with a final score of 34 - 12. In this year, Guam for the first time sent a 7's team (a faster moving less physical brand of Rugby played with only 7 players instead of the usual 15) to compete internationally in Bangkok, Thailand. Due to lack of sponsors, Saipan despite having a better team were forced to stay at home although one player from Saipan traveled with the Guam side.

1995: With four straight years of victory, Saipan met its first defeat in 1995. The match was marred by early injuries, with the Saipan side having to rely on the "I Don’t Know" reggae band to shore up its injured line-up. The Guam side prevailed 12 - 5. Once again Guam sent a team to compete internationally while the lack of funds left the Saipan team at home..

1996: 1996 brought in revitalized SRFC. This "new and improved" SRFC triumphed in June against the GRFC at Hopwood 24 - 8, swept a Rugby Sevens Tournament at the new Saipan Airport Field in August against the GRFC and the new Anderson Airforce Rugby Football Club. The team traveled again to Guam in September to again defeat AARFC at their home field. Despite their overwhelming talent against their rivals to the south, once again the Saipan side could only watch as Guam, backed by its corporate sponsors, was able to compete in several international tournaments. Again, the Guam team recruited two Saipan Ruggers to play for them at the Annual Bangkok Rugby Sevens Tournament.

1997: For only the second time in its eight year history, Saipan met defeat against their Guam rivals in an exhibition 7's match in Guam, 21-15. It was a mixed result however as Saipan’s "B" side went on to sweep a 7's tournament held the same day by crushing Guam’s "B" side 24 - 0, cruising past the Andersen military team, 25 - 7 and finishing up with a 19 - 5 victory against a team from a visiting US naval ship. The Saipan side recently revenged their one loss when Guam sent its 15's squad over in April and were soundly defeated 18 - 5 at the Saipan Airport field.

THE FUTURE: 1997 AND BEYOND

The team has made an important decision to expand its ranks by reaching out to more players, seeking corporate sponsorship and beginning to play "touch-rugby" to appeal to those who like the non-stop excitement of rugby by not the physical contact. The team is planning on sponsoring an open invitation-touch tournament in June, 1997 and if it can find the right sponsors hopes to for the first time compete in the Bangkok 7's tournament. In 1998, the team hopes to expand its international play by competing in a tournament in Manila and inviting teams from Korea and Japan to visit our beautiful islands.

The team is also gearing up for the South Pacific Games as it hopes to compete along side their rivals from Guam against such rugby powerhouses as Fiji (1997 world cup 7's champions) and Australia.

"With South Pacific Games coming up, we need more local people to start coming out. Many of the guys out here will be past their prime when South Pacific Games roll around in 1999. We need youngsters who are in school. The people who want to step up and be the next Jonah Lomu (New Zealand Rugby star)," Mike Bishop, club captain, said of Saipan’s rugby aspirations.

COME ON OUT OR GIVE US A CALL

For those who interested in learning more about rugby, touch or tackle, the team encourages first timers to come out and play every Tuesday and Thursday at American Memorial Park at 5:30 p.m. Or please contact Jim Hollman at 664-3013 or David Banes at 234-5684 or email at dbanes@saipan.com. The team is actively seeking sponsors in order to field a team for international competition.