Virginia Tech men’s club rugby on the cusp of a nationwide championship

BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR) — Virginia Tech is set to just take the area this weekend in a activity that features an oval ball and a pair of uprights on reverse sides.

But this is not football. Instead, these Hokies are looking to consider dwelling a national title in rugby.

“I imagine we’re the correct definition of a group. We really don’t have the most gifted gamers or the best rugby IQ but we genuinely just play for each and every other,” Virginia Tech senior eight Danny McKillop mentioned.

In an space where by football is king, a group of rugby gamers are hoping to produce a countrywide championship for Virginia Tech this weekend in Houston, Texas. The team will enjoy West Chester for the Division I-AA title in Nationwide Collegiate Rugby.

“Our physicality has been our Virginia Tech Rugby theme ever considering the fact that I have been listed here and instilled in us from the alumni and just carries above so as a participant led group, it is pure accountability and remaining there for every single other,” McKillop claimed.

VT men’s rugby doesn’t have a mentor nor does it have gamers on scholarship. But it does have decades of custom, with the club formally started in 1968.

“We have a very potent alumni group and they are all thrilled to see us,” senior fly half Fernando Anduaga explained. “We truly have a pair of them flying down and supporting us down there. For them it’s magnificent to see how much this club has grown.”

But Tech has never ever competed for a national title until now. The staff did not be expecting to get to this phase when the year started off just after the coronavirus pandemic wiped out substantially of last time.

“Our underdog mentality carried us by way of regionals and we’re even now carrying that mentality into nationals,” McKillop reported. “We enjoy it, we just emphasis on ourselves. We do not listen to the outdoors noise or something. We concentration on what we can control and our top rated 3 keys for this recreation are just possession, operate ethic and physicality.”

The hard do the job has the crew on the cusp of putting Virginia Tech rugby on the map.

“”I necessarily mean we’re out below just about every day this week and final 7 days, seeking to get the reps in on the subject and off the industry,…