Rugby fans this year may not only see more sweat and blood but a more ambitious group of tough, intelligent and experienced players, head coach Dave Sitton said.

Sitton said more than 45 players are coming back from the summer break and that all of his four freshman starters went to play rugby in New Zealand.

Flyhalf Zach Harrison, wing James Allgood, fullback Chris Kron and halfback Michael Fair were placed with New Zealand clubs with Wildcat ties.

"Right there (in New Zealand) rugby is bigger than football, basketball and baseball together in the United States. They have the best rugby in the world," Sitton said.

Last season's Wildcats (13-4) ended with eight straight victories and finished with a respectable 5-3 record in league play. Sitton said some of the players who will return for this season are not thinking about third or fourth place.

"We are very excited. The coaches and players keep a constant communication and we can't wait for the season to start," Sitton said.

Some of the former rugby players are planning to come back to the team as assistant coaches for the varsity and junior varsity teams.

Chris Bloomer, a graduate who played flyback, will continue on as an assistant coach and player for the junior varsity.

Forward Luther Ward is ineligible to play on the front line for the Wildcats but is going to continue to be active in the program as a graduate student and coach.

Sitton said recruiting would complete the team since the club is expecting about 150 players to show up at the first rugby recruiting meeting, Sept. 12 at McKale Center.

He said he will eventually cut the number to 80 players. The team will start its season in Wyoming Oct. 5, Sitton said.

The fact that almost 90 percent of the new players do not know anything about rugby does not worry the coaches and it does not show in the games, Sitton said.

The new players usually learn the game quickly and stay with the team as long as possible.

Team camaraderie is a big part of the rugby coaching staff and among the players, regular and new arrivals, Sitton said. The last ones are generally recruited by the players and are either in good shape or have been good athletes their whole lives.

Sitton said this season should be better than last season and definitely better than the one before, when the Wildcats did not show much improvement.

The expectations, Sitton said, are to get as many fans as possible to attend the games, which are usually played at Estevan Park, at Main Street and West Speedway Boulevard.

The first University of Arizona Rugby Club was formed in 1969. Sitton was called Outstanding Club Sport Athlete in the 1976-77 season. He was also the general manager of the ALl-America club for five consecutive years, from 1990 to 1994.

---

Daily Wildcat News Opinions Sports PoliceBeat Comics