Lasell’s rugby team hopeful for different result than last year’s four-way finish
NEWTON, Ma. (BVM) — Many teams have importance around the campus of Lasell University. However, because Lasell’s rugby team isn’t associated with the NCAA, it often gets the short end of the stick.
Although the Lasers have shown promise over the years, they still have no access to athletic trainers, chiropractors or any of the athletic training facilities other than to wash their jerseys at the end of games. With rugby being the only contact sport at Lasell, one would think that the team would be accommodated. But every year, the team has to set up its own tournaments, hire its own referees for games and pay for its own game jerseys and practice equipment.
Because the rugby team is less fortunate than others at the university, it carries a large chip on its shoulder.
Last year was possibly one of the Lasers’ most impressive years to date. They finished with a winning record for the first time in three seasons. However, they were riddled with injuries throughout the year, many of them causing players to lose valuable time and playing experience. With players dropping like flies with concussions, torn ACLs and general gameday complications, the team was left shorthanded.
What Lasell didn’t know was that other teams around the league were dealing with the same sort of issues. Ending the regular season with back-to-back games against Babson, it was soon apparent that the teams were not going to be healthy for the first game of the playoffs. With no rest between the Lasers’ last game against Babson and the start of the playoffs, the team knew it was in trouble. Lasell exhausted what little options it had and ended up having to make a call that they never thought it would have to do. But when the Lasers called the other teams to announce they wouldn’t be able to make the playoffs due to injuries, they got a surprising answer in return. Not only would Lasell not make the playoffs, but all three of the other qualifying teams decided they were too banged up across their lineup to continue playing games.
This result left the Lasers with a very bad taste in their mouths. Knowing that they were two wins away from becoming league champions didn’t just go away over time like their injuries did. With the 2020-21 season still up in the air, the players have still not forgotten how last season ended. Although it was a four-team draw, Lasell feels like it was the favorite to take the championship back to Newton. With the Lasers’ fall season already being canceled, their only hope at redemption this year would be in the spring when they play 7-on-7.
The last few years have been tough for Lasell’s rugby team, which has made the coming spring season the most important season for the Lasers in recent years. The players and team are optimistic about spring and hope to organize practices as soon as local mandates allow them to do so.
