The men’s rugby club team at Saint Louis University is going
through a period of growth, not only on the field, but also off it.
A few weeks ago, during their game against Rolla, SLU’s team was
ahead 50-5 at halftime, and the game was stopped at that point.

In addition to that, there is a fairly large recruiting class
this year, with nearly one-fourth of the team being freshman who
have come to find out about the sport.

“The team talent is spread out equally this year, and our
opponents this year have been fearful of playing us.”said Eric
Dettmann, the club’s president.

The rugby team, which plays in Division II of USA Rugby’s
Missouri Rugby Union, are currently in the middle of their fall
season, in which home games are played at the Jewel

Box in Forest Park.

In addition to the Rolla victory, SLU now heads up to DePaul
University for a match which Dettmann admits will be an easy
victory.

In the next few weeks, the team has two home games, Nov. 1
versus Washington University, and then again a week later against
Arkansas State University.

“Arkansas State, who went onto the Elite 8 of last year’s
Division II playoffs, will pose tough opposition to SLU’s team when
they come to play,” said senior Matt Dilisio, a longtime member of
the club team. Both Dettmann and Dilisio remain optimistic about
the

rest of the season however.

“The fall season is our pre-season, and the spring is what
counts,” explained Dettmann. “We expect to challenge for an Elite 8
position in the spring.”

“Recruiting is always hard for us because most people feel that
you need a background in football to play,” states Dilisio.

Not only do the two feel confident in how things are going with
recruiting, game outcomes, and preparation but both agree that
coach Bill Brandt is serving the team

very well.

“Bill is a great coach, and he is always there to support us,”
Dettmann said.

Brandt has an extensive coaching resume in the St. Louis area,
spending nearly 30 years around SLU and St. Louis University High
School coaching rugby.

Perhaps he is to be given credit for SLU’s success two years ago
when they were able to capture the Missouri Rugby Union
championship, and went onto finish sixth at the national tournament
in Oklahoma City.

This is a feat that this year’s team is trying to emulate, and
they are definitely working hard to get back there.

Rugby Road Trip

Who: DePaul Blue Demons

When: Saturday, 1 p.m.

Where: Chicago, Illinois