Rugby Rivals

FNN Reporter Kaci Jones visits the Florida State Intramural Field to watch the Seminoles face their Gator rival in a game of rugby while learning the basics of the sport. Shot with iPhone 5.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla- Rugby was born after a football player decided to twist the rules back in the 1800s.  Rugby was originally a male sport, however after the Title 9 mandate women freely played the sport. Now, more than 200 years later the game has evolved and is played by people all over the world. 

Here in Tallahassee, Florida State Seminoles hosted their annual rugby invitational last month. The Seminoles took on the visiting University of Florida Gators. 

The Gators got an early start with the first possession and in turn they were able to score the first try. A try is the equivalent of a touchdown in football, but UF Rugby player Amanda Chin says the rules are a little different.

"Unlike football, To score a try in rugby you must apply pressure to the ball when it gets into the in-goal," Chin said. "This makes the game more challenging than football."

Chin also explained the difference in protection in football and rugby. She says this game has minimal protection, but maximum contact. 

Spectators watched in awe as the gators and Seminoles fought to the finish. The game was played with 40-minutes in each half. 

The Seminoles went into halftime scoreless, while the gators with 15 points. The Noles struggled to get their offense to prosper, coming very close to a try. The Gators defense was very potent with 18 tackles and 7 forced turnovers in the first half.

After the half, the Noles came back with the first possession and they used to to their advantage. The Noles scored the first try of the second half making the score 5-25. Their try did not stop the dominating offense of the Gators. The gators scored another try and kicked a penalty kick for a final score of 31-5. 

The Gators advanced to the next round of the tournament, competing against the Florida Atlantic Owls. 

The Owls proved to be the opposite of a challenge for the Gators as they chomped the birds 40-5.

Spectators watched in awe at the physicality of the sport. Florida A&M Junior, Angela Gaines says rugby is dangerous. 

"After I watched the game I had a new respect for people who play the game," Gaines said. "The contact in the game is wild and scary."

Amanda Chin says she plays the game to test her limits. 

"I just wanted to do it to say I could," Chin said. "You don't know what you can accomplish until you try."



<iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/123196446&amp;color=ff6600&amp;auto_play=false&amp;show_artwork=true"></iframe>

ROSR Link: https://soundcloud.com/kaci-jones-3/rosr-rugby-rivals 

UF player celebrates after scoring a try.

. 

University of Florida gains possession after a turnover.

University of Florida rests after defeating Florida State.

 UF Player passes the ball to her teammate to avoid gettign tackled.

 Seminoles recover the ball after a fumble from UF.