Notre Dame frosh given tall order

For those of you that know about my Notre Dame obsession…this article goes without saying. For those of you that don’t…I would have DIED to attend Notre Dame and would have even died more to play on a Notre Dame rugby team. Just something about the tradition, heart and that place that just gets me.

I actually sell a Notre Dame Rugby (not official) shirt on my Zazzle website, check it out here: http://www.zazzle.com/ScooterWE/product/235495357359291340

I wanted it to be simple and strong just like the Irish. Go Fighting Irish!

Notre Dame frosh given tall order
from Gainline.us by Kurt Oeler

Notre Dame’s current freshmen are expected to lead the Fighting Irish in next fall’s first division debut, despite having yet to play their first collegiate match.

The youngsters’ assignment may be an interesting case study concerning the potential of varsity athletes in American rugby.

Two-thirds of the first-year players bring previous rugby experience, and all of them carry a high school varsity pedigree, according to coach Sean O’Leary. But four of Notre Dame’s five Midwest East division rivals — Bowling Green, Indiana, Ohio State, and Purdue — reached the national playoffs during the decade when the ‘Outside Irish’ were banned from the South Bend, Indiana, school.

‘The seniors got this team back on campus, but this group is driven by the frosh,’ O’Leary said. ‘You can tell they’re all varsity high school players. They expect to be pushed hard and face challenges.’

Notre Dame’s preseason roster has jumped to 60 from 20 a year ago, when the rugby club was restored to campus. O’Leary is the USA Under 18 coach and several of his players were in the U19 squad which lost to Canada U20 ‘A’ this past weekend.

Ambitions of recovering glories from the mid-1960s to the mid-70s are fueled in part by the sport’s growth at the parochial high schools which traditionally feed Notre Dame. The club also is enjoying a new endowment.

Notre Dame’s opener is against Ball State on March 1, and the spring calendar includes the Boilermakers and the Hoosiers before an April 19 date with Ohio State.

Canada U20 downed USA U20 19-14 on Saturday. The Maple Leafs have downed America’s senior-most age-grade side five times in succession, dating back to 2004.