Franciscan Rugby Trains With Nuns

March 22, 2012

Franciscan University of Steubenville
Office of Athletic Media Relations
Sarah Bartley, Assistant AD for Media Relations
E: sbartley@franciscan.edu
For Immediate Release
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Rugby Training Takes A New Course

March 20, 2012

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio – What do religious sisters, rugby, and spring break have in common? More than you think. As the national championship rapidly approaches, Franciscan University’s rugby team did more than twice a day training sessions over spring break. The team stepped off the pitch and outside themselves to take a look at the big picture, all with the help of Steubenville’s Heart of Mary Mission House.

“Bill Walsh and I started talking about it a couple of months ago,” said head coach Mark Hanrahan, “and we felt that it was a good opportunity for the ruggers to get out and bond together.”

About 20 ruggers volunteered time last Thursday and Friday to paint several rooms in the mission house—including its chapel—and do manual labor outside. Baron Rugby general manager, Niall O’Mahoney, joined the team in helping the Franciscan Sisters of the Third Order Regular who run the establishment.

“Our community of Steubenville has been supportive of Franciscan Rugby throughout the years,” noted Hanrahan. “We looked at this as a random act of kindness. But from this point on, we will continue this relationship with the mission house.

“The spring break mission work helped the Baron ruggers see the big picture,” he continued. “It’s not all about them; it’s about the service of others. This was a great opportunity to put our faith into action and use our God-given gifts for more than just athletic means.”

The Barons are currently ranked No. 1 in the nation by NSCRO and hold the Allegheny Rugby Union Division 3 championship title for a second consecutive year. The team travels to Glendale, Colo., April 28-29 for the National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO) finals. Both Saturday and Sunday’s matches will be streamed live on ustream.tv.