Letter from the Coach
We are excited to start another season of rugby here in Pullman. The weather has been excellent and we have a great group of guys who are excited to learn and develop as rugby players. A mixture of skilled underclassmen and some seasoned veterans has given the team quite a diverse skill level and knowledge base which is both exciting and challenging as a coach.
WSU Rugby has seen an influx of high school players from the west side of the state. Our most prominent representing group comes from the Chuckanut Bay Rugby Club. These players have shown great promise and have obviously been well coached. I look forward to seeing how they mesh on the field throughout the season and how their rugby careers progress at WSU.
With our league going to a home and away schedule we have met some challenges in balancing our pre-league games. Last weekend we kicked off our pre-season with a decisive 70-19 first-side win over Gonzaga. Our second-side stepped on the field with only 4 players who had previously been in a rugby game and although they didn’t come up with a second victory they showed a steep learning curve and much promise.
Thanks to the Alumni’s help we are ordering new jerseys and are excited about the Adopt a Rugger Program. The players and coaching staff appreciate the support of the Alumni both on the field and financially.
I have had the pleasure of Tim Hetland’s help with both coaching and advising at practices. His assistance takes some of the weight off my shoulders and his knowledge of the game has added diversity to team trainings and game-plans.
Thanks again for all of your support,
Cheers,
Eddie Haigh
