Suited up in green and black striped jerseys, the Grinnell Griffins Rugby team hit the pitch this past Sunday. The Griffins hold a unique niche in the Grinnell athletics world, as players hail from both the college and the town. Even falling to rivals River City 17-12, the Griffins are a team of passion and tradition with a colorful history, propelled by intensity and heart.
In the midst of a challenging and busy spring season, the Griffins' roster is ever changing and made up of players from a variety of backgrounds.
"Last season we had between 22-24 guys, and this year we have about 32 on our roster, but that can change right up to the minute before the game," said Coach Eric Hartz, who began playing in 1993 and continues as both player and coach of the Griffins. "We're made up of old-timers, college students who played in high school, football and soccer players," he said. "We even have a pro-boxer and a Grinnell High School health teacher on the team."
The flexibility and openness to any and all players--old, young, experienced or rookie--characterizes the rugby club and the rather transient nature of the sport as a whole. The student population of the college also presents a pool of possibility from which to recruit.
"It's really exciting when you find a diamond in the rough, a guy that just lights up when he hits the field," said Hartz. "But there's also guys that have never played before, and it's kind of fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants; they learn as they go."
The link between "townies" and college students grows out of the history of the Grinnell Griffins. Founded by a group of retired U.S. Marines Corps in 1974, the original team name was the Grinnell Grunts, who sported their olive green uniforms from the armed services. The team wore their jerseys until they were so grungy that they were known as the "Grungies."
Hard pressed for land that was not being farmed, the early team forged a town-gown bond with their appeal to the college to use athletic fields for practice and games. In return for space, the club was opened to college students.
"I don't think there would be a team without the college," said Hartz. "I've always said that rugby is a link between town, college students and Grinnell as a whole."
Grinnell alum and famous pub owner Jim "Jimbo" Tanzsosch '88 revamped the team in the 1980s with the current kelly green and team name, the Griffins.
The rugby community as a whole is extremely close-knit, and extends beyond uniting local townspeople and students here in Grinnell.
"Wherever you go, you always have that connection with other rugby players," said Van Kenyon '10, who played both in high school and now for the Griffins. "You have the community of Grinnell College, but you also have something outside of it."
Rugby is a sport of community as well as tradition, such as the customary post-match celebration at a local pub or tavern thrown by the host team.
"You fight each other on the field for 80 minutes, but the mutual sense of community, team and passion for the game it holds the whole sport together," said Kenyon. "Rugby is about playing for the team instead of individual glory. We play to work hard, hit hard and then drink heavily."
The Griffins regularly face one of the approximately 30 rugby clubs in Iowa in tournaments or single matches. The All-Iowa Tournament on May 2-3 will be the next big competition, which the Griffins nearly won last year, preceded by matches including the Luther College Rugby Daze Tournament on April 19, and another home match against South Central on April 27.
The Griffins next play April 12 against the Cedar Rapids Headhunters.
