VAIL \u2014 It took one year of living in the valley for Abby Loucks to help fill a void that she saw needed filling.<\/p>\n
After competing against men locally and traveling two hours to Denver to compete with a women\u2019s team, Loucks was tired of commuting.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I love rugby,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
And, \u201cWhen you have more than one person, it\u2019s a lot easier to get something going,\u201d Loucks said.<\/p>\n
With the help of Nicholle Jackson, that helped launch Vail Women\u2019s Rugby.<\/p>\n
The first-year team is registered with USA Rugby, \u201cso we\u2019re official, but we could definitely use more people,\u201d Jackson said. \u201cExperience not required.\u201d<\/p>\n
So far, the Vail Women\u2019s Rugby team consists of 12 women, just starting their practice schedule heading into a summer season. The team practices at Ford Park in Vail and is looking to play against teams in Denver and Boulder, as well as tournaments in Steamboat Springs, Breckenridge and Aspen.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got one of the best views of any rugby field I\u2019ve ever played at,\u201d Loucks said.<\/p>\n
\u2018There\u2019s a spot for you on the field\u2019<\/p>\n
While both Loucks and Jackson are experienced rugby players \u2014 having played for teams in the Northeast before coming to the valley \u2014 some on the team are first-timers, and the two are adamant that it\u2019s a sport for everyone.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got to be tough because it\u2019s a physical sport, but it\u2019s a sport for every body size and shape,\u201d Jackson said. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t really matter how small or how big you are \u2014 there\u2019s a spot for you on the field.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jackson said she\u2019s 5 feet tall and 110 pounds. Loucks said she\u2019s got about 10 inches on Jackson.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut she can still take me down,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve played on a team in Boston with a woman that was 50 years old, and she tackles with the best of them. There\u2019s really no age limit. It\u2019s just the mental limits you put on yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018Rugby culture\u2019<\/p>\n
With any rugby team comes the rugby culture.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s very typical of rugby culture \u2014 you play together, you drink together, you socialize together. And that even goes for the team you tried to beat up on the field,\u201d Loucks said. \u201cWe\u2019re working adults, and some of us are moms, so there\u2019s a lot to juggle, but we try to have fun together.\u201d<\/p>\n
The local men\u2019s rugby team has been around for about 30 years and serves as a pipeline to the professional team in Denver, Loucks said. However, a rugby team in the mountains for women has been lacking, Jackson said, which is a shame because of the power of the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt gave me confidence that I didn\u2019t know I had,\u201d Jackson said. \u201cI think it does that for a lot of women, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tackling, they say, can be intimidating, but not overwhelming.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile it might be a little bit scary to think about tackling at first, it\u2019s so much fun to learn and, I think, really empowering,\u201d Loucks said.<\/p>\n
The youngest member on the team is just out of college, and the oldest is in her 30s, Loucks said, adding that she learned the game after being a rower in college.<\/p>\n
For women \u201cnot ready to be done\u201d with rugby or looking to try it out, join Vail Women\u2019s Rugby on Facebook or email vailwomensrugby@gmail.com<\/a>. The season\u2019s just getting going.<\/p>\n