Yelling loud & hitting the ground, the rugby club has come to town!

Karl Topping, a first year RRS student, decided that, although Selkirk College is a fantastic school, there was definitely something missing.

Like the sports innovator William Webb Ellis, who first took the ball in his arms and ran with it originating the distinctive feature of Rugby, Topping has now taken his desire for something more into his own hands and found the missing link. His answer is the first Selkirk College Rugby Club.

Topping has been playing rugby since he was 14-years-old, sometimes playing for as many as three different teams, meaning he had a rugby game everyday of the week. He is a versatile player who has played various positions, but definitely has a favorite position: “I am for sure a scrum half.”

Admiring both the Ireland and the Scotland teams for their toughness, one can tell Topping wants to see the game played with grit. I asked Topping what he thought of the Haka, the New Zealand All Blacks pregame ritual of getting pumped up and intimidating their opponent.

“I think the Haka is a fantastic way to get pumped for a rugby game. Being able to stare your opponent in the eye and do your best to make him think you’re nuts is the kind of thing I’d try. I’ve seen something where Scotland does a different kind of pregame ritual, lifting their kilts and flashing them in return when they’re done,” says Topping.

He is passionate about the game, and has a firm grasp on the rules and regulations, making him a good coach for newcomers and old timers alike.

The Rugby Club invites you to come out and play! Having gone out to a practice myself I strongly recommend giving it a try. It is a physical sport, which requires teamwork and will definitely keep you on your toes.

Topping hopes to eventually get some games going against surrounding area rugby teams, and he also wants to add to the experience by going out as a team for some post-practice beverages.

Practice times are: Monday and Wednesday at 5pm on the Castlegar campus field and Fridays at 5pm in the Castlegar campus gym. Bring a mouth guard and cleats, if you have them, for the outdoor practices.

Hope to see you out there, and until then…

Keep on “rucking” in the free world!