The University of Denver rugby club plays hard but also likes to have fun.

Rugby players say it is somewhat of a cross between the two.

Rugby is a game of contact, much like football and hockey.

The players do not wear pads of any sort, only mouthpieces, or gum shields, as the players like to call them.

Some players wear scrumcaps, which are head protectors, but are not required to have them.

The tackling is similar to football, but the players are supposed to use their arms more to bring down the man with the ball.

Although the rule is meant to prevent major injuries, players still hit very hard and injuries are common. But as the players and referees both know, hitting is part of the game.

“If you come out thinking it’s going to be like soccer, you’re in for a rough surprise,” said Colin Erdman, the team’s flanker. “It’s similar in some ways, but it’s a lot more physical.”

With a game this rough, it’s easy to see how teams may not be very fond of one another.

This is certainly the case on the field, as the teams fight, scrap and pummel each other for 80 intense minutes. After the game though, DU and its opponent are the best of friends.

After a game, the DU club invites the opposing team home for a barbecue. Matt Chandra usually holds the luncheons at his house.

“During the games we kill each other for an hour and a half or so, then we get together and eat,” Chandra said. “Sometimes we even sing together.”

The friendship with the other players is what brings some of the students to play club rugby.

Many of the players did not play rugby in high school, but instead football or soccer.

Erdman played football in high school, and says rugby is a good substitute.

“I didn’t get to play college football, but in rugby I get almost as much contact as I did in football,” he said.

Chandra came from the soccer side, and says he loves both soccer and rugby.

He also played club soccer his freshman year at DU, but said it was not as organized as the rugby club.

“The soccer club was still kind of developing at the time, so I decided to switch to rugby,” said Chandra.

He added, “When I started playing for the rugby club, I couldn’t believe how committed the guys were to the team.”

Commitment and dedication are two premises the club prides itself on, according to Chandra.

The team does community service to raise money, and works to promote itself. This way, it hopes to get more players to come.

Right now, the club has its own fan base, and usually draws at least two dozen fans per game.

The home games are held at Observatory Park. At the games, most of the fans are parents, friends and girlfriends of the players.

“Sometimes when we practice on campus, people will just walk by the game and decide to come check it out,” Chandra said.

The team hopes to play games on campus next year.

The competitiveness of the rugby and devotion to the team are important to the players.

Most will say though, that fellowship is what keeps the club going strong.