DU senior Jace Jackson has taken the rugby field by storm.
Finishing off the 2014 season as MVP of the Pacific West Championship, Jackson led the Pioneers to multiple victories throughout the season. The 3rd-ranked Pios currently have a 13-1 record as they head to the National Championships. This is the second undefeated regular season that the Pioneers have had since the rugby team was founded in 1968.
Beginning his rugby career four years ago as a freshman, Jackson fell in love with the sport from the start.
“I initially chose rugby freshman year because I was impressed with the team dynamic,” Jackson said. “The rugby team seemed like the closest-knit group on campus, and I wanted to be a part of it. I have since fallen in love with the sport of rugby, and [if my body allows it] I plan on playing for the rest of my life,” said Jackson.
In high school, Jackson played lacrosse, football and also wrestled. Prior to DU, he had never experienced the game of rugby.
“What specifically got me into rugby was the fact that it is a culmination of the sports I played growing up. It has the aggression of football, with the tactical physicality of wrestling and the uninterrupted flow of lacrosse,” said Jackson.
As loose-head prop, Jackson plays on the outside of the scrum.
“My favorite thing about rugby is the fact that it is the most honest sport,” Jackson said. “There are no superstars in this game; there are great athletes and great leaders, but it truly takes the synergy of all 15 players to achieve a victory. It’s a pure team sport where 99 percent of the time, the better team comes out with a win. It is more about the chemistry between players than the ability that each individual brings. Each of the 15 players provides a crucial piece of the puzzle, which is a beautifully unique aspect of our game.”
Jackson will be receiving a double major in international business and marketing when he graduates in the spring. With his post-college future rapidly approaching, Jackson hopes to stay in Denver, get married to his fiancé and pursue playing for a premier league rugby team in the Denver area.
As a club team, the Pioneer rugby program has been hoping for more field space to practice on over the years and with the recent opening of the Diane Wendt Sports Field, this dream was finally fulfilled.
“Another great memory was the recent dedication ceremony of the new Diane Wendt Sports Field. Our team attended and had the pleasure of personally thanking Chancellor Coombe, Joy Burns, Dan Ritchie and other donors who made the fields possible,” said Jackson.
After winning the Pacific West Championship, Jackson and the team are now preparing for the National Championships on April 26 and 27 at 1 p.m. Hosted at Infinity Park in Glendale, DU rugby is arranging buses and giving tickets to 100 DU students to attend the championship match.
“Coming out of a close victory in the Pacific West Championship last year allowed us to be better prepared and better poised for our presence in the tournament this year,” said Jackson. “Over the two games, we put up a combined 93 points on two top 20 ranked teams, which is always a good time. But there is still work to do. As our head coach says, it was ‘just another day in the office’ for our team. Winning the Pacific West Championship is just a stepping stone on our journey to the National Championship.”
The National Championship will be Jackson’s final match as a Pioneer.
“My life has been changed forever because of rugby,” said Jackson. “I’ve played on teams all my life, but the rugby team here at DU is more than a team—it’s a brotherhood. When you fight and bleed alongside someone for a common purpose, it creates a special bond. DU rugby is such a fantastic group of young men. These are the guys who will be standing with me at my wedding. They will be walking with me through life.
