This week, The Clarion sat down with club rugby player Brent Lockhart.

Q: When did you start playing rugby?

A: I started playing at DU during my freshman year. I heard about it during orientation week and had a buddy that was trying it. I figured I’d try it out, too.

Q: How did you go from beginning during freshman year all the way to captain?

A: The transition was pretty different because rugby is really different. What really helped me was watching older players and seeing how they play, especially leaders on the team. I try to emulate guys that were team captains in the past.

Q: How does the structure of your season work?

A: Rugby has a really long season. Our regular season is seven games in the fall. In the spring, we start with a league tournament. If we’re in the top two, we go to the Cowboy Cup, which is the regional cup in Texas. As long as we are in the top two there, we go to California. If we win in California, then we go to the National Championship Final Four tournament, which is up in Glendale, Colorado.

Q: There has been talk about the team potentially going D1, is that a possibility?

A: It has always been the long-term goal of the program. Right now, we are more focused on being successful at this level. We have a core group of about 35, but at D1 you really need a group of 45 or 50 guys to really be successful.

Q: Why do you think students should start caring more and learning more about the sport?

A: Rugby is actually a really simple sport. There are only 22 laws and it’s really simple to learn and to watch. It’s also really exciting. When you compare it to American football, action is constantly stopping, but rugby is constant. It’s the ultimate team sport. You have to have 15 players that can work cohesively as a group. There is nothing individual about it.