Arkansas Rugby will take on LSU Rugby today at 1pm CST. This Red River Rugby Collegiate Conference matchup will be broadcasted live on Gift-Time Rugby Network.
Captain Jack Casey described the Fall season thus far as going very well. Winning both the Red River North 7s Tournament and the Red River 7s Championship has qualified them for 7s Nationals. Having some close 15s matches with Little Rock Stormers and Arkansas State (19-31) have tested the Razorbacks well. Casey added, “we have been progressing quite well from week to week being able to include new players and capitalize on our strengths as a team.”
On preparing for the match today against LSU Casey said, “we had a big focus on the contact area. Everything from the ruck to tackle. This match is going to be a physical one and I think our team is going to have a physical mindset heading into the match.”
The forwards this year, Casey described, are work-horses. Having the pack moving, working, and getting to every breakdown has allowed the playmakers in the backs to capitalize. “Each back player is a threat to score from anywhere on the pitch and also has the playmaking ability to put someone else through.”
Senior Alex Rees is one of those standout backs. Moving from scrum-half to fullback recently allows him to be “always a threat offensively and a sure tackler defensively. Look for him to hit some holes in the backline and to put some tidy kicks in.” In the forwards, flanker and sevens starter, Coby Graves standing at 5’5” 200 lbs is described as, “a big unit with some speed”. Casey went on, “he is great in the contact area, being a consistent poaching machine.”
Casey ended with a closing note on the squad. “We have a team that isn’t the biggest but they are never afraid to get physical with bigger opponents. We have never had a physically large team in my time at Arkansas, but we have always had aggression and a no-quit attitude.”
Don’t miss A Predators Tale: Arkansas Rugby vs LSU Rugby today (11/18) at 1pm CST.
LIVE on Gift-Time Rugby Network.
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