As the Norwich men’s rugby team continues its first season in the Division Two New England Rugby Football Union it is doing well with an overall record of 4-3. The team is in first place in the western conference with two wins and one loss and is looking to have home field advantage for the playoffs.
This is a turnaround from last year; the team only had one win against Northeastern University.
“Big improvements have come; one, dedication; two, we have great leadership in our captain Mike Presseau, and we have a great freshmen class coming in this year,” said Eric Poalino, a 20-year-old junior political science and study of war and peace major from Rutland, Vt.
Unlike past years, more freshmen are starting on the team. “It’s pretty much a young team; we only have like four or five seniors graduating,” said Joey Mac Dizon, a 22-year-old junior history major from Belleville, N.J.
“My freshman year it was a senior dominated team for the most part,” said Captain Mike Presseau, a 22-year-old senior criminal justice major from Hamilton, N.J. “Our freshman fly half Chris Hein, he’s really come along. He’s made some good kicks under pressure.”
Hein has been balancing academics and being a rook in the Corps of Cadets along with playing rugby. “It’s a great experience, a good brotherhood,” said Hein, an 18-year-old criminal justice major from Baltimore, Md.
“Norwich rugby has always been aggressive hardnosed rugby” said Dizon. With this attitude the Cadets will use their momentum to do well in the playoffs.
“We are a young team but our team goal is to win NERFU and national championship this year,” said Poalino.