The Geneseo Rugby Football Club, better known as the Warthogs, was founded in 1981 and has been a prominent organization on campus ever since.
The team plays in the New York State Rugby Conference during their primary season in the fall and schedules scrimmages in the spring. The Warthogs are a member of the Empire West Division II and play against clubs from central and western N.Y., including the University of Buffalo, LeMoyne College and Niagara University. At the end of the season, the winner of the division takes on the winner of the Empire East Division II for the state title.
Geneseo currently competes at the Division II level but that can change every year. The last-place team in the division moves down to the Division III level while the top team from Division III moves up to Division II. It works the same way with Division II; if Geneseo finishes in first place at the end of the season they can move up to Division I the next year.
Last season, Geneseo came close to accomplishing this as they entered the last game of the season against St. Bonaventure with each team at 5-0. Unfortunately, Geneseo lost and St. Bonaventure moved on to the state title game and the Division I level.
Geneseo opened this season losing their first game to Buffalo State 22-19. Sophomore Allen Kundin said it was a "tough, close game."
"Buff[alo] State gave us a tough game last year too," he added, implying that the loss was not a sign that Geneseo will be near the bottom of the standings this year.
Everybody is welcome to play for the team, even if you don't have any previous rugby experience. The team practices every weekday at 5 p.m. on Onondaga Field near the residence halls on the south side of campus.
Anyone interested in joining rugby or who wants to learn more about the sport should stop by one of their practices or watch the team's first home game on Sept. 26 at 11 a.m.