Quietly, the Kent Crusaders have become one of the area’s most successful programs in all sports.
The Crusaders, who play from January through May, recently won their 10th straight state title. In addition to taking the state championship every year since 2000, the Crusader girls have competed in the national tournament every year since 2000, winning the national title in 2002. They’ve also have toured Canada, New Zealand, England and Wales.
As successful as the program has been, however, the number of girls at turnouts was relatively low when Rex Norris took over in 2004, when just 18 players showed up.
That number is magnified when taking into consideration that rugby teams must field 15 players for a game.
“The club nearly folded,” Norris recalled. “That’s why I took over.”
The program has posted a 98-17 record since Norris took charge.
Now five years later, girls rugby remains one of the fastest growing sports in the nation. Played in more than 100 countries worldwide, rugby is the most popular team sport in nations such as Japan, Fiji and Wales.
“It’s becoming huge, especially for young girls,” said Bryn Chivers, coach of the U-20 national team. “We’re seeing large parts of the country where the sport is taking off. In some ways, it’s like soccer for a lot of these young girls.”
Three new in-state teams were added this year.
In Kent, the Crusaders are open to players in grades 8-12. This past season, the Crusaders had approximately 28 players, but typically bring in between 25 and 40 girls.
“Since the competition is getting better, you’re seeing (the sport) grow. … The word is getting out,” Norris said. “There’s a lot of stereotyping that it’s not for girls, and that’s not true. As far as women’s rugby is concerned, the USA is one of the top teams in the world.”
For more information on the Kent Crusaders boys and girls teams, log on to: www.kentcrusaders.com.
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