“Ball’s out! Ball’s out!” The girl behind me screamed. “Wow,” I thought. “That’s an interesting cheer.”

It took me a minute to realize what she meant. The ball was out from under the “scrum” and in play on the field.

This game, the game of Rugby, is about balls – metaphorically as well as literally.

So, if you don’t like the sight of blood, walk away now. For as you will see, rugby is a very bloody game.

When it comes down to it, Rugby is more like a choreographed bar fight than a game. That’s what makes it so much fun.

Swollen knees, scraped elbows, a mysterious scratch on the inner thigh . these boys and girls do not play pretty. These players are tough.

From what I saw on Saturday, Jan. 28, the nature of the rugby player could be summed up in one statement I overheard right before the men’s game. “I’m just glad to be alive man; any day above ground is a good day.”

During the women’s match that day, a seriously busted nose took one player out of the game. She refused to leave her team until after the final play.

On this sunny afternoon the Women’s Rugby team confronted Duke. It was an unfortunate defeat.

The Men’s Rugby team challenged the Gastonia Men’s Club supported by Davidson College.

The game went into overtime with the score at 10-10. Guilford won.

I got to talk to Tyler Cope who scored the winning try. I asked him how it felt.

“It feels better than anything. I got to tell you what . I mean I’m in seven heavens right now.”

I asked him, “How did you do it Tyler?”

“It took a determination and courage . well, a combination of courage and fear . that’s what it was,” he replied.

Anthea Williams, junior, is a Rugby fan and long time friend of Cope. “Tyler? Yea, Tyler’s got the biggest balls of them all. I heard that he got cut one time and pure motor oil came out of his veins.”

Super-Fan Josh Laker chimed in. Josh is a Guilford Alumnus and goes to every game he can. He is the person who brings the grill. He says his favorite part of the game is the cheer. He got one rolling to pump up the crowd, “Fight, fight, inner light! Kill Quakers kill! Knock ‘um down! Beat ‘um senseless! Do it ’till we reach consensus!”

There are some things I strongly advise one to consider before attending Guilford Rugby games in order to maximize the enjoyment of the experience.

If you’ve never played rugby before, like me, the game can be very confusing. The rules are complex and, quite frankly, explaining them would just be boring. Besides, the best way to learn this game is to witness the magic it creates for you. But, if you feel that you must know how the game works in order to enjoy it, here is what I’ve gathered.

If American football and European football were put into a blender (on liquefy), the rules of rugby would result.

A player can kick or run with the ball moving forward and can throw the ball laterally or backward, but not forward.

There are out-of-bounds lines and scoring areas and goal posts to kick balls through.

The rugby ball is made of leather and is shaped kind of like an American football but is bigger and less pointy.

I suggest you prepare the following for a game:

Bring blankets. Please remember that red clay, mustard and blood make stains, so don’t bring your favorite comforter.

Refreshing beverages are a must. Bring extra to share, and you’ll score big points with the other fans.

Usually there’s a grill. Bratwurst or some veggie equivalent (though I wouldn’t tell anyone it was fake) and bread are recommended fare.

Learn the cheer or cut it out of this article and take it with you.

Always take your sunglasses and sunscreen. I should have brought sunglasses.

Now you are physically and mentally prepared for the best Saturday afternoons of the year. Rugby is absolutely worth rolling out of bed for. You don’t even have to change out of your P.J.s.

Basic Rugby Vocabulary

Try: A touchdown like in American Football only a player has to “ground” the ball by mashing it into the ground.

Goal: Ball is kicked through the goal posts

Scrum: In a mild rule infraction the offended team can choose a scrum. It looks like two piles of people fighting for the ball, using their feet. Teams use feet to get the ball to a player behind them while pushing the other team backwards. (When the ball comes out from under the scrum you hear a fan or player yell “balls out!”)

Lineout: The ball went over the touch line (out of bounds.) It’s cheating. Players form parallel lines and lift one player up as the ball is thrown inbounds to be caught.

Ruck: At least two players battle for the ball using feet, then more people join. In this case it looks just like what it is.