As the Screaming Minks Rugby Football Club kicks off their 59th season, players said they have their sights set on the state championship.
The Minks stand at a 1-2 record thus far into the season, beating Emory and Henry University and falling short to James Madison University and No. 13 Christendom College. The Minks serve as a hybrid between a club sport and varsity sport, making them much different from other clubs.
Going into this season, several members of the team moved in early and hosted an official preseason to prepare new members and build team chemistry, forward Riley Monsour, ’27, said.
“The preseason was an excellent time for the team to bond on and off the field. We were able to get a lot of lifting in, work on our fundamentals, and overall become closer as fellow men,” he said.
Although rugby is not an NCAA recognized sport, the Screaming Minks play in the Cardinals Collegiate Rugby Conference managed by the National Collegiate Rugby Association. The Screaming Minks regularly face varsity programs such as Virginia Military Institute and Hampden-Sydney College.
Captain Charlie Garcia, ’26, said that, at Washington and Lee University, “rugby is treated by both players and coaches with as much competitive vigor as varsity programs.”
“Unlike many club sports, every game counts towards our conference standings and a potential playoff run. Even though we are a club sport, we have a varsity mentality,” he said.
New executive members such as field and kit manager Jack Tompkins, ’27, have helped reshape the culture of the team after a poor outing in the 2023-2024 season.
“The culture of the team this year has generally gotten more rough: guys are more energetic and focused and that shows so far in our execution this season,” he said.
The Minks have 12 new players who did not participate in last fall’s season. This rate of recruitment is the most in a considerable amount of time, Tompkins said, which showcases the growing popularity of rugby on campus and what he calls the “eagerness” of the team.
The Minks’ last state championship run was in 2022, and players said they are looking to make another run this year. If they’re successful, that would mark the club’s seventh run in its near-60 year history.
The Screaming Minks will face Emory and Henry again at home in their next game on Oct. 19. The Minks’ performance in front of the home crowd may determine the direction of the team heading into the second half of the season, players said.
