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Clayton’s Jonathan Sanyer goes up for the ball. Bottom, Clayton’s Ted Chapman tries to make a tackle on a Southern Pines player. get them involved, and it makes a big difference. “Because the wives let the men play.” In addition, the club also runs as a family in its own right. “On top of it all, what I think keeps people coming back is the camaraderie,” Hardy said. “That kind of family aspect. The guys you play rugby with end up being like family. We have dinners together, our kids play together. That’s what keeps guys coming back, even after they get some bumps and bruises.” Morrison, after being subbed out, sat in the bleachers with cotton in both nostrils. His nose was swollen, but it was hard to notice anything except his ear-to-ear grin. The atmosphere is one thing, but the rush of taking the field is another. Getting to make the occasional tackle is pretty fun, too. “It’s a great stress relief, especially for adult players,” Hardy said. “We’ve got families, we’ve got jobs. We’ve got a lot of stress in our lives. It’s not easy to keep active as far as fitness goes. It’s a good way to get out, get some fitness in and let off some steam.” Another common rugby myth is that it’s similar to football. But Hardy suggests a different comparison. “People like to say that it’s football without pads, but in reality, it’s more like basketball,” he said. “You play offense, you play defense. Everybody gets the ball, and everybody can score. “It requires all of those skills. You need to be able to pass the ball, catch the ball and run the ball. People that come to the sport that have never played before, that’s what really catches them.” A topic of conversation in youth sports these days is safety, particularly with head injuries. The NFL is trying to address the issue with its “Heads Up” program, while some youth soccer organizations are banning headers for its younger players. USA Rugby takes it seriously, too. But Hardy believes that the sport isn’t any more dangerous than any other. “It gets a bad rap,” Hardy said. “Having played football, when you’re not wearing all that armor, you start thinking about where you put your head. “There’s a big emphasis, especially at the youth level, about teaching proper tackling technique. Head to the side, so you’re taking your head out of the tackle.” In addition, the strike zone for tackles used to be the shoulder and below. Now, it’s under the armpit. Anything higher is an automatic penalty. With a growing membership and a successful youth club breeding potential new players, the club is committed to growing the sport even more in Johnston County. “We’ve been searching for some land to develop into a rugby facility, and this spring we started talking with the Town of Wilson’s Mills,” Hardy said. “They’ve got a community park project they’re about to break ground on. Part of the park is going to be playgrounds and basketball courts, things like that. On the rest of it, we’re going to put in fields. “So, we’ll have a permanent home for rugby in Johnston County, and the town gets extra recreational space.” The facility, scheduled to open next year, will allow the club to host more and bigger tournaments. And even more chances for Morrison and the Bootleggers to take the field. For more info on the Clayton Rugby Football Club, visit ClaytonRFC.com. 22 | JOHNSTON NOW