These women really love a good scrum
By Emily Campbell
Examiner Staff Writer 10/24/08
The Chesapeake Ospreys is only senior women’s rugby team in Maryland.
In her junior year at LaSalle University, Baltimore resident Jillian Szczepaniak-Gillece started a women’s rugby team. The reason?
“We were bored, and we wanted to hit people,” she recalled, laughing. “Stupid things seem really smart when you’re in college.”
But the “wrong” decision turned out to be quite right. Now 27, Szczepaniak-Gillece is the vice-president and an active member of the Chesapeake Ospreys, the only senior women’s rugby team in Baltimore.
“I really missed being on a female team. And this is a very diverse group. We have girls that have never played a team sport in their lives; we have some girls who have played rugby for 10 years,” she said. “It’s not a group you would necessarily see put together in public, but we look really mean on the field.”
The team is made up of 30 women, ranging in age from 19 to 36. There are teachers, scientists and financial advisors among the group. Szczepaniak-Gillece, a social worker, said that playing on the team serves to relieve aggression from everyday stress.
“It’s a lot of discipline and teamwork, and it’s tremendous to be able to play with such great people. The camaraderie is just outstanding, and being competitive in a sport is something a lot of people don’t have access to. Plus, once you get into it, you get really hooked. Not only is it a neat sport to watch, but there’s a very social aspect to it as well.”
Jeff Adamczyk, head coach for the women’s rugby team at Towson University, has been playing rugby for the past 15 years and coaching for seven. “Rugby is an emerging sport,” Adamczyk, 35, said.
“Most people my age started playing rugby in college, but there are a lot of high school teams now, both boys and girls. It’s in a different mindset than it was five years ago. There’s a barrier to be broken, but it’s getting there, and [the sport] will continue to grow.”
Adamczyk said a lot of people are surprised by how popular rugby has become.
“Pretty much every college in the country has a rugby team. I think it’s around more than most people think,” he said. “And it’s one of the true gender equity sports — the rules are exactly the same for men as they are for women.”
The Ospreys are heading to Florida Nov. 7 to compete at the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union Championship. They are the only Maryland team competing.
“When we’re out on the field, we’re definitely having a really good time, but we’re really ferocious and competitive,” Szczepaniak-Gillece said. “We’re the third birds in town, and we’re just as tough.”
LEND THEM A HAND
The Ospreys are hosting a benefit on Wednesday at Padonia Station, 63 E. Padonia Road in Timonium, to raise money for their championship bid in Florida. For information, visit chesapeakerugby.com.
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