Few high schools fielding rugby teams, and the sport primarily existing at a club basis, recruiting for rugby is much different than other sports.

Coaches often look to find gifted athletes with specific skills to fill up their squads. The IHSA does not recognize boys’ or girls’ rugby as a sanctioned sport.

Head women’s rugby coach Frank Graziano feels rugby is just as difficult as any sport to recruit.

“Only about 3 percent of college students play intercollegiate sports,” Graziano said who is in his ninth year of coaching at Eastern. “With rugby, we look for athletic ability, as well as the intangibles, including toughness, discipline, and accountability.”

The women’s squad has 18 members, but continues to compete at a high level. Although numbers may be low, expectations are always high.

The women’s rugby team has been successful the past five seasons, posting a 46-4 record, with athletes from a variety of different sports.

Graziano recruits players from all backgrounds including track, basketball, soccer, softball and swimming.

“We look at track for speed, and basketball is a great judge of athletic ability,” Graziano said. “Other sports can teach us a lot about an athletes competitiveness and well rounded ability.”

Rugby coaches seek players who excel in a number of sports in high school. Coach Graziano succeeded at this when he signed multi-sport athletes Emma Cannoy and Diana Zultowski for this year’s team. Of the 20 members on the team’s roster last season, 18 were multi-sport athletes while they attended high school.

Unlike the women’s rugby, the men’s squad competes only as a club sport. Men’s rugby has more club teams for high school students to compete in, but still is a rarity in prep athletics compared to sports such as basketball and football.

“Many of our players come from football and soccer backgrounds,” sophomore Dan Grail said.

Men’s rugby attracts a number of football players due to the similarity between the two sports.

“The rugby team consists of a number of players who have never played the sport before,” sophomore Liam Sheehy said. “Most come from a football background and are attracted by the contact and competitive aspect.”

Grail said the men’s rugby team returns a number of key contributors and looks to be very successful this season as well.