The Hillsdale club rugby team poses after its victory over the University of Michigan. Courtesy | Emelie K. Randell

The Hillsdale club rugby team beat the University of Michigan 27-5 at the Mitchell Field in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Sept. 8. 

Sophomore Lewis Thune said a pivotal moment during the game was when Michigan sent a 300-pound lineman charging forward. 

“He ran directly into our defense, but standing in front of him was Noah Parlee, our number one,” Thune said. “I yelled out ‘bad idea!’ as Parlee hit him. He didn’t know what was coming.”

The physical advantage was a recurring theme in Hillsdale’s strategy, according to junior Robert Brandau, who is the coach and also a player on the team. In previous years, the team fielded many newcomers, but this season was different. 

“Last year, we fielded between 10 and 15 guys who had not played before, but this year we only fielded around five,” Brandau said.

Brandau said the team’s sheer size, aggressiveness, and relentless offense kept Michigan under constant pressure and contributed to Hillsdale’s victory. 

“We tore apart the offense,” Brandau said. “We never let them have a moment of rest within the first 10 minutes. We were really hitting our stride, winning rucks, finding the outside, finding the green space, getting those conversions.”

The team’s recent victory marked the third consecutive year of defeating Michigan on their home turf. 

“We came in expecting to clean up, and that’s what we did,” sophomore Dominick Taranto said.

Taranto said Hillsdale’s club rugby team is the perfect outlet for men to participate in and bring out manly virtues.

Thune stressed how crucial the size and fitness of Hillsdale’s players was in defeating Michigan.  

“Rob Brandau, our player-coach, has been putting us through really difficult conditioning in the high heat to get us in peak physical shape,” Thune said.

Brandau said the team has about 30 dedicated players.

“I see the club moving to the Division II level in the next two years,” Brandau said. 

Nevertheless, Brandau explained the team’s need for support in the form of an official coach and additional equipment, such as scrum sleds, tackling pads, and rugby balls. 

“We have the sheer manpower, size, energy and speed, so we would love support from parents, alumni, and anyone who’s interested in rugby or wants to see the team reach its potential,” Brandau said. “We want this to be something we can return to in 20 years and see Hillside College winning championships in the Midwest.”

Brandau said his favorite memory from the match was seeing the sheer joy on the freshmans’ faces who played a little bit during the game. 

“It was priceless seeing them take on the yoke of being the next generation of rugby warriors at Hillsdale,” Brandau said.