U.S. Tico and the Stephen F. Austin State University Rugby Reunion...

 U.S. Tico is in the USA. With numerous goals to accomplish and orders of business to take care of after 17 months of  pandemic assisted venturing the adventure in Costa Rica the first thing to see to besides family was a reunion of Stephen F. Austin State University Rugby Team Alumni at the Houston SaberCats game. It's sad to note that the SaberCats lost but I am sure they played the third half well.

There's U.S. Tico standing third from the right. Maybe we can put some names to these guys and The Man might actually know some of them but it's been a long time sice he played a third half with them.  

Rugby at SFASU is a Sport Club. Like other sport clubs such as bass fishing, judo, rock climbing and more it's a student run activity with most funding from donors. These clubs provide leadership opportunities and competition with other schools at the state and national level. Alumni donors offer one rugby scholarship each year. 

The Man never joined these guys to play rugby but as you can see from this group it's a friendly sport. After the game anyone not on the team has the chance to play the third half. It's a tradition to play the third half  around a keg of beer with everyone joining in the singing of bawdy songs, usually to the tune of well known nursery rhymes that must be finished flawlessly or you chug a beer. I note that now a days rugby songbooks can be downloaded and printed. That kind of takes some of the challenge away from your third half playbook.       

Of course there are other traditions such as the elephant walk as well as some that may not be named yet. There is also group of girls that follow the team called rugger huggers. See the girl in the top left of the above photo? That's a rugger hugger.

That's U.S. Tico on the far right standing. This photo from the Oct 3, 1978 issue of the Pine Log student newspaper celebrates the SFASU Rugby Team State Championship. 

Ok time to compare. Look at the SaberCat photos. Look at this one. Now chug your beer and name names. 

Here's another Pine Log clipping on a defeat of the Sam Houston Bearkats. It's always a good day when you beat Sam. Note the story below the game report, if you like SFASU Rugby donate here. 

I also note that there is now SFASU Women's Rugby. Research is underway to determine what they call team followers and if they need any.