Durham Rugby

This past weekend I had the privilege of being invited to watch a friendly rugby scrimmage between Durham's Eno River Rage and the Raleigh Kodiaks. The teams engaged in several sevens matches throughout the chilly afternoon, stopping for water and brief socialization in-between games. One rather jovial man enjoyed more than a few beers at every half-time, engaging in what he called the "true rugby spirit". Since both teams were ending their regular game schedules this weekend there was a sense accomplishment among the players, many of whom had just completed their first season. But the most amazing thing I witnessed during the games was the amount of friendship I saw developing among the players.

One of the teams, apparently, was short a few players, so after the first game a mass substitution occurred. This lead to the formation of the "Enodiaks", a sort of hybrid between the two clubs.

Even arriving at the pitch gave amazing insight into the ethos of rugby. The days events were held at the Raleigh Vipers Club, which consists of a house and two full-size pitches --by far the most well-funded team in the area. While the Vipers were not present during the games their open lending of their fields to other teams was yet another example of the generosity and friendship felt between those that play the game.

Immediately following the games both teams took off to what players know as "the third half", a party with free food, drink, and entertainment.

It was great to see the camaraderie, generosity, and community between the teams both during the games and at the after-party. And while rivalries do exist amongst the area's teams, the blind passion devoted to "crushing" others exhibited in similar type sports was refreshingly absent.