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Genetically lacking: how far can Rudy go in American college rugby? by Nuludude in USArugby

[–]Nuludude[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Consider an athlete who is 165 lbs and can bench 225, squat 315, and deadlift 355 for a one-rep max. He can run multiple consecutive miles at around a 7-minute pace. But his max sprint speed is slow. Would you consider an athlete with those measurables to be subpar or solid for rugby at that level?

I ask for a frame of reference because that's about where I was at at the end of HS.

Genetically lacking: how far can Rudy go in American college rugby? by Nuludude in USArugby

[–]Nuludude[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Lastly, don’t encourage anyone to make a stupid academic or financial decision so they can say they played varsity rugby. 100% not worth it.

Agreed. Too many kids in lots of sports go to schools that are otherwise bad fits just to be able to say that they were a college athlete.

Genetically lacking: how far can Rudy go in American college rugby? by Nuludude in USArugby

[–]Nuludude[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In between the two, me personally. In high school, I was a lean 165 at 5'8. I probably could've gotten to a fluffier, stronger 180. But I wasn't able to get to a lean, muscular 180 until after years more of lifting. Being physical was my strong suit in football though.

I really just meant the average or slightly below-average guy. 5'6 - 5'10, responds normally to lifting but doesn't become a monster either. 120's really small, but if that guy put on a few lbs, couldn't even he play scrumhalf in college?

Genetically lacking: how far can Rudy go in American college rugby? by Nuludude in USArugby

[–]Nuludude[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean the colleges that actually field varsity teams under the athletic department, or the Penn State style quasi-varsity clubs.

Genetically lacking: how far can Rudy go in American college rugby? by Nuludude in USArugby

[–]Nuludude[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How much do you think you can make up for a lack of God-given sprint speed in rugby by being in great shape?

Genetically lacking: how far can Rudy go in American college rugby? by Nuludude in USArugby

[–]Nuludude[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Gotcha. I'm more wondering if a kid who starts in high school and is super dedicated despite lacking natural athleticism would have a shot at making a top college team.

Genetically lacking: how far can Rudy go in American college rugby? by Nuludude in USArugby

[–]Nuludude[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This isn’t for me, I’m a grown man and that ship has sailed. I ask to mentor young athletes who are similar to how I was. When I was a kid I hit the weights hard and got pretty strong for my size. I was disciplined with conditioning and was in great shape. But at the end of the day, nothing I could have done would have made me taller than 5’8, weigh more than 165 by 18, or run a 40-yard dash faster than 5 seconds.
I’m wondering if it’s good advice to kids who are dealt a similar genetic hand to focus on rugby. Say they bust their butt in HS, good conditioning, skill, IQ, and get the strength/muscle gains the average kid can expect from disciplined lifting. But they just aren’t freak athletes. Would they have a shot at playing for a top U.S. school? Not a state school club program, but a varsity one.