Rugby players at UF are ready to take on the defending national champions, but their wallets say otherwise.
Through local fundraisers, as well as the assistance of alumni and family, the team has raised about $1,000 of its $3,000 goal. Money will go toward travel, equipment and lodging expenses, said Ryan Gilbert, the 20-year-old treasurer of Men’s Rugby at UF and captain of the Rugby 7s team.
The UF Rugby 7s sports club will be heading to Greensboro, N.C., to compete in the 2013 USA Rugby College 7s National Championship on Saturday and Sunday. Arkansas, the defending national champion, is in the same bracket as Florida.
Although the Rugby team is given about $7,000 from Student Government, it’s not enough to last the season.
“If we don’t raise enough money we have to pull it out of pocket, which can be difficult on a college budget,” said the finance and sports management junior.
An alumni donation page on gofundme.com was set up by an alumnus to help the team, Gilbert said.
Rich McDonald, a 22-year-old civil engineering senior and vice-president of the club, said they are hoping for a monetary boost to help them realize their potential for success.
A victory on the national level could help the team increase the awareness and help them recruit new players for future seasons, McDonald said.
A version of this story ran on page 4 on 11/18/2013 under the headline "Rugby team asks for funds"
