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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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Rugby clinic encourages participation for CSC teams

Eagle Staff
Ben Fererro, 21, junior of Bayard, attempts to catch the ball during the rugby clinic Thursday in Nelson Physical Activity Center. — Photo by Kinley Q. Nichols
Ben Fererro, 21, junior of Bayard, attempts to catch the ball during the rugby clinic Thursday in Nelson Physical Activity Center. — Photo by Kinley Q. Nichols

The Chadron State rugby club’s three-day event started with pre-clinic at 8 p.m. Feb. 16 in the Red Room of Kent Hall.

The event hosted 20 students who were encouraged to try the sport.

Chadron State College Rugby Club President, Morgan Nelson, sophomore of Norfolk, handed out waivers that released CSC of responsibility to injuries and possible death.

Attendees signed and turned in the waivers and Nelson handed them the rules and guidelines of rugby.

The clinic began at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the NPAC with Head Coach Darrin Barner overseeing and 18 people attending.

Barner started with drills he used at Wayne State College and went on to basic drills like the post and pick to the electric fence.

Barner made a point to encourage aggressive behavior.

“If that guy is stupid enough [to stay flat-footed], take him out,” Barner said, “Knock his teeth out.”

After drills and a long practice, the attendees watched an inspirational video on Wayne State College’s Female Rugby team.

Barner finished the clinic encouraging attendees to return the following day. The clinic continued at 5 p.m. Friday with 17 people in the NPAC. Barner warmed everybody up with the drills from the previous session as a review, and moved on to more complicated drills.

According to Barner, Wayne State College is hosting a tournament March 26 with 90 teams participating, making it the third largest tournament in the nation.

Barner said he expects CSC teams to beat Kearney.

When asked about her expectations of the tournament, Nelson said, “We want to hold our own, win or lose.

Barner was born and raised in Wayne and attended Wayne State College where he played as a defensive back in football throughout his years there.

“I just got done with college,” Barner said. “I was 21 years old and felt like a has-been. An old classmate from high school met up with me and suggested it to me.”

He traveled to Fort Worth, Texas, where his team earned the title of National Rugby Champions in 2000.

He said his favorite country to play in was New Zealand because of its rugby culture.

“New Zealand is to rugby as the United States is to softball; anyone and everyone [can] play it and [does],” Barner said.

Barner has played in 17 countries.