More to the Story with Staley: Rugby Inspiration

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Under the lights at Montague Park here in Chattanooga. That’s where these women gather.

Twice a week. For at least two hours a session. Practicing with an egg shaped ball. The sport of rugby.

It’s the ‘Nooga Queens. A club team, in only its second year of operation.

And the momentum is growing!

“Normally, getting a women’s club team started is very difficult. Just because of the numbers,” said ‘Nooga Queens player Bella Krecklow. “But we here in Chattanooga have stayed strong. We have a competitive program and I’m proud of that.”

Rugby is a technical sport, and it’s hard. One must be committed to play it, and master it. These women are all of that.

Every session, 30 to 35 women show up for the drills. For a second year club team playing on its own dime, well, that’ll inspire a veteran player/coach!

Coach Allie Schrenker said, “It’s shocking. It warms my heart. It gets me excited. We started with maybe five girls who didn’t know a lick about rugby, but they wanted to learn. Look how many girls are out here. And it’s not even all of our people!”

As someone once said, “the laws of a game like rugby differ from norms of conduct enforced by our courts.”

In other words, rugby is a great sport for aggression. Former UTC soccer player Bailey Chase likes that kind of party!

“I realized I had a calling for more violence,” Chase said. “I came out for rugby and I fell in love with it, with the energy and the environment.”

The ultimate goal of this team? Become the 11th team in the USA Rugby Women’s Premier League.

It’s a big mountain to climb. But the players say it’s what they want!