Principia Chickens Thunder to Glory

Players wear virtually no padding. It’s illegal to pass the ball forward. Periodically, burly men are tossed into the air by their teammates. Meet the Thunder Chickens, Principia’s rugby team.

We say Principia is burgeoning with opportunity—if we don’t have it, you can start it. Little demonstrates the truth of that statement more effectively than the Thunder Chickens.

The Thunder Chickens, a club sport begun and run by students, has had increasingly successful seasons the past few years. Not only have the Chickens been winning many of their matches, but they’ve been highly organized. This year marked a big change for the Chickens—the addition of full-time coach Nick Johnson (C’04).

Club teams are generally funded entirely by the players themselves with help from the Student Activities Board (SAB). While Chickens will continue to pay team dues, purchase their own shorts and cleats, and receive funding from SAB, the Athletic Department has graciously agreed to pay Johnson’s salary. According to Johnson, “because the players were serious and demonstrated that they could run an effective team,” the Athletic Department was willing to find and finance a coach.

Johnson has a history with Principia’s rugby team, having played three years as a student and coached on a voluntary basis from 2005 to 2007. Things have changed drastically since he was on the team. “When I played in three seasons, we won three trys (touchdowns),” he recalls. “That’s three scores in twenty games.”

This year, of the 18 regular and tournament games played against collegiate teams and men’s club teams, the Chickens won 11. What’s more, they didn’t lose to a single collegiate team during regular play. “It’s a really exciting time for the program,” says junior James Suber, one of the club’s presidents. “It’s the most competitive we’ve been in a long time.”

Next year will bring still more changes for the Chickens. Previously, the bulk of rugby games have been spring club matches. This coming year, the Chickens will have a full fall season against other collegiate teams. The Chickens are slated to play eight games that will determine who will win the Langenberg Cup and go on to represent the men’s collegiate division of the Missouri Rugby Football Union at the next level of play. To prepare for the season, the Chickens will have their first official pre-fall training camp.

Although the primary team goal remains “have fun,” the Chickens have added “Prepare to win the 2011 Langenberg Cup” to the list. “We’re finding that balance where we’re a serious club sport—we don’t have that quite right yet,” says Johnson.

The Thunder Chickens will be holding an alumni game during homecoming weekend. For more information, contact Nick Johnson at nick.johnson@principia.edu.