Try, ruck, maul, scrum.
The unfamiliarity of these words to most hasn't stopped men's rugby head coach Mickey McGuire from following a passion that he discovered in college. Because of his passion, McGuire holds the desire to spread the sport to any and every one who is interested.
Those who have not met McGuire may be surprised that he volunteers his efforts to Buffalo, coaching daily practices.
McGuire says that his practices are open to all, because he insists that rugby is a sport with no prejudices to body type. According to McGuire, unlike typical sports like basketball, a person doesn't need to be over 6 feet tall or extremely fit to compete.
"Anyone can play defense and everyone can play offense," McGuire said.
McGuire's father was a hardworking truck driver who did everything in his power to provide a sound environment for his children. Throughout his life, McGuire has stayed loyal to his hometown of Buffalo even when it came to his favorite food.
"I love my chicken wings," McGuire said. "I'm not lying about that."
It's no surprise that McGuire is still deeply involved with the college crowd. For 20 years he was a college dean and his son is currently a senior at the University at Buffalo. McGuire feels that he works well with young adults and advises all college students to constantly persist.
McGuire coached the US All-American Rugby Team, the North East Collegiate All-Stars, the New York State Collegiate All-Stars and he was the first general manager for the U.S. Under-23 Women's National Team. Leading these prestigious teams, however, is not what McGuire prides himself on.
"... [Coaching] someone playing rugby for the first time is the most enjoyable experience that I can have," he said. "All you need to play is a desire and a commitment to do well."
McGuire has also coached games not only played on American soil, but on international grounds as well. He's traveled with teams that have competed in Canada and Ireland. When he visited Ireland, he coached a team that played on the oldest rugby pitch in the world at Lansdowne Road.
McGuire has been across the nation as well and has had the luxury of coaching at West Point and the University of California on two of the finest rugby pitches that he has ever seen.
McGuire's life, however, isn't all about rugby. He has a wife and children that he enjoys spending time with. When he gets the chance, he loves being outdoors, whether it is fishing or just playing a round of golf.
When it comes to sports allegiances, McGuire stays true to his roots.
"I'm certainly a Sabres fan and Bills fan," he said. "When I travel though, I enjoy seeing other teams compete."
In the future, McGuire would like to see Buffalo's rugby program expand. Currently, the school has a club team, but he believes that with the right funding and resources it is possible that Buffalo could field a varsity team in the near future.
Currently, donations from alumni have initiated the movement, but help from the school and maintenance officials is mandatory to the progress of the program, McGuire said.
"We've started to work on a field re-development proposal, he said. "I hope to see a great effort put forth by the university to expand the program."
