"When you get out there for that opening kickoff and line up against the guy you know you're going to hit, and you unload on him so hard it makes him feel like he wants to crawl back into his mother's womb, and you know that it's legal, there's no feeling like that on Earth."
When UB rugby co-captain Jason Giglia speaks about his sport, it borders on poetic - violently poetic, that is, for a sport that, much like the rush of playing it, is like no other on Earth.
Giglia is a seasoned veteran of a UB club rugby team that has been steamrolling competition for the last five years. In the last three National Tournaments the Mad Turtles attended, they've taken home third-place, second-place and first-place honors.
"We truly are an unstoppable force on the field," said Danny Ryan, a senior co-captain of the squad.
Prior to becoming the powerhouse the team has built over the last five years, it's had its ups and downs. Even though the team was created in 1967, they have only begun to gain popularity among students and the community during the last few years.
"We had over 200 fans at our last home game and they made our win that much better," Giglia said.
Originating from a UB rugby legend, the Mad Turtle name has a unique history of it's own. The team used to practice on the east end of campus near the lake, and during the dry months of the season, when the water was low, there was a large number of snapping turtles that made their way onto the practice field. At that time, it was the job of the rookies to move the turtles off the field with long sticks. This of course made the turtles upset. Hence, the UB Mad Turtles.
The players on the UB rugby team come from a mixture of athletic backgrounds, including football, track and field and some that played rugby in high school.
"We've got about ten players that have come in with prior rugby experience, and that helps them because they already know how to play," Ryan said.
The team plays in the Division I New York State Rugby Conference where they are currently ranked number four in the Northeast. The Turtles are also currently ranked in the top 25 of the nation.
The coaches of the Mad Turtles boast plenty of rugby experience. Two of the coaches have played for Buffalo teams as well as in men's leagues for over 20 years each. The team attributes much of their success to their coaching and feels they have the edge over everyone else in the league.
"Our coaches are great, they are completely dedicated to the team and do all this for no pay, simply for love of the game," Giglia said.
In order to become a member of the Mad Turtles, a player must be prepared for a high level of competition and a rigorous training schedule.
"We have a player that has been on the team for three years and he still throws up during practice," Ryan said.
The team is a tight group, and aside from the sport, they enjoy their closeness in all aspects of life. They organize trips each year. This year the Turtles are scheduled to visit Ireland for spring break.
"We really function as a unit on and off the field," Giglia said.
Ryan said he also enjoys the camaraderie of the sport.
"The best part of rugby is being able to go out there and play with fifteen other guys that are all like brothers," Ryan said.
Interested students can join the team until the end of October, and there are no requirements to join. For more information on joining, or the team in general, visit the Mad Turtles web site at www.ubrugby.org.
"The more, the merrier. The more bodies we have the better," Giglia said.
The UB rugby team will play Syracuse at home on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
