Going into the 2009 season, the University of Michigan-Dearborn rugby team knew they would have to work harder than ever before to be competitive.

The University of Michigan-Dearborn rugby team moved up one tier in competition in 2009 after winning the State Championship and Division-II, Tier 2 Title last season. The team is hoping for more fan support with just two home games left on the season. PHOTO: Courtesy of UM-D Rugby

But starting the season 0-2 after winning the State Championship and Division 2, Tier 2 Championship last year came as a shock, one that sharpened their focus even more. The Wolves now know what it takes to compete at the Tier 1 level, which they began playing at this season.
“The competition is a lot tougher but we’re ready to practice and play up to that level,” said senior wing Abdullateef Muhiuddin. “The Michigan State loss was our wake up call.”

The little things make all the difference in sports, and Muhiuddin is noticing them in practice. Players are staying longer and running harder, and the coaches are doing more to prepare players for the complex strategies other teams are throwing at them. That hard work paid off in a 43-10 win over visiting Ferris State at Allen Park Middle School last Saturday in the team’s first home game.

But if there’s one thing missing with one of UM-D’s most successful sports programs, it’s the lack of consistent fan support. Ferris State had more fans in the stands according to sophomore flanker Mohammad Daher, and the team hopes to get more UM-D students and local sports fans to attend its final two home games.

“It’s always exciting when you see people watching you like any sport,” Daher said. “Sometimes at our home games the traveling team has more spectators than us, which is disheartening, but it’s getting better now.

“It makes the game more fun when people are rooting for you.”

The final two home game opportunities for fans to come out and watch one of the fastest-growing sports in America are on October 10th against Western Michigan, a game likely to start at 1 p.m., and on October 17th against Wayne State, which is being targeted as a possible night game at 7 p.m. at Dearborn High School.

The Wayne State game will be a homecoming game for UM-Dearborn and one that usually draws the biggest and most fired-up crowd of the season. It will also be a memorial game for Tim Dooley, a UM-D rugby player who died in a car accident in summer 2008.

Daher hopes that local fans of similar sports like football and soccer will give it a chance.

“If they’ve never seen a game, they should try to come out and at least watch one. It’s really enjoyable and once you see it, you’ll want to watch more and more of it.”

For more information about the UM-Dearborn rugby team, join their Facebook group “UM-Dearborn Rugby” or go to www.umd.umich.edu/athletics and click on the rugby tab.