The setting sun cast long shadows as a mass of interlocking bodies waited for the referee’s call. Red, white and burnt orange blended together as a scrum, an intense rugby formation, ensued.
Texas Rugby faced off against Oklahoma on Friday at a neutral pitch in Dallas for the annual Scrum for the Skull match. UT lost 14-53, marking their third consecutive loss. Both teams play in the National Collegiate Rugby 1AA Division, Texas in the Lonestar Conference, while OU plays in the Great Plains Conference. The teams cross conference lines once a year, embodying the Red River Rivalry through rugby. Cody Duke, senior statistics and data science major, serves as the president of Texas Rugby, established in 1985.
“Even though OU isn’t even in our conference, it’s still one of our biggest games because we’re both high-caliber teams,” Duke said. “I get so pumped driving up (to Dallas) and being, like, ‘This is our Red River Rivalry.’”
Duke said sportsmanship in rugby is taken seriously, and referees are referred to as “sir” or “ma’am.”
“Our coach has always said, and I’ve heard this all around the sport, that ‘Rugby is a hooligan’s game played by gentlemen,’” Duke said. “(Referees) are treated to a much higher level, and they (often) say ‘Only captains speak to the ref, or the sir.’ (We) don’t talk back.”
Thomas Villalba, OU biology junior and OU rugby team captain, said the Texas-Oklahoma match is his favorite one each year.
“The rivalry we have is instilled by our upperclassmen,” Villalba said. “When I came in as a freshman, when I got to practice during Texas week, everyone was hyped and giving it their all. They were genuinely so happy to play because this is a great rivalry.”
As captain and previous victor, Villalba possessed the Skull — a painted cow skull granted to the winner of the match, similar to the Golden Hat Trophy for the football rivalry. In Norman, Oklahoma, the team displays the Skull in their clubhouse.
“If Texas beats us today, I’ll walk (the Skull) over to them, I’ll give it to their captain, and say, ‘Congratulations on that good game,’” Villalba said. “If it stays in Norman, we hoist it up and we celebrate.”
Chemical engineering junior Teague McCourt attended the game. He said it was his first live rugby match.
“When you’re watching football … they’re all in pads,” McCourt said. “But when you’re sitting 20 feet away, and you hear these (rugby) guys collide with each other, it’s the physicality there and the energy that comes from that — it’s something to behold.”
The Scrum for the Skull represents a lesser-known but equally competitive manifestation of the Red River Rivalry. However, a unique postgame exists for these players.
“We may want to kill each other, but after the game’s over, we’ll shake it off and we’ll just want to shake their hands and talk to them,” Villalba said. “During the game … you’re my enemy. As soon as that game’s over … it’s like chatting with your mates, and that’s what I love about this Texas week.”
