Running with Rugby

Like with a blind date that led to marriage, Haverhill's Tony Purpura experienced a life-changing experience four years ago when he got to know his roommate at Avon Old Farms.

The former Brooks football and wrestling standout was geared to elevate his academic and athletic resume at the Connecticut prep school in hopes of eventually playing a higher level of college football.

Instead, he was introduced to rugby.

"My roommate (Daniel Ridghi) had played in high school and he got me into it," said the 6-foot-3, 260-pound Purpura. "He told me I could run with the ball and, as a lineman, that sold it for me.

"We played some pickup games and I fell in love with it. It's a physical sport that takes a lot of skill and my wrestling background really helped. When you tackle someone, the most effective way is like a double leg takedown in wrestling."

Purpura liked rugby so much that, after being recruited to the University of Maine to play football, he gave up the sport and joined the Maine Rugby Club. Little did he know that he might be starting a career.

With the strength and endurance developed as an Eagle-Tribune All-Star in wrestling, Purpura was a natural defender and an aggressive offensive player. He quickly took a team that hadn't won a game the year before he started playing to a team that finished second in the northeast.

"Tony is one of the best rugby players I have ever seen play," said Maine rugby coach George Criner earlier in the year. "He was a big factor in Maine ending up ninth in the nation last year."

Added UMaine assistant Mark Grimes in April: "Whenever you play with Tony, the other team will always look for him and be concerned with him. I never went into a game with any doubt. I knew we had the toughest guy — we had Tony."

Purpura's rugby prowess quickly became known on a bigger stage. A year ago, he got the opportunity to play for eight months in rugby-crazy New Zealand, hooking on with Mid Canterbury and playing in the championship game of the National Provincial Championship.

"Playing in New Zealand, I was surrounded by great players, coaches and experienced mentors," said Purpora. "It was a a great experience, and they are very passionate. Rugby is definitely the number one sport there."

With his skills sharpened and knowledge of the game widened, Purpura returned to the United States as a more complete player, making him one of the premier players in the country.

In addition to playing for the Boston Rugby Club, Purpura was picked to play for the American Eagles, a national team that participated with teams from other countries in the recent Churchill Cup, both in Colorado and New Jersey.

The American Eagles defeated Russia and, with Purpura starting and playing 65 of 80 minutes, it lost its second game to powerhouse England, 32-9 (but the closest the U.S. has ever come to the British) before falling to France in the final game.

Although the Eagles' 1-2 record wasn't as good as Purpura had wanted, he did play well and he's hoping it was good enough to be picked for the ultimate U.S. national team that will play in the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

"That's my goal, to play on the World Cup team and the selection of the final team will come soon," said Purpura. "I want to go with the Collegiate All-American team that goes to England in August to play, play on the All-American team that plays Canada and Argentina in October and then be with the Eagles (U.S. national team) in November when they'll be going on a tour of Europe to prepare for the (2011) World Cup.

"I have to just keep working hard for my position (a 'prop'). I'm considered very young for this sport — the peak age is about 29 — but I really want to be on the U.S. (national) team that goes for the Cup next year."

Because he postponed his academic career while in New Zealand, Purpura has one year left to complete his degree at the University of Maine. He plans on transferring to UMass Lowell, in order to be closer to the Boston Rugby Club, and he could finish his studies next year.

However, if the Rugby World Cup comes calling, it may take quite some time to complete his degree.

"I just love playing rugby, and I want to play as much and as long as I can," said Purpura, who may introducing youth rugby clinics to the area in the near future. "It's a really big sport in Europe and people make a living playing it."

Introducing rugby

Field: Called a pitch, it's 100 meters long and 69 meters wide

Duration: 80 minutes, split into two 40-minute halves

Number of players: 15, divided into eight forwards and seven backs with various names. The forwards are roughly similar to linemen and linebackers in football while the backs are similar to the skill players in football

Object of game: Score the most points, either with kicks or by advancing the ball to the endzone

How to play: The ball can be moved by carrying it in the hands, or kicking, at any time, but the ball can't be passed forward other than by kicking it. If the ball is hit or passed forward without being hit, it results in a "scrum," in which forwards come together and try to win the ball, sort of like a tipoff in basketball

Scoring: A "try," which is the equivalent of a touchdown in football, is worth five points; a "conversion," which is like an extra point try in football, is worth two points; a "penalty kick" scores three points and is awarded if a serious foul has been committed; a "drop goal" scores three points and can be kicked at any time, from anywhere, by anybody, but the ball must be kicked just after kicking the ground, like an old fashioned drop kick

Tougher than football

Haverhill's Tony Purpura, a former football and wrestling standout at Brooks School, says that rugby is tougher than football for the following reasons.

1. There is hardly any equipment used in rugby.

"You have a mouthpiece and that's about it," said Purpura. "Some guys wear light shoulder pads, but nothing more."

2. Injuries are common.

"For a team sport, it has the highest injury rate," said Purpura. "I've been pretty lucky, knock on wood, but I've gotten a lot of stiches in my head."

3. There are fewer breaks in action.

"The games are 80 minutes long, there is really no timeout and few substitutions," said Purpura. "There is a quick transfer from offense to defense and it's very fast paced. You have to be in great shape."

Different brands of football

Soccer — The most popular in the world, known most everywhere other than the United States as football. It's sometimes called Association Football.

Rugby — Probably the most physical type of football, used with an oval ball.

American Football — Mainly played in the United States, it is perhaps the most complicated football and usually involves the most substitution.

Canadian Football — Similar to American football, but the fields are bigger and there are only three downs.

Australian Football — Played with 18 players to a side, it allows the use of both hands and feet to propel the ball toward the opponent's goal.

Gaelic Football — Played predominantly in Ireland, it consists of 15 players on a side, including a goalie. The ball can be punched or kicked for a goal from the air. A goal worth three points is scored if it goes under the bar, one point if it goes over the bar.

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