This is the case with many club or junior varsity sports around campus.

But in the eyes of players and coaches, there are several features of club rugby that distinguish it from all other non-varsity sports.

"We practice as hard as any team at Harvard," says Harvard Rugby President Benjamin P. Davis '02. "I really think we are as serious as any athletic team at this school."

This attitude stems from the club's shifting focus away from social activities and towards athletic excellence.

"We want success on the field," Davis says. "We've turned the page since 1998, and I think a lot of people see as varsity-caliber athletes who love the game they play. We have a lot of guys who left the football or soccer teams [at Harvard]."

To prepare for the season, the rugby players follow a heavy practice regimen. Intense practices are necessary to build endurance because the game never stops moving. It is normal for players to run and tackle for up to 25 minutes at a time. Often the action begins on one side of the field and rapidly swings to the other.

"Fitness is a big part of our practices," Leavitt says. "It's similar to football or soccer in many ways, in terms of what it demands athletically."

The athletic integrity of the sport is evidenced in each game as well.