Austin Huns rugby game (Credit: Norma Salinas Photography)
You may or may not have heard of the Austin Huns. If you haven’t, get ready to see a lot more about them within the next few years. The Huns are the official rugby team of Austin, Texas, poised to become one of the city’s biggest sports teams. They’ve been in Central Texas since 1972, steadily growing into one of the largest clubs in the United States. As the population of Central Texas has grown, the fanbase and competitive spirit of the Huns has also expanded.
How Does Rugby Work?
Credit: Norma Salinas Photography
Before I go any further, here’s your crash course in rugby. It’s something like football, but older and much more hardcore. Unlike football, you generally can’t pass the ball forward, so any movement downfield requires running a team of huge savages into another team of huge savages until one team reaches the end zone. It’s beautiful in its simplicity, I think.
Rugby is a warrior’s game. While its U.S.-centric cousin, football, is constantly evolving its padding and protection, rugby teams like the Austin Hubs continue their tradition of padless, helmetless play. Even its vocabulary involves a primal element. When a ball is fumbled and touches the ground, it is a “maul,” due to the pile of giants fighting to reclaim the ball.
The Huns are looking to do more than just continue the proud tradition of rugby in Texas. They want to grow the sport in our area, and the rugby world is watching Austin to see how we incorporate the team into our city’s changing identity.
Austin Huns Go Pro
Credit: Norma Salinas Photography
Once a fledgling team in what might be the most football-centric region on earth, the Austin Huns have officially announced that they’re going professional–joining the Major Rugby League in 2018. This move will give the team access to an even wider fanbase.
The Huns are also doubling down by developing a brand new stadium in southeast Austin. The sports arena will be an impressive 34-acre building that will seat up to 10,000 people. The location will be near Walnut Creek, offering the perfect place to relax and join friends to watch the game.
Austin may be the perfect place to teach people to appreciate and love the sport of rugby. Rugby is just one step removed from football, and we all know how football-crazed our city can be. We are also a youthful, tech-friendly city where people are interested in fresh ideas. We are willing to try new things.
It is up to us to support the team as it represents our city in one of the fastest growing sports in the country. Austin is shaping its own history right now, and Huns Rugby is playing a special part.
Check out a game and see for yourself. The regular season runs from January to May, and home games are played at Huns Field (4107 Nixon Lane). Learn more at austinhunsrugby.com.
@DustyVegas wants to know:
Have you ever watched a rugby game?
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