By Aaron O'Connell
Chris Sgro, a senior at the University of Portland, could not be more excited to graduate this fall; after a one-month holiday at home, he leaves for England-for a job, and an opportunity to play international rugby.
Formerly a football and soccer player, Sgro, who is 21, has not looked back since he started playing his new sport. "Rugby is it," he said simply.
Sgro plays with the local Oregon Rugby Sports Union, where he has always been one of the team's youngest. The Jesters are ranked second in the Pacific Northwest Rugby Football Union.
Despite his youth, Sgro has risen quickly, becoming one of the key players on the team.
One of the top scorers in the league, he plays the position of fly-half, a position that can be compared to a football quarterback, or a center mid-fielder in soccer.
"They pretty much call the plays during the game and run the back line," Sgro said. "They are the first person to receive the ball from the scrums, and from many of the tackles."
Sgro also kicks for his team, a usual responsibility for a fly-half. Kicking (like kicking a field goal in football) is an opportunity for the team to capitalize on penalties, the kick is made from the spot of the foul. Kicking is also important in conversions after a try (touchdown).
The ORSU Jesters travel as far as Montana, Washington and Idaho for competition. Still, Sgro stated, Rugby is only beginning to grow in America.
"Rugby in the U.S. is really starting to take off," Sgro said. "But rugby still is pretty small, its trying to find its niche."
The fun of playing rugby doesn't end on the field, either.
"I've never played a sport where people get along so well socially," Sgro said. "After every game we go to a team bar. It's always nice."
Sgro does not only play in the U.S. He has been a member of Guam's national rugby union team, where he has played since he was 18.
Sgro plays internationally for Guam during his summers, often competing against other Asian teams, including those from Kazakhstan, Malaysia, India and elsewhere.
Guam has yet to qualify for a World Cup berth, but is currently ranked seventh in Asia and as Sgro described, "We've gotten a lot better."
Sgro became interested in playing abroad for England's club league, and sent the team a resume of his rugby experience. He was offered a spot on the Beckenham Rugby Football Club, and was also set up with a job in the financial sector.
"I got a finance degree. The key thing is that they offered me a job," Sgro said.
Sgro said that he would not be getting paid to play rugby, at least not yet.
There are 12 levels of rugby play in England. Sgro learned he was selected to play one tier below those teams which usually pay foreign players.
Sgro will attempt to make a name for himself and move up in level. But whatever happens, he's looking forward to the experience.
"If rugby doesn't work out, it will just be good for me to make connections," Sgro said.
Sgro leaves for London Jan. 12, and the rugby season ends in May. Following the end of the season, the team will tour to New Zealand.
Sgro is unsure whether he will stay for the tour; summer is when he plays his international games for Guam. Sgro is also looking at doing a rugby camp from July to August in Australia.
Sgro is going to London to discover if he can succeed there, and the odds of moving up and eventually earning money to play.
"I guess I'll figure out in a month or two if London is right for me," Sgro said. "I'm pretty confident that once I play, they'll take care of me."
But whatever happens, Sgro is confident that the experience in England will be good for him.
Even if London isn't quite what Sgro is looking for, he still has options in Portland. A rugby teammate of his here, in town, offered Sgro a job as an analyst at his firm.
"I see my team here as my family." Sgro said. "They have always taken care of me."
