Viking rugby: Practice with 18 boys

Head coach Ethan Willis (bottom) demonstrates

the lay-out position, with the offsides line

under his feet, during practice

Wed., Dec. 7. (Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Head coach Ethan Willis and Ian Denham practiced and ran modified scrimmaging without tackling with 18 boys in their Wed., 12/7 late afternoon rugby workout on the La Jolla High softball field.

"We'll have 10 more players by the time we have a game," said Willis, as he ran the returners and hopefuls through their paces on the turf.

Willis said that four teams will come to Edwards Stadium in games from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sat., Dec. 17. He also coaches the Falcon rugby players at Torrey Pines High, so presumably that team would take part in the four-way competition in a week and a half.

One familiar face on the rugby team was Wyn Smoole, a defensive back for the La Jolla High football team.

There was a lot of twirling of the odd-shaped rugby ball with two hands as players lateralled the ball to teammates running alongside them to make forward progress. A ball-carrier then lays out, stretching his arms above his head in an exaggerated reach on the ground. The offsides line lies below his lower foot.