CLOVER, S.C. — The U.S. women's rugby team made history at the Paris Olympics by earning a bronze medal. Now a rugby team in the Charlotte area is also making history.
Clover Middle School has the first and only all-girl middle school rugby team in the Southeast. You know the saying, "Play like a girl." In this case, these girls say that's exactly what they do and they aren't mad about it.
"You throw like a girl," eighth grader Lydian Rice said. "OK, yes, that's very well."
The team is anything but gentle when it hits the pitch. They're a perfect example that you can do anything you set your mind to.
"Even though I'm a female, that doesn't mean anything," Rice said. "The team was formed by us. Me and my friend Paisley walked around and said,' Do you want to join rugby because if we have enough we can make a team.'"
Ultimately, 18 girls signed up to join. Middle school social studies teacher Rick Myrick joined the club as coach. For Myrick, it was a shock how tough these girls are.
"I was like, 'I'm coaching a bunch of girls,'" Myrick said. "I have sons, I'm always around boys. The first time we hit, I got my lip busted."
After practicing their craft, the team was ready for game time. But there's just one problem. There aren't any other all-girl teams, so they were forced to play against the boys. That only motivated them further.
"Girls play meaner," Ellie Cook said. "I'm here because I want to let younger girls know they can play traditionally boy sports and I did it better than them."
The team finished last season in third place, an impressive result since most of the girls had never played rugby before joining the team.
Contact Austin Walker at awalker@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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