By TONY BELLISSIMO
“We’ve played all over the globe,” said the 37-year-old Panzella, who resides in East Rockaway. “It’s great camaraderie and we all enjoy the competition. None of us like losing.”
Like the majority of the club’s 40 active members, Panzella’s first taste of rugby came in college. “I joined to keep in shape and make some friends,” he said. “Here I am almost 20 years later and my passion hasn’t waned.”
He’s not alone despite a long list of injuries that includes a broken leg, ribs, nose and fingers.
Merrick resident Karbun Tang, 41, played the sport for more than 30 years in his native England and joined the L.I. Rugby Club in 2007 after moving to the United States. “I’ve played all my life and was glad to discover this team,” said the British Airways employee. “I’ve been able to stay active and pass on some of my knowledge. It’s not like home [England] where it’s easy to find an opponent. These guys travel phenomenal miles to play.”
Tang underwent knee surgery four years ago to repair an injury suffered in a test [game] and has dealt with dislocated shoulders among the many bumps and bruises. “I plan to play as long as my body holds up,” he said.
Lynbrook resident Michael Kelly, 23, a former high school football player and wrestler, wasn’t happy sitting out the 7s (rugby is traditionally played 15 on 15, but also 7 on 7) tournament hosted by the Rockaway Rugby Club in Fort Tilden on June 20 with a sore back. “It’s tough to watch,” he said, “but I want to make sure I’m healthy for the rest of the year.
“We’re out there to have fun, but we hate losing,” Kelly added. “You have to take it seriously. If you don’t, the risk for injury is high.”
The birth of the team goes back more than 35 years. It was founded in 1972 as the Smithtown Rugby Club by St. Anthony’s and Chaminade High School alumni, and shortly thereafter the name was changed to the Long Island Rugby Club. For six years during the 1990s, the club continued as the Long Island Rugby Rhinos until it merged with the Rockville Centre Rugby Club (founded in 1992) in ‘98. After competing on the field and with recruiting, both clubs decided it was best to join forces to put forth one strong, unified club in the region.
Coached by Malverne resident John Collins and Jerry Mirro of Commack, the team rose to Division I of the Metropolitan New York Rugby Football Union in 2005 after competing in Division II for seven years. It has enjoyed tremendous success in the top division, twice making the Sweet 16 for the National Championships. “Rugby has always been a big part of my life,” Collins said. “I played for 30 years and have coached for 30 years. It’s a universal sport and I’ve developed a lot of great friendships through it. It’s better to lose a game of rugby than win a game of softball.”
The club travels extensively off Long Island, playing in tournaments all over the country, and has fared well enough to bring home various trophies. It also travels abroad once every three years, and stops have included England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, the Cayman Islands and Buenos Aries. Its premiere host event, the annual Mother’s Day Tournament in Long Beach, began 27 years ago and attracts teams from neighboring states as well as the United Kingdom.
Collins said the team has spirited practices two nights a week from March-November at Burns Park in Massapequa. “It’s a big commitment,” he said. “We average about 25 guys on a given night. Everyone loves the competition as well as the camaraderie.”
Comments about this story? TBellissimo@
liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 204.
