COMMUNITY JOURNALISM: New Iowa City rugby team thinking big

Editor's note: Megan Lehman is from Knoxville, Ill., and just finished her first year at Kirkwood. She wants to study journalism at the University of Iowa.

By Megan Lehman, community contributor

IOWA CITY - The Iowa City Crash, a new rugby team to the area, has high hopes for the future.

Brad Fuhrmann, a player-coach for the club, is excited to see where the team will go.

“We expect to win at least one game; otherwise we're just not trying hard enough,” said Fuhrmann, a native of Australia who has played the sport since elementary school.

Fuhrmann started the new rugby team earlier this year, figuring his background and experience were enough to not only coach and play, but teach beginners who were looking to break into a new athletic field.

Alex Pacha and Nathan Cox, captains of the Iowa City Crash, are newcomers to the sport. Pacha played football at Iowa City Regina and is hoping that experience will be helpful while developing his skills in another intense and contact sport.

The rest of the team has yet to meet or train with their Iowa City teammates. There are five players from Ireland who have played rugby before, but likely will not practice with Pasha, Cox or Fuhrmann before the season begins.

The Crash will host games at the Tiffin Soccer Fields and in Chicago, where most of the their league opponents reside. The Chicago-area teams are experienced, but nothing the Iowa City Crash will not be able to handle with practice and hard work, Fuhrmann said.

The Crash still is looking for players, as well as fans and sponsors. The team practices at Scott Park on Tuesday and Thursday nights at 6. Anyone over the age of 17 is welcome to come out and join the team.

For more information, contact Fuhrmann at brad@iowarugbyleague.org or visit the team's website, www.iowarugbyleague.org.