Hudson High rugby standout has national collegiate title in sights

by Dan Holland

For three-year John Carroll University Football Rugby Club player Nick Jackson, it’s all about bringing home a national championship this year.

“The goal would be to win a national championship,” said Jackson, a Hudson native and double-major in physics and engineering. “We’ve gone to the national tournament all three years, but the ultimate goal is to bring the D-III national title back home.”

The JCU Green Gators Football Rugby Club, established in 1966, brought in new head coach Justin Rutledge in 2021. The team plays both a 7-versus-7 players spring season and a 15-versus-15 players fall season. The spring team consists of 20 players, while the fall team consists of approximately 30 players, according to Jackson.

The addition of Rutledge has been one of the contributing factors for the team’s recent successes, which includes winning the Allegheny Rugby Union 7’s Championship two of the last three seasons and a regional championship in 2022, which earned the team a trip to the May Madness 7’s National Tournament each year. 

“We’ve had a really good program these past few years ever since new head coach Justin Rutledge came aboard,” said Jackson. “He came in during my freshman year, and once he came in, the program became a lot better.”

Jackson previously played on the Hudson High School Rugby Club team.

“It’s a lot more competitive playing at the college level,“ said Jackson, who plays center. “Everyone is older and more mature, stronger and faster. The teams are also a lot bigger and more organized.”

Having played both American football and rugby, Jackson noted the differences between the sports. “Rugby is somewhat new in America, especially in high schools and colleges,” he explained. “There are very few schools that have rugby as a varsity sport, but a lot of schools are starting to transition it into a varsity sport, as it’s drawing a lot of interest.”

“The fact that you play both sides – offense and defense – makes it more involved, because you do everything on the field,” he continued. “You can run away or tackle, so there’s not a huge difference between player positions and skill sets like there is in football. It’s quicker paced, and there’s never a stoppage of the time unless there’s a penalty or an out-of-bounds call.”

Above all, Jackson said he enjoys the camaraderie of the team and sport.

“We’re all friends on the team even when we’re not playing rugby, and I think that’s the difference between rugby and football,” he said. “I played football for three seasons at JCU, and football had a lot more cliques within it, often by position. But in rugby, everyone is friends with everyone. The camaraderie is much better in rugby, as it brings everyone together.”

Jackson and Rutledge also both play for the Cleveland Crusaders, a men’s rugby travel team.

“Since the players brought me on board, I have noticed that the team operates as a unified front that creates an undeniable atmosphere around each match,” said Rutledge. “The players, from top to bottom, do what I say – sometimes – but they play for each other all the time. They all take the initiative to hold themselves and each other accountable to the high expectations that are set each year.”

“Nick is one of the best leaders of the team, and his work ethic is unmatched,” he added. “He is always looking for more ways to better himself and expose his teammates to those opportunities. More impressively, he makes a conscious effort to improve the deficiencies in his game, which is rare to find among young athletes.”

Jackson often encourages his fellow classmates to consider taking up rugby as a sport.

“John Carroll Rugby is a really great community, and I always tell people on campus that rugby isn’t as competitive as some other sports because we have fun at practice,” he said. “It’s a good community to be part of with good vibes going on with it.” ∞

Photo: Nick Jackson strong arms his way down the field as a center for the three-time national finalist JCU Green Gators Football Rugby Club. Photo submitted.