The University of Oklahoma rugby program’s push to gain greater acceptance on campus received a boost this week when the OU Athletics Department selected Sooner Rugby to be the Booster Greeters at home football games.

This might sound like busy work, but it’s a job that carries some significant prestige. To have the OU rugby team be the first group of students who welcome boosters at the special parking entrances for team supporters, and to be the first mode of contact for those boosters, is a sign that the school holds the rugby team in high esteem.

"The Sooner Club is elated to have the OU Rugby Team serving as greeters at our donor parking entrances on game day,” said Annie Martin, OU Assistant Athletics. “We selected these young men because they truly embody the mission of our athletics department, understand what it takes to be champions in sport and in life, and will represent OU in the highest regard."

This development is the result of a concerted effort by OU rugby to improve its image on campus. Still a club sport, the rugby team does answer to former Head Coach Larry Naifeh in the athletics department. Naifeh - who coached the Collegiate All Americans in 2002 and is a very well-respected member of both the rugby and the Oklahoma University communities.

But there’s also been a lot of work done at the coal face, especially with the highly-energetic Head Coach Jason Horowitz, who took over the team when it’s squad size was dwindling. Horowitz took over a team that only had 16 returning players, and this year will run a squad of almost 50.

The players already have jobs at the Oklahoma football games, placing the seat backs on seats for season-ticket holders. The job is a big one - 12,000 or so seat backs need to be put in place - but it serves as a fundraiser, team-builder, and workout for the players.

They will also serve as de facto users, helping season-ticket-holders to their seats and handling questions.

‘Giving this responsibility to the rugby team shows there’s a level of respect that we’ve earned,” said Horowitz. “We have a really good relationship with the Department of Athletics, and we want to keep improving that.”

Still, there’s some rugby to be played, and the Sooners are looking at a busy season that starts with games against traditional Big 12 rivals such as Baylor, Texas, TCU, and Texas Tech.

Then they switch to 7s to prepare for the Arkansas State University 7s in November, and then retool for 15s for the DIA and Varsity Cup season. And then after that, it’s back to 7s.

“The spring is going to be packed and very, very competitive,” said Horowitz. “So we will have to be very focussed.”

Sooner rugby started camp August 11, and the team has welcomed 31 new players, most of whom are freshmen with at least some rugby experience, sometimes a lot. In addition, they bring in a couple of transfers, and some players new to rugby but not new to life, as they are starting school after a military career.

“The military guys are new to the game but they are older and they’ve been to war,” said Horowitz. “The maturity and leadership they bring is invaluable.”