With its spring tournament season just around the corner, the ISU women’s rugby team has started preparing for its upcoming schedule.

“I’m really looking forward to this season,” said Susanne Schlichtemeier, who plays one of two winger positions. “We are a very close team, and I am looking forward to spending more time with them.”

Schlichtemeier, junior in chemistry, has been with the team for approximately three years. She signed on as a freshman after hearing about tryouts from a friend, and drew from her high school experiences, involving gymnastics, wrestling, soccer and cross country to become an aggressive player.

“I really enjoy full-contact sports,” Schlichtemeier said.

Rugby is a sport similar to American football, but with some differences in the game basics.

Rugby is played on a larger field with a wider ball without laces, and players wear no actual padding other than a thin cap worn by some players to protect their ears.

There are also many differences in the rules of play: Rugby players pass the ball backward to advance play, throw the ball in when it goes out of bounds and form scrums — an interlocked group of players — to start play after a penalty.

“It’s a very hard sport to learn without participating,” said Candice Schneberger, senior in biology. “It took me several games before I really knew what was going on.”

Team members pay a fee of $25 to the club, and about $20 to USA Rugby, all, Schlichtemeier said, so they can drive for hours, take part in brutal matches and then forgive and forget as everyone celebrates before heading home.

“There’s a lot to be said about pounding the heck out of each other every day,” Schlichtemeier said. “It really builds team unity. It’s all about the rugby love.”

Practice is held at 10:30 p.m. Mondays and at 9 p.m. Wednesdays on the turf at Lied Recreation Center.

“We have girls of all shapes and sizes on our team,” Schneberger said.

“There is a position for everyone, as long as you are not afraid of a few bruises.”