Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1515764
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024 | maconmagazine.com 87 M A C O N L O V E O N A N D O F F T H E R U G B Y F I E L D I n a crowd of sweaty men and women, this bar song exudes joyfully from those around me. I am surrounded by rugby players, fresh off the field. Blue and yellow jerseys intermingle as the former competitors sing side-by-side. Only an hour ago, I watched these humans go head to head—literally—in what is called a scrum: eight players from each team create a huddled mass of interlocked heads and struggle for control of the ball. Now, the two teams drink and sing, the game's winners indistinguishable among the sea of smiling faces. "It's not that rugby is less competitive than other sports," said rugby club president Travis Spencer. "Winning is incredibly important, but even more important is the joy of playing. It is a privilege to be a part of it. There's an overwhelming undercurrent of respect for each other. Even though our teams fight on the field, as soon as the game is over, we are hanging out together." Macon's rugby team—called Macon Love—was STORY BY RACHELLE WILSON | PHOTOS BY MATT ODOM Buy us a drink, And we'll sing you a song Of the chances you missed, And the love that went wrong If you can't buy whiskey, Stand us a pint And we'll lug'er straight down, And we'll sing half the night founded in 1999 by Andy Clark, Brad Muller, and Mark Toth. Since then, Macon Love has humbly scrummed, rucked, fended, and tackled on fields throughout the state and across the Southeast. "In our first year," said co-founder Andy Clark, "we played against a well-established team in Atlanta, Old White, and we won! We beat them by three points. That was a big deal. It is great to see how Travis is leading the team now. Even though I'm not an active player anymore, when my wife and I opened Baldinos in Downtown Macon, we knew we wanted to support the team. Sponsoring the team is our way of staying involved. I've seen local interest in rugby ebb and flow over the years; I'm glad this team has made it this far. They are getting stronger and stronger, and that's great to see." As they kick off celebrating their 25th year, Macon Love is starting the year stronger than ever. The team has recently doubled in size and is buzzing with excitement and renewed energy. The players range in age, size, and gender, making an ideal recruit ABOVE Club president Travis Spencer dodging competitors at a home game. Photo Courtesy of Macon Love Rugby. LEFT Macon Love celebrates the holidays at JBA, one of the club sponsors with a special rugby-inspired shot ritual.