Tapp Is Talented Prop For East Carolina University Rugby

May 9, 2009 by Greg Lederer

Cheshire resident Jon Tapp was caught off guard by his first start for the East Carolina University (Greenville, North Carolina) rugby team two years ago. He had spent just one season with the Cheshire Rugby Club before being inserted against bigger and more seasoned competitors.
“It was nerve racking. We were playing UNC (University of North Carolina) and I was hesitant because I didn’t want to make any mistakes,” said Tapp, a 2007 Cheshire High School graduate. “I wasn’t expecting it. I didn’t know I was starting until the first game.”
Tapp has been starting at tight head prop ever since, continually improving his game while helping ECU break new ground. The Pirates have advanced to the Division II tournament in each of the last two seasons, the first appearances in school history.
“It’s great,” Tapp said. “The club started in 1975 and to be part of the first two times they made it to the national tournament is awesome. I never would have believed it when I came down here.”
The breakthrough is even more impressive considering that ECU doesn’t have a coach. The players run everything from practices and games to administrative work.
“It’s the first team I’ve been involved without a coach. We graduated a great group of seniors who had been together for five years and they knew how to lead this team,” explained Tapp. “We still made the NCAA tournament and it’s pretty unbelievable because the other teams have three or four coaches each.”
Teammates think highly of Tapp as exemplified by his election as ECU President for the 2009-10 season. In just two seasons, he has developed close friendships and feels comfortable about accepting added work.
“It’s an honor. We’ve done pretty well over the last few years and to be elected as one of the leaders was a privilege. I was a little surprised,” said Tapp, who will direct the club through next fall and spring. “I was the treasurer last fall, so I know a little bit about the responsibilities.”
The players share a collective passion for rugby. Club sports often lack the monetary resources to recruit players like varsity programs. According to Tapp, the majority of college rugby teams have club status.
“The school sets aside about $3,000 a semester, but we have to match 40 percent of that. We have to pay for the refs, so we charge dues per semester,” Tapp said. “As the President, I pretty much have to run the practices, games, and help direct the club designation within the school.”
Tapp has worked diligently to progress as a player. He recalls being amazed by the size and speed of the opposition and sought to get into better shape following his freshman season. ECU compiled an 8-1 record last fall and captured the state championship.
“I ran and lifted every day,” said Tapp. “My sophomore year was easier. My first year I was undersized, but I got stronger and learned how to use my size to avoid injury.”
Tapp already fills a leadership role on the field. The tight head prop directs the scrum, helping them wear down the opposing unit.
“The tight head pretty much stabilizes the scrum,” explained Tapp, who enjoys having people come to him with questions. “It shows that they respect me as their peer and an individual. They can look to me for guidance on and off the field.”
The Pirates compiled a 16-2 record this spring, returning to the Sweet 16 in Orlando, Fla.
“It showed that we haven’t had a drop off from last year. We are still playing an elite brand of rugby,” said Tapp, who feels team speed was their key strength. “We were one of the fittest teams in the country, so in the final minutes, we were going 100 percent when they (opponents) were dogging it.”
His favorite college memory came during the post-season run last year. The Pirates earned their third victory over rival Wake Forrest University (19-10), clinching the USA South Rugby South Division Title. The win qualified them for the D-II Elite Eight in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
“It showed that as a club, we had arrived at that elite level of rugby and could hang with anyone in the country,” Tapp said.
Tapp credits the Cheshire Rugby Club for introducing him to the sport. Under the tutelage of Head Coach Joe Masi, the Parks and Recreation program has developed into a state contender in only four years.
“It shows that the kids really want to play and grasp it. They are becoming one of the premier programs in the state of Connecticut,” said Tapp, who made a successful transition from a four-year football career at CHS. “As a lineman, you don’t get to touch the ball very much. In rugby, you get to touch the ball. That’s why I think people stay involved.”
ECU students will soon leave for the summer, but rugby players won’t stop working. The ultimate goal of bringing a national championship back to campus is considerable motivation for them.
“We constantly train throughout the year,” said Tapp. “We have to stay in shape. Rugby is a fall and spring semester season, so we are constantly running and trying to get better.”
Tapp feels more comfortable with the sport every year and can’t wait to lead his team in the fall.
“We would love to see a coach in the future,” Tapp said. “It would take pressure off the players. We could play instead of teach and it would make practices flow better.”