The UH Rugby team, led by Club President Austin Puckett, joined the Red River Conference on Aug. 5. The winner will get an automatic bid to the 2017 College 7s National Championships. | Courtesy of UH Rugby

This year, the UH rugby team has found themselves in a new conference and with a new leader at the helm.

Despite no experience with rugby before joining last year, Austin Puckett is the Club President for the team. On the field, he plays wing.

The Cougar sat down Puckett to discuss his expectations for the team and all of the changes that the team has endured. He plays wing, and last year was

TC: What does your role as club president constitute?

AP: Ensuring that everyone fulfills their role on the team. Keeping everything organized is also a must in being president. There are sponsorships and reservations to keep track of as well as communicating with the team.

TC: How would you describe the team’s performance last season, both when you played in the traditional 15-man team and when you guys played in the seven-man team?

AP: It’s hard for me to tell because it was my first year, but the team seemed to have little-to-no expectations for the ’15 season. Overall, we showed promise in some games but made too many mistakes which resulted in losses.

Seven (man) season came with very high expectations, and we almost came through. Our goal was to breeze through the conference and contend in nationals. We went through season tournaments losing only one game but were upset in the final tournament — our first lost tournament.

TC: What are your overall thoughts on the team joining the Red River Conference?

AP: I am very excited for the team becoming Division 1-A Rugby. This brings a higher level of game to us but means that we have to buckle down as an organization.

The University of Houston definitely deserves D1-A rugby, as it has the potential for being one of the best schools. This is because of the sheer size, but also the University’s tendency to attract foreign students who may bring rugby experience with them.

TC: How exactly did the team manage to join the Red River Conference?

AP: The conference saw the potential for the University to be a powerhouse in athletics. The student population and recent success of the football team were indicators that UH was a good choice to fill a vacant spot in the conference.

Also, our team had a relatively successful run last year, which showed our potential as a program. As for the details, I do not know.

TC: What are your thoughts about Coach Daniel Whetzel joining the Cougars?

AP: Very excited to have a dedicated coach with lots of experience. He brings a higher level of coaching than most, if not all, of us have experienced.

TC: Who do you see as being the top performers for the club this season?

AP: For the backs, last season’s team captain Ryan Becker will no doubt be one of our best players. Sedi Manthata was already an excellent player last year as a freshman and should only improve.

As for the forwards, Abe Blanco is a solid player who we can always rely on.

TC: What are your goals for this season both for the team and on an individual level?

AP: As a team, we need to grow as an organization. Generating more funds and attracting more quality recruits.

Also, (we’re) looking to capitalize on marketing opportunities. There aren’t too many expectations for us in the conference this season for 15s. We just joined, and I expect teams will view us as easy wins, but we will change that.

Personally, I’d like to make rugby second-nature. The best plays come on split-second decisions, but that kind of play only comes with experience.

sports@thedailycougar.com

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“Q&A: The rugby team enters a new era” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar