Canton's Meat learning quickly in rugby

By Bruce Campbell, Staff Writer

June 27, 2009 10:18 pm

— Torre Meat, who hadn’t played rugby until he and his Canton teammates took up the sport this spring to get ready for football, has proven to be a quick learner.
The Tiger senior recently returned from Colorado where he played for an Oklahoma select team in a Under 19 regional tournament.
He was selected as the “man of the match’’ in one of the games against more experienced players.
“I was surprised when they called my name (as player of the match),’’ Meat said, “but I’ve tried to play hard every game. It was awesome.’’
Coaches from Oklahoma State University’s club team have approached him about playing for the Cowboys once he graduates from Canton.
“He’s an amazing player,’’ said Canton coach Robby Davis, who introduced the sport to his players.
Garrick Cocker, the Oklahoma coach, approached Meat about playing for the all-star team after seeing the Canton star play in a high school tournament.
Meat, who helped lead the Tigers to the Class B semifinals, immediately took to the sport. He is a forward.
“It’s like backyard football,’’ he said. “I’ve always played that. I just go crazy. You get that adrenaline rush.’’
Rugby is considered the grandfather of football, but without a helmet or pads.
“It gets real crazy,’’ Meat said. “I never think about getting hurt. I just go out and play.’’
Unlike football, there’s no huddles. The game is almost non-stop action for two 40-minute halves.
“You have to be in good condition,’’ he said.
There are 15 men to a side. Ball control is a key with teams having to be patient with gains being only a few yards at a time.
Meat scored a few tries (touchdowns) on the Colorado trip.
He hopes to maybe play both rugby and football in college.
“It (rugby) really helps you in football,’’ he said. “Not having pads, you really have to wrap up in rugby or you’re not going to bring anyone down.’’
The Tigers have a close bond with a rugby team from Edmond. Before each game the Tigers did a haka (war) dance they got from watching a film of New Zealand’s All-Black team.
Meat said he likes rugby as well as he does football. He has been drawn by the sport’s traditions.
“After the game is over, you make friends with everybody,’’ he said. “You go out with another team and make friends. It’s a lot of fun.’’
Meat’s development might have been speeded up by Canton having to play 6A-5A type schools.
Meat, Davis said, took over a game against 6A Mustang which the Tigers won 20-10 after trailing 10-0.
“It meant a lot to us that we held our own against the bigger schools,’’ Meat said. “We did a lot better than we thought we would.’’