NIU men’s rugby prevailed over the alumni team last weekend 27-5, but the annual rugby alumni game was more about having a good time and talking with old friends than keeping score.

The game had two purposes: for current NIU players to prepare for their upcoming season, and for alums to reconnect with old friends and reminisce about the their time with the club.

Al Collins, former Huskie rugby club president, has noticed a lot of change in the club since he graduated in December 2009.

“There [are] a ton more guys coming out which is great,” Collins said. “A lot of guys that are starting in high school and everything, [they] are coming to play at Northern…everyone is really committed to winning now on [with] this team.”

Daniel Martynowicz, NIU senior and rugby team member, said the alumni game gives current players a break from normal preseason practices.

“After hitting your own guys for so long it’s nice to get out and hit somebody else,” Martynowicz said.

Pat Kathan, senior and Huskies rugby team president, said he feels the weekend is important for newer members of the team.

“There is a lot of history in this,” Kathan said. “It’s been around since the sixties, so we get a lot of old guys coming out and I think it’s good for the new guys just to see how far we’ve come.”