After a surprising 2007 season the NIU men’s rugby team is ready to make a run at the conference crown.

The team went 3-2 in the conference last season, winning all home conference games.

“We want to finish at the top, hopefully first, or second,” president Al Collins said. “I’m looking forward to winning the conference this year.”

Returning to the rugby team are captains Jim Moscato and Jeff Piszczek, along with former captains Dan Joda and Darren Flory.

Collins said the team has approximately 30 members and will be holding practices on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 4-6 p.m.

NIU is part of the Chicago Area Rugby Football Union, which includes Loyola, DePaul, Northwestern, University of Illinois-Chicago and University of Chicago.

Men’s rugby kick off their season on Sept. 6 at the Fox Valley Men’s Club at 1 p.m. Their first home game is on Sept. 13 versus Lewis University at 1 p.m.

In other club notes:

° The NIU paintball team will be hosting an informational meeting on Thursday, Aug. 28 at 5:30 p.m. in DuSable 300. The meeting is open for anyone interested in joining the team.

° The NIU men’s hockey team will be holding open tryouts on Sunday and Monday at the Leafs Ice Centre in West Dundee. Tryouts will be open to any full-time NIU student. For more information contact NIU hockey President Ian Kalanges at [email protected].