Lost and Found: Rugby helps the Silverbacks roar

By Will Slattery

Every year the Syracuse Silverbacks lose players and every year the Syracuse Silverbacks have to go out and find new ones. David Bunyan has coached Central New York’s only youth rugby team for eight years and has seen a lot of turnover in personnel.

The Silverbacks take what rugby players they can get. Many use the sport as a way to keep active while other sports are in the offseason but once they get together at training their only focus is on becoming better players.

The Silverbacks’ dedication to the sport was one of the reasons they were given the opportunity to host West Hill, a touring team from England. Despite losing narrowly, the Silverbacks put on a great advertisement for American youth rugby.

The sport is on the rise all over New York and Bunyan hopes the Silverbacks benefit from the trickle down effect. Already some of his former players have continued to play the sport at collegiate level, and he hopes that this will inspire youngsters to come down to Onondaga Boulevard and join the Silverbacks.