Let's Talk Rugby! - Thursday Cardinal Couple

Rugby?  That's not even an NCAA sport, I hear you say?

Well, yeah, it's not, and UofL certainly doesn't have a varsity Rugby team, but as we lead up to the Summer Olympics in Rio, we've been doing our best to keep track of current and former Cardinal women making their appearance.  In addition to Angel and the swimmers (Kelsi, Andrea, and Tanja), you can chalk up a field hockey alumna for the list as well.  Just not in Field Hockey, but as part of the Team USA Women's Sevens Rugby roster.  Jessica Javelet secured her trip to Rio this week by being named to the squad.

I always knew, and have seen on the Trager Stadium field that Field Hockey was a rougher sport than many people give it credit, but transitioning from Field Hockey to Rugby takes that to another level.  Javelet played Field Hockey at UofL from 2003 to 2006, and brings the current total of Cardinals in Rio to 12.

Going for the gold in Rio may be one the few ways that Javelet to could better her record after her time at UofL.  While with the Cards, she was a 3-time NFHCA (National Field Hockey Coach's Association) All-American, the only UofLer to achieve that feat.  With that resume point, you can imagine that she was also three time All-conference in the Big East, but also picked up the Best Offensive Player honors two of those years.  OK, so she was an attacker...yes, very much so.  She still holds the UofL record for season and career goals.  In fact, she appears on the top 10 list for season goals three times.

We, here at Cardinal Couple, always like to add in academic accolades as well, and Javelet picked them up left and right as well.  Graduating with a 4.0 in Marketing and was thus the Business School Valedictorian and UofL's overall Outstanding Graduating Senior.  A three time CoSIDA Academic All-American, and two time Big East Female Scholar Athlete of the Year.

The Rugby competition will have a format similar to large International Soccer competitions with 12 teams in pool play.  Team USA joins a pool with Australia, Columbia, and Fiji.  The top two teams from each pool along with two third place teams will advance to the quarterfinals for a single elimination tournament.  Play begins August 6th, and the medals will be decided on the 8th, so they won't let be wasting any time getting these games in.

Congratulations to Cardinal Forever Jessica Javelet.

-- JMcA