The "B Cup" Rugby Match Chooses Komen

Four Rugby Teams Challenge Each Other for the Cure

Four Southwest Virginia Rugby teams combined forces on October 24th to battle on the field for the title of "B Cup Champion."  The event was hosted by the Roanoke Rugby Men's Team and the two teams were comprised of members of each of the four clubs, Roanoke, Virginia (Charlottesville), Blacksburg and Blackwater (Lynchburg).  Team members were asked to raise at least $100 each to play, but the 30 + members of the teams raised a lot more than that to donate to Komen.  They also raised money to benefit a college scholarship fund, called the "Werness Fund" for Sydney Werness who lost her father to cancer in 2008.

If you aren’t familiar with the sport of rugby – it is generally called a hooligans game played by gentlemen. There are no pads, no protection, and a no-holds bar attitude when these gentlemen play. The heart, strength, determination, and desire to win that these men bring to the field is only a glimpse into the kind of drive that the women battling breast cancer carry everyday in the fight for their lives.

The event was a huge success! Each player had to raise a minimum amount through sponsorships and donations to be able to play in the match. Over 30 men raised above, and way beyond their amount. On top of this, many local business donated funds and goods that went towards funding concession sales and a raffle. Attendees also had the opportunity to buy t-shirts stating “Save the Boobies” for the women, or allowing the men to proclaim themselves a “Boob Man”.

The match itself was great fun! The men not only donned their pink with black, or black with pink jerseys, many went and bought pink cleats and pink socks. Some even went so far as to die their hair pink specifically for the match! All the men were really excited to dress up in pink for a great cause!

Overall, the B Cup was a great day in support of a great cause! A lot was raised, not only monetarily, but awareness, morale, and community spirit! It is hoped that this will become an annual event, becoming bigger and bigger each year. These big, burly rugby men truly went out and proved that only Real Men Wear Pink!