He runs down the field, dirt caked on his legs and cuts on his elbows. He storms past the opponents and flies head first across the end line. Five points PITS.

According to pitsrugby.com, the Piedmont International Touring Side (PITS) is a rugby club founded in 1978. 36 years later, PITS is still a strong rugby club.

Junior Cole Gruendl has been playing PITS rugby since eighth grade.

“My friends got me into the sports and I really enjoyed playing it,” Gruendl said.

Former PHS student, William Meredith, introduced Junior Paul Kim to PITS rugby two years ago.

“I play because it is fun and I get to meet a lot of cool people,” Kim said.

In his first year of playing rugby for the PITS, junior Louie Kharsa said he started playing because he heard rugby is different than any other sport he has played.

“Everyone just told me to play so I played one game and had so much fun,” Kharsa said.

Gruendl said that although they have a young squad this year they are still having an okay season. They practice twice a week and have games on the weekends. Recently the PITS hosted a team from Canada.

“It was really fun playing with them,” Gruendl said. “They were extremely chill.”

Kim said that playing against the Canadians was a unique experience.

“The Canadians were really nice, and the Canadians and PITS bonded really well,” Kim said.

Kharsa also said that the he liked playing against the Canadians because it was interesting playing a club outside of the area.

“They were fun to play against and super chill,” Kharsa said.

Gruendl said that he likes playing a contact sport like rugby when it is not football season because it is fun and different.

“[Rugby requires] a lot more running and a lot more tackling,” Gruendl said.

Kharsa said that compared to other sports, rugby is more physical and more adrenaline rushes through him when he plays.

“We mentally prepare by just getting really pumped,” Kharsa said.