Rugby is an 80-minute battle of endurance, energy, and grit. Every play demands peak athleticism, each collision exams sturdiness, and each dash pushes the bounds of human efficiency. However past brute power and quick breaks, success in skilled rugby hinges on one thing deeper: adaptability, psychological toughness, and an unwavering dedication to development. Few gamers embody that stability higher than Luke White and Nate Augspurger of the Chicago Hounds.
They play vastly totally different roles on the sphere—White, the battle-hardened bruiser within the ahead pack, and Augspurger, the elusive, lightning-fast again—however share the identical core philosophies: practice sensible, recuperate diligently, and lead by instance.
For White, rugby is about energy, precision, and surviving the bodily grind within the trenches. Augspurger’s recreation is constructed on explosiveness, agility, and relentless endurance. Collectively, they supply a novel perspective on what it takes to compete—and final—in one of many world’s hardest sports activities.
The 2 sat down with Muscle & Health to interrupt down the tradition of rugby, the psychological and bodily toll of elite competitors, and the keys to staying on the high in a recreation the place solely the robust survive.
How Rugby’s World Affect Shapes the Chicago Hounds
Rugby has lengthy been a world recreation, deeply rooted within the tradition of nations like New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia. Over the previous few years, the game has gained momentum in america—significantly on the youth, highschool, faculty, and membership ranges—because the U.S. prepares to host the 2031 and 2033 Rugby World Cups.
For athletes like White and Augspurger, the game’s development within the U.S. has been one thing they’ve witnessed firsthand. White brings a global perspective, having grown up in a rugby-first tradition, whereas Augspurger—a product of American rugby’s early days—has seen Major League Rugby (MLR) evolve from an unproven startup to a structured, skilled league. Collectively, their experiences paint an image of rugby’s previous, current, and future within the U.S., exhibiting each the progress made and the work nonetheless to be finished.
“Rugby within the U.S. has developed so much, however there’s nonetheless work to do,” says White. “When People see it for the primary time, they assume it’s wonderful—no helmets, nonstop motion—however they don’t at all times perceive the sport. The most important problem is bridging that hole, getting rugby into faculties and houses earlier. The fervour is there, particularly on the membership stage, and the publicity is rising. It gained’t be the following soccer or basketball, however I see it reaching a stage the place it competes with Main League Soccer or lacrosse.”
For Augspurger, who has performed for San Diego, New Orleans, and now Chicago, MLR’s evolution has been simply as a lot about constructing infrastructure because it has been about increasing its presence. The league’s early years had been stuffed with logistical challenges—from inconsistent coaching amenities to lengthy commutes for follow. However at this time, groups just like the Chicago Hounds are setting a brand new normal, permitting gamers to push their limits and elevate the extent of play throughout the league.
“The professionalism in MLR has come a good distance,” Augspurger mentioned. “Once I first began, we didn’t have devoted coaching amenities, and generally we needed to drive 40 minutes simply to get to follow. Now, with Chicago, we’ve a house base, top-tier gear, and a structured program that enables us to coach at an elite stage. The game is rising, and gamers are taking it extra critically than ever.”
Constructing the Hounds’ Id
Success in rugby isn’t nearly expertise—it’s about staff tradition, the atmosphere gamers create on and off the sphere that fuels efficiency. For the Chicago Hounds, constructing a successful tradition means mixing totally different backgrounds, taking part in types, and experiences right into a cohesive, hard-nosed unit. Veterans like White and Augspurger carry management and perspective from their years within the recreation, serving to set an ordinary for what it means to be a Hound.
White, who has performed for groups in Glendale, Los Angeles, and now Chicago, understands what it takes to seek out your house in a brand new rugby metropolis. Having spent almost a decade within the U.S., he has seen firsthand how the sport is rising, significantly in Chicago, the place the skilled and grassroots rugby scenes are increasing yearly.
“In every single place I’ve performed, I’ve felt at dwelling, which is uncommon once you’re 1000’s of miles away from the place you grew up,” he mentioned. “Chicago isn’t any totally different. The rugby tradition right here is robust—there’s an enormous newbie scene, and the help is rising yearly. You begin seeing extra folks in Hounds gear, recognizing us, speaking concerning the staff. That’s the way you construct one thing particular.”
For Augspurger, staff tradition isn’t nearly camaraderie—it’s about setting an ordinary. He believes that the very best groups don’t simply present up—they go the additional mile. Meaning placing in further work, demanding the very best from one another, and by no means backing down from the grind.
“The key sauce with the Hounds is that we embrace doing exhausting issues,” Augspurger mentioned. “Nobody shies away from the work. When you’ve a staff that reveals up early, will get their rehab in, and hunts for that further edge, that’s once you see guys acting at their greatest. It’s about setting an ordinary and residing as much as it each single day.”
By fostering a tradition of toughness, work ethic, and accountability, White and Augspurger are serving to form the id of the Chicago Hounds, making certain that the staff is constructed on extra than simply ability, however one constructed on character and dedication.
Energy and Pace Outline Rugby’s Hardest Athletes
Coaching for rugby isn’t one-size-fits-all. The calls for of the game range relying on a participant’s place, which means forwards and backs practice very in a different way to optimize their efficiency. For White, a robust ahead who battles within the trenches, the main focus is on sturdiness, uncooked power, and repeated high-impact collisions. For Augspurger, an elusive again who thrives in open house, it’s about explosiveness, response time, and top-end velocity.
White, a veteran of MLR title-winning groups, is aware of that forwards take the brunt of the physicality in rugby. Whether or not it’s locking up in scrums, making dominant tackles, or powering by defenders, his coaching is constructed round sustaining power and endurance over the course of a grueling season. Within the offseason, heavy lifting performs a significant function, however as soon as the season begins, he focuses on conserving his physique cellular and resilient to face up to the bodily toll of every recreation.
“As a ahead, it’s all about power and endurance. You’re taking fixed impression, so your physique needs to be sturdy,” he mentioned. “Within the offseason, we raise heavy to construct that armor—deadlifts, squats, Olympic lifts—however throughout the season, it’s about upkeep. I do quite a lot of circuit coaching now, conserving my physique cellular and prepared for contact.”
Pace kills for Augspurger. As a again, his recreation is constructed round fast bursts, lateral motion, and acceleration. In contrast to forwards, who must win bodily battles in tight areas, backs depend on split-second reactions, footwork, and dynamic motion to beat defenders. His coaching mimics NFL-style agility work, making certain he stays mild on his toes and explosive in movement.
“Pace and agility are my bread and butter. I practice so much like an NFL participant—cone drills, quick bursts, high-intensity footwork,” he mentioned. “The sport is so quick that your motion needs to be instinctual. One in all my go-to drills is one-on-one monitoring, the place you’re employed on studying defenders and reacting in actual time. It sharpens my potential to win these battles in open house.”
Although their coaching types differ, each White and Augspurger know that conditioning is the muse of success. Whether or not it’s surviving scrum battles or breaking the defensive position, their relentless deal with preparation and bodily resilience is what retains them performing on the highest stage.
Phrases of Knowledge
Rugby doesn’t simply construct power, velocity, and endurance—it builds character. All through their careers, White and Augspurger have needed to evolve, push previous doubts, recuperate from accidents, and constantly refine their craft. Now, as veterans, they know what separates those that make it from those that don’t: confidence, dedication, and an obsession with getting higher each single day.
“Once I was youthful, folks most likely checked out me and thought, ‘He’s too small to make it,’ mentioned Augspurger. “However I knew if I put within the work, I may push previous these limits. In case you consider in your self and put within the effort each day, there’s no motive you’ll be able to’t make it.”
For White, success comes from proudly owning your id as a participant and trusting the talents that bought you to the highest. Their journeys show that rugby rewards those that are prepared to outwork the competitors, keep true to their strengths, and constantly adapt. “Be your self,” mentioned White. “Play to your strengths and work in your weaknesses, however don’t attempt to be one thing you’re not. Confidence comes from understanding what you carry to the desk.”
Comply with Luke and Nate on Instagram at @whiteyaus and @nthanielchannel and catch each on The United States of Rugby now streaming on Roku. The collection follows The Chicago Hounds’ second season in Main League Rugby as they give the impression of being to ascertain themselves, the league and the game in America forward of the USA Rugby World Cup in 2031.
