Young athletes Grant Baker, Jordan Conrad, and Michael McCann represent Newtown in the Redding-based Aspetuck Valley Rugby Club, and they recently completed a successful spring season.

“They’ve been a great addition to the program,” said Coach Stuart Meyler, who has coached four seasons with the Aspetuck program.

“Number one, they’re committed,” said Meyler, adding that participants are encouraged to play other sports, and many juggle lacrosse, soccer, baseball, and other activities with rugby. “We leave it very open,” notes Meyler, adding that the objective is to encourage up-and-coming athletes to get a feel for the game and see if they like it.

Despite that flexibility, the Newtown players all made it to practices and games on a regular basis. Baker and Conrad played on the U12 squad, which went 5-2, and McCann competed on the U14 team, which boasted an 8-1 record. They’ve each played for two to three seasons and are strong contributors in matches as well as during practices.

“All the Newtown kids are just great kids and I can’t say enough about them,” Meyler said.

The season begins with indoor training in February. Teams get outside in March or April, as the weather permits, and match play begins in early April. The Aspetuck team competes against programs from the tri-state area through June.

Rugby, often described as a combination of several sports, most mimics the play of football, although its free-flowing, back and forth pace somewhat replicates soccer and other sports in which players must be two-way athletes.

“Everybody touches the ball and anybody can score. Everybody plays both ways — offense and defense,” Meyler says.

Baker plays is a loose forward, which Meyler likens to a linebacker in football. The main responsibility of loose forwards is to tackle and make stops. Rugby players wear uniform numbers that correspond to their positions on the field. Standout performances result in players being awarded their jersey, and Baker earned his this past spring.

Conrad is a ball carrier, essentially the equivalent to a football running back, and plays an important role in helping the team score tries. A try in rugby is basically a football touchdown, and worth five points.

McCann plays wing, which the coach says is a key scoring position. McCann brings his hockey playing skills to the field and, “he’s pound-for-pound the toughest kid on the squad — bar none,” Meyler said.

Meyler is excited about the growth of rugby on the East Coast. He grew up in California and played high school rugby, and notes that it’s becoming increasingly popular in this area.

The Aspetuck program includes a U10 team and squads for high school-age players. Meyler also coaches youth football in Ridgefield.

When Meyler first started coaching rugby in the Redding-based program, about 75 percent of the participants competed in other sports during the spring rugby season. In the past small handful of years, the numbers have completely flip-flopped, and only about 25 percent of players are dividing their time between rugby and another sport.

For more information about the Aspetuck Valley Rugby Club, visit aspetuckvalleyrugby.org.