I sat down with Dartmouth men's rugby player Justin Ciambella '13 to talk about the team's early success, his transformation into a star on the field and the possibility of racking up another USA Collegiate Rugby 7s National Championship for the Big Green.
After going undefeated against all your Ivy League opponents so far, what is the attitude on the team now?
JC: I just want to start this interview by thanking the fans. You mean the world to us and we love the support that we get from campus. Going back to your question, though, while we have been getting results, we haven't been playing to our full potential. There are many areas of the game that we can improve on and we'll continue to work hard in those areas for our season finale next weekend. With the obligatory response aside, we definitely have some swag.
You are a recent addition to the rugby team, after playing on the Dartmouth soccer team your freshman and sophomore years. How has the transition been?
JC: It's been great. There are a lot of transferrable skills that are required for both these sports so it hasn't been too tough. I've also gotten to know some of the guys pretty well, which I would not have been able to do if I wasn't playing rugby.
It's been rumored that the real reason why you joined rugby was because you wanted to show off more leg and soccer's shorts just weren't short enough.
JC: That could have been one of the reasons. The jerseys are very flattering on some people's body types, like my own, and unflattering on other people's. Also, the shorts move the tan line a little higher up and maximize every fading ray of sunlight that the northeast still has to offer, postponing the inevitable whiteness that Hanover weather imposes on its undergraduates.
Shorts aside, what else have you been able to take from soccer and use in rugby?
JC: Well the socks are pretty similar as well... But seriously kicking, agility and teamwork are three things that I learned playing soccer but I am able to use playing rugby as well.
Even though you've only been on the team this season, you've already made yourself a valuable player. Do you know what you're doing out there or is it just pure athletic ability?
JC: I haven't fully grasped the rules yet but generally know which endzone/goalline/tryline to run to, when to pass the ball and that you don't want to get tackled. The more technical parts of the game are something that will come with time and a lot more personal coaching from our four wonderful captains.
You have acquired the nickname "Dinho." Where did that come from?
JC: I think to make a long story short, I was an overeager freshman seeking the approval of upperclassmen. Let's just say it didn't work and kind of backfired. On a more positive note, though, it did replace an even worse nickname that was given to me before I even set foot on this campus.
Another question that I've been dying to know: What actually happens in the scrum?
JC: Fortunately, I'm never in there so I still don't really know what goes on. From my perspective, the forwards love each other, so they hug. While embracing, they feel the need to prove their manhood, so they violently throw their bodies at the other team. Then, the scrumhalf rolls the ball to the hooker no, not that type of hooker something happens and the ball comes out and play continues. And that's about the extent of my knowledge.
Now that you're on the team, do you think the chances of running back a national championship have gotten better?
JC: I think the easiest way to look at this would be to do some math. With all other variables constant, one Madison [Hughes '15] plus one Ciambella plus one [Kevin Clark '14] plus [Christian Fisch '13 and Derek Fish '12] minus [Chris Downer '11 and Nick Downer '11] equals a little bit better than last year. So yeah, we're real excited for the spring.
This summer we interviewed your rugby teammate and class member Owen Scannell '13. What makes you different?
JC: Let's just say I actually am a crucial member of the team.
