Matt Rippin used to have the same image of rugby that many people still have.

"I used to think only meat-heads played that game,"the Butler graduate admitted. "But it's not that way at all."

In reality, rugby is far from the image of a bunch of guys mauling each other in scrums with no regard for anyone's safety. The sport is not restricted to England, either.

USA Rugby is an organization that oversees the sport in America. It covers seven territorial unions, 37 local area unions and more than 50,000 players.

Rippin, a graduate of Cornell University who recently graduated from law school at Duquesne University, plays for the Pittsburgh Harlequins of the Mid-Atlantic Union.

Butler graduates Derek Neubauer and John Stewart play for the Pittsburgh Highlanders of the Midwest Union.

The Harlequins are a Division I team — the highest level of rugby in the country — and were formed by a group of University of Pittsburgh law school students in 1973.

"We've got players from all walks of life,"Rippin said. "There are accountants on our team. There are lots of teachers who play because the team's schedule works well with theirs."

The Harlequins also have developed five rugby programs for inner-city youths. Rippin, who coaches one of those teams, is one of 70 Harlequin players who are certified to coach the sport.

Using $38,000 raised by Harlequin players and a $50,000 grant, the Harlequins recently built a new field to support their growing youth program, which now includes more than 400 young players.

"I can't play right now because I'm concentrating on beginning my (law)career, but I'm still coaching,"Rippin said. "I'm not sure when I'll be playing again, but I'm not giving up on the sport yet."

Neither are Neubauer and Stewart. The Highlanders are a Division IIIteam in the Midwest Union, which consists of 43 teams from Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.

Neubauer played football at Butler before moving on to Slippery Rock University to continue his education.

It was there he was introduced to rugby.

"Once you're done with football, the physicality of the (rugby)sport draws you into it," he said. "The people on the team at SRU, on any rugby team, it's like a fraternity. Everyone is so close-knit."

Stewart was a roommate of Neubauer's at SRU. Stewart played baseball and ran track at Butler, but never played football.

"Derek talked me into checking it out,"Stewart said. "I loved it. The sport has everything. It tests your body to the extreme and everybody has to be clicking out there together."

Rippin was attracted to rugby for the same reason. The former Butler running back had planned to play football at Cornell.

"I got up there and realized I didn't have 40 or 45 hours a week to dedicate to sports anymore,"Rippin said. "But that drive to compete isn't something you just grow out of.

"I wanted to compete and try something new. Rugby is the most fun I've had playing any sport. It's all about toughness, physical fitness and discipline. You never leave the field and you're running all the time."

As for injuries, Neubauer said it's not as bad as football.

"I tore my ACLand MCL in football,"he said. "I have yet to be injured that bad playing rugby. You play without pads, so you have a sense of yourself. You don't just fling your body into people.

"You tackle properly, with your body in the right position."

Neubauer admitted that broken noses occur in games. He once suffered a gash in his head that required stitches.

Rules require players to wrap their arms around the ball carrier while tackling, one of many safety rules in the sport to discourage injury.

Still, Stewart has suffered his share of mishaps while playing.

"I got spiked in the head once and needed 15 stitches,"he said. "I broke my collarbone, I've had knee injuries, dislocated fingers. It's a physical game without pads. Stuff's gonna happen.

"I've seen people play through a lot worse injuries than I've incurred. This game is all about heart. You play on."

And you can play for a long time. The Harlequins' oldest active player is in his upper 30s.

Neubauer said he's seen players as old as 50 on the field.

"All you need is a mouthpiece and spikes and you can play,"Neubauer said.

Rippin played on a Harlequins team that reached the national quarterfinals three years ago. While an ordinary rugby match requires 15 players from each team on the field at the same time, Stewart plays in "sevens"tournaments over the summer.

"Those are events where you play seven on seven,"Stewart said. "There are tournaments every weekend. It comes down to how much you want to play."

The traditional rugby season is in the spring, though there are fall leagues as well.