JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jax Women's Rugby is back and they're entering their 17th season in the Sunshine State.
After going 2nd bet in Florida last season, the team is looking to add to their roster on top of the thirty-one returners they have.
First Coast Sports caught up with the team and shares how they manage time from their full-time career by day, to a rugby player by night.
"If I'm late to practice showing up in my scrubs, they completely understand and they support me in that," said Jaclynn Campos, a physician's assistant. She's on the Jax Women's Rugby team.
"It's awesome to see grown women out here after their 40 hours plus. Every week, they come out and they hang out with us. It's playing game at the end of the day, so it's really fun to have all these different people come together," said Aniya Smith, the Captain of the team.
Each season, Jax Women's Rugby grows.
"We have 43 registered players," Smith added, "but you only see 22 out here today, because some people can only make Thursday, some people can only make Tuesdays. It depends, maybe they have fluctuation schedules".
From 18 to 42, players come in all shapes, sizes and occupations.
From a musician, fulltime, General Manager at Zaxby's, X-ray tech student, 2nd grade teacher, realtor at roundtable realty, a soon to be dental hygienist and accountant at a private development firm. They're suiting up with the rugby team.
For Jaclynn Campos, making time for rugby is non-negotiable.
She's a physician's assistant.
"I joined the Jacksonville Rugby team about a year ago but did play back in college. I decided to come out of retirement," said Campos.
Campos appreciates what the sport has to offer.
"I think it just give us women empowerment and it allows us to play a sport that growing up, we weren't allowed to play football. I wanted to be a part of an intense sport," she added.
If you want to be part of a community, a family; then this team might be for you.
They take new players year-round and have their first game on November 4th against Savannah at Bob Hayes Sports Complex.
They practice every Tuesday and Thursday at Family Fort Park from 7p.m-9p.m.