The drill is a complex four-man choreography.

The ballcarrier falls. A trailing teammate hurdles him, engaging a defender, as another gathers the ball and surges forward. All is repeated, punctuated by staccato voices as the boys' shadows grow long across the rugby pitch behind Cordova High School.

"My ruck!"

"Ball's out!"

Into the drill are woven values that coaches of the Lancer Rugby Club say they hope to teach to players: discipline, teamwork, communication.

"Life values, basically," said Dan Rose, the Rancho Cordova club's boys coach.

"This is a team game. You can't just be this individual anymore. There's other people that expect you to be there, to help and support them and be there for them. It gives them that opportunity."

The club, which competes in the Northern California Youth Rugby Association, expects 50 to 60 players on its boys teams next spring and at least 20 on its recently formed girls team, most between ages 14 and 18.

Many are Cordova High students, but the club is not affiliated with the school and accepts players from nearby schools as long as they are enrolled and their school does not have a rugby program.

Players say they take away more than just fundamentals.

"(Coaches) want you to put forth all your effort and not give up on what you're doing," said Andrew Norton, 17.

"You learn ultimate teamwork," said Matt Inks, 18.

"It makes you work hard," said Jeanette Ruiz, 17. "And we all work as a family."

Off the field, they help with fundraisers as the club generates money mainly from those events and player dues, said its president, Jeff Farnsworth. Players provide much of their own gear. Some of the club's rugby balls and tackling bags are worn from use.

A new set of jerseys for one team was purchased last year with help from a sponsor, and there are two sets of older jerseys, one of which has been restitched by a coach's mother.

Growing numbers, though, could mean three boys teams this year, along with the fledgling girls squad, which at the moment may have to share jerseys with a boys team when it starts matches in January.

"It's going to be like one jersey comes off and goes to the next person," said Josh Wilson, a Casa Roble student who has played for the club and is managing the girls' team.

A Rancho Cordova community member has asked Bee readers to help purchase uniforms, mouth guards and rugby balls for the club.

"We are a small program," Farnsworth said. "But we're growing in interest. We have kids from all walks of life. It gives them a family. Once a kid starts, even though they may not know anything about the game, everybody falls in love with it."

Needed: 50 uniforms, 50 mouth guards and 10 rugby balls. Total: $2,450.

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