By Aaron Wilson
Inside the SaberCats’ locker room, the culture is filled with camaraderie, leadership and a shared love for coffee shops.
The SaberCats reached the Major League Rugby championship Saturday against the two-time defending champion New England Free Jacks, competing with them in a 2 p.m. ESPN2 match at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
The SaberCats’ positive vibe includes significant support from a dedicated fan base that has traveled with them on playoff victories on the road for their win over the Utah Warriors. Several plan to attend the final match of the season against New England.
The SaberCats would like nothing more than to earn the Shield, the Major League Rugby crown, for the city of Houston.
“Obviously, emotions are high,” SaberCats team captain Johan Momsen said. “We want to bring the Shield home to Houston.”
The SaberCats reached the playoffs each of the past four seasons.
This time, they won their first postseason matches in franchise history and advanced to the championship.
“It’s massive,” SaberCats team captain Nathan Den Hoedt said. “This is the first time really going up to the top, going for the championship game. It’s big for the city of Houston and our fans. They’ve been coming out to SaberCats Stadium for four years supporting us and packing the stadium.
“Just being able to give them something to watch, just us as a group being together, we’re a big family and enjoy spending time around each other. Just really embracing it.”
The SaberCats are holding an official watch party for fans who can’t make it to Rhode Island. It’s being held at Platypus Brewery at 1 p.m. with DJ Uncle Tino, giveaways, including sunglasses and koozies, along with raffle grand prizes of a signed jersey and signed ball.
“We love our fans,” Den Hoedt said. “We’ve got some really, really great fans. They feed off of us. They tailgate. It’s’ fun. We’ve formed a bond with them. Rugby, we love dealing with our fans. It’s an even bigger family.
“So, we love having them with us, and I’m sure there will be quite a lot of them out there with us in Rhode Island. Yeah, it’s just great to have them there with us and just giving them another opportunity to support us.”
“Everything Earned.”
That’s the motto of the SaberCats.
“You put in all this hard work throughout the year, but it sort of ties into everyone,” Den Hoedt said. “We’re all here. There’s a hell of a lot of effort that goes in from staff, players, behind the scenes people. Everyone’s putting in a hell a lot effort, all trying to achieve the same thing.“And we know that nothing’s given. We could have gone home two weeks ago, but we’ve just been really taking it week for week and really giving it our all.”
When the SaberCats aren’t playing rugby, they’re hanging out together off the field and enjoying the friendships of a close-knit, winning squad.
Between enjoying the coffee shops and restaurants of Houston, playing cards, Scrabble and taking in volleyball, the SaberCats are a team that turns activities into a fun pastime and an occasion to bond.
As a team captain, Den Hoedt has provided leadership all season. Whether it’s leading through words or deeds, the SaberCats have had an outstanding culture all season.
“The coaches do a really good job of laying out what they want from you as a leader and they’ve certainly picked some great leaders in the past,” Den Hoedt said. “I believe to have a successful team, you’ve got to have a good family culture. That’s been kind of the cornerstone of where we’ve built from that.
“We knew if we can get the team enjoying each other’s company and spending time outside of training that we would be likely to work harder and show up for one another.”
And that approach has paid dividends within the team concept with authenticity.
“It’s one of those things you can’t fake it, or it will show very quickly,” Den Hoedt said. “In rugby, in particular and In Houston, everybody is brothers and wants to show up and help each other out and play for one another. We’ve got that kind of mentality.”
