The May Player of the Month is freshman Nick Azzopardi. Nick is a quick learning front row player who will make a great impact for the team in the 2014-2015 season. Azzopardi did well developing as prop in the fall before an excellent performance as a big man in the club’s winter 7s. Nick finished up the year with a solidified place in Michigan’s front row for the spring 15s matches. Read on about the hard working Wolverine.
Height: 5′ 11″
Weight: 230 lbs.
Year: Freshman
Major: Undecided
Hometown: Clarkston, MI
Why rugby?
I’ve played sports my whole life so when I got to college and had all kinds of free time and nothing to do, I thought I might as well pick up a sport. I was checking out some of the booths at festifall, and talked to a couple of the guys there and learned you didn’t need any experience or anything. I knew nothing about the sport but it seemed like it was something I could be good at so a couple weeks later I came out to a practice and loved it.
What have you liked about Michigan rugby the most so far?
I would say the camaraderie and brotherhood with my teammates. The guys on the team have become my best friends here at Michigan and hanging out with them all the time whether its putting in work on the pitch or hanging out off of it has been the highlight of my college career thusfar.
Most memorable moment on the pitch?
Probably my first try. It was in the last 5 minutes of the C side game versus Wisconsin. I had only been playing the sport for a few weeks at the time, and after 155 or so minutes of real physical rugby I was completely exhausted. We were losing and I took it in from around 5 meters out to bring it to within a try or so. We lost all three of the matches that day as a club, so getting that try at the end made the long drive home a little more bearable for me.
What’s your favorite rugby drill in practice? Least favorite?
Favorite thing in practice would have to be a crisp full 15 walkthrough the day before a game. It gets everyone focused and confident and ready to go out and play the next day.
Least favorite would be sharks and minnows. Hate that game.
What other sports have you played?
My main sport was football, but I also played baseball and hockey up to my sophomore year of high school, and when I was little I played soccer, swimming, tennis, and roller hockey.
In 5 years, what do you see yourself doing?
Something that has the ability to genuinely intrigue me on a daily basis, and have the same effect on other people when I tell them what I do. Maybe something related to space or space flight cause that’s what I’ve been interested lately. And still playing rugby.
What’s some embarrassing childhood memory you can tell us?
When I was in third grade I ate a delicious breakfast of cocoa puffs one morning, and a couple hours later proceeded to regurgitate that breakfast right back onto my desk. Didn’t even make an attempt to get up and get to a trash can or anything. Just sat there staring at it.
Favorite place in Ann Arbor?
I don’t think I’ve been anywhere in Ann Arbor yet that’s quite as unique as the black house, so I’ll go with that.
Biggest fear?
The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
Favorite food/meal?
Chicago style pizza
Any game day superstitions?
Don’t really have any superstitions other than I need music before a game. Usually got some Young Jeezy, Meek Mill, and Notorious B.I.G. in the headphones on game day.
Favorite superhero and why?
Ironman. Flying has always been the coolest thing to me, plus ironman is just a normal dude who is ridiculously smart and creates his own powers which I think is cool.
Best advice you’ve ever received?
One of my football coaches told this quote once that really stuck with me: “Every morning a gazelle wakes up, it knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up, it knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn’t matter whether you’re the lion or a gazelle when the sun comes up, you better be running.”
