Update: The Tampa Bay Krewe are National Champions. The Krewe defeated South Buffalo 67-5 in the semifinals and then Phoenixville 59-14 to take the Division 2 national title. Having won three-straight state championships, this is the Krewe's first national championship.

Original story follows:

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Welcome to the jungle. Welcome to the world of rugby.

It’s a jungle of intense workouts, physical and grueling conditioning. Yet, it’s a jungle of inclusion.

What You Need To Know

  • The Tampa Bay Krewe Women's Rugby team have won three-straight state championships

  • They recently won a super regional title that qualified them for the national championships

  • The 2024 National Championships will take place Saturday and Sunday in Texas

The Tampa Bay Krewe Women’s Rugby team invites anybody to join their madness.

“It brings so many different types of people together,” Krewe president Kelsey Cashem said. “And that we can all find a place on the field. There’s a position for every body type, for everybody.”

Some are moms. Some are wives. Some are veterans.

One is an elementary school teacher. One is a veterinarian tech. Another a prison nurse.

They come from all over the Bay Area, from all walks of life. And when they set foot on the field, they come together for a common cause.

“To be able to come together and play the same sport together and bond together the way that we do really makes something special for our culture and for us to be able to do what we do,” Cashem said.

What they do is win. The Krewe have won three-straight state championships. Their two previous trips to the regional round ended in losses to defending national champs Knoxville. But not this time. Tampa Bay earned a trip to the National Championship with a 41-8 win over Knoxville.

Rugby’s an intense sport. And the play on the field can get violent. But there’s also a level of sportsmanship and respect amongst those who play the game.

“I don’t know if people understand how physical rugby can be,” Krewe captain Robyn Oliver said. “And I’m not sure if they also understand that with how physical it is, how friendly we can be with the teams afterwards.”

As the Krewe got in one of their final practices before the national championship, they kept their eyes on the prize. The regional championship was great. But they want to bring home a national title.

That’s why they put in the hours of practice on the field and off of it with film study. And why they’ll push their bodies to the extreme.

“Everybody on the team knew how much work it would take and they put it in,” Oliveri said. “They dedicated themselves to it.”