The first step, teaming up for a joint practice with UW-Stout Sept. 14. “We are going into a joint practice at the beginning where it’s obviously a little bit of skill work,” rugby player Brandt Garcia said. One big difference between the two joint practices is that Iowa is a Division I school with a collegiate rugby team. “Our coach is just really good buddies with [Iowa’s] head coach so it makes sense especially since they’re more difficult as they’re a DI school,” Joel said. Despite the experience from the Stout practice, the team had to attend the new practice on guard, not knowing what to expect.