Hard hitting. High scoring. Non-stop action.

What more can you ask for from a sport?

Rugby is football without the pads, soccer with hands. And tradition going back to the 1800s.

Second only to soccer in global popularity, rugby continues to grow in the U.S. Hawaii has long embraced the sport, but "there does seem to be a resurgence, not just here but nationwide," said John MacGregor, senior coach of the Hawaii Harlequins Rugby Football League. "It’s the fastest growing sport in North America, and it’s not just at the men’s and women’s level. Youth rugby is exploding.

"It’s becoming a very popular sport for all ages and genders."

USA Rugby has identified Hawaii as a target area for recruiting, with a number of island youth on the junior national team. Radford High graduate Bui Baravilala is under contract with the women’s Eagles 7s and living at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. But rugby isn’t just for those with national or Olympic aspirations. (Rugby makes its Olympic debut in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games). The Harlequins welcome those with little or no experience or knowledge of the sport.

"It’s not hard to just come to practice and learn to play," said MacGregor, a Punahou School graduate who played professionally in Europe and New Zealand. "We have different levels of experience with the club, whether it was never playing any sport to having played football or soccer.

"The beauty is there is something for everyone, from getting exercise to wanting something more challenging than corporate softball."

Cat Honeycutt’s background was in ice skating and dance. She picked up the sport while at Humboldt State and coached and played in San Diego before moving to Hawaii.

"I married a rugger (rugby player)," Honeycutt said. "We were hoping to play in Hawaii and were driving around Kapiolani Park when we happened to see rugby being played.

"I’d recommend it to anyone. It’s confusing at first, particularly the terminology, but once you get it, you get it. We’d like more women to come out, whether they’ve played a sport or not. The club is very welcoming."

Isaac Ickes grew up around the sport but never played until he went to Harvard. It was an easy transition for the former wrestler and football player at ‘Iolani who is now attending law school at the University of Hawaii.

"I didn’t want to play football and was looking for something a little different," said Ickes, the Harlequins’ club captain. "Was walking around campus and some big guys asked if I wanted to play rugby. I went to practice that afternoon and have been playing ever since.

"There’s a pretty big collegiate structure in the East and they’re finally going to show the national championship on TV. That’s pretty exciting that it’s going to get more exposure."

The "Quins," whose 50th anniversary is in 2014, have been selected to host the Vintage Rugby Carnival, an international event with more than 50 teams in the men’s 35-to-45 division.

Also returning next year is the club’s International Rugby Tournament, which was one of the world’s premier events in the 1980s.

"It’s part of the resurgence we see in the sport," MacGregor said. "Rugby is a great all-around game without a huge commitment. All you need is a mouthpiece, socks, shorts and shoes."

The club’s sports day is June 2 at Kapiolani Park. Among the events are a rugby boot camp, exhibition youth rugby games and tug-o’-war contests.