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The University of New Mexico Rugby Football Club has struggled the past three years, but things are finally looking up for the team.
“We are just starting to emerge from the muck this year,” Lobo rugby player Keith Keller said. “We have a new coaching staff and many new players. We have high hopes with this bunch, and plan to bring the rugby club back into the USA rugby spotlight.”
UNMRFC was established in 1972 with the help of the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico.
Recognition sets the foundation for the club. This allows the club to request UNM equipment such as portable goal posts and line equipment, and schedule time at UNM facilities such as grass fields, weight rooms and use other resources needed to allow it to function properly.
“It is important because we want to be a part of the University community,” head coach Louis Martinez said. “We would also like to have a fan base and grow that.”
The club generally meets for practice three times a week at Johnson Field. This is also the site for most home matches.
“The rugby competition is played in both the spring and fall semesters,” Martinez said. “Intercollegiate play is primarily scheduled in the fall semester and requires substantial travel obligations.”
Each member of the club must pay dues for both semesters. An individual assessment of $150 or more of dues and fundraising is collected at the beginning of each semester. These dues help pay for traveling expenses and equipment.
In certain situations, members of the club are allowed to make installment payments in exchange for commitments to work select fundraising events.
“It is our goal to turn no prospective member away for lack of ability to pay and those in need may be granted an economic hardship waiver,” Martinez said.
Rugby does not require a great deal of equipment. A rugby ball, a grass field and cleats are the only required materials.
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The game is played with 15 players per side and the field of play is slightly larger than a football field. Players wear no protective equipment, but there is tackling just like in football.
The UNMRFC can recruit players from in-state high schools, but many of their players have been exposed to the sport at the college level where they learn the sport only once they join, Martinez said.
Devon Sanchez, a senior at UNM and president of the club, has been playing for the past four years.
“I played football, baseball, wrestling and ran track in high school,” Sanchez said. “The reason I stayed with the club is because of the players and the aggressiveness of the sport. I love trying to hit the guy as hard as possible then having a drink at the end of the day with them.”
Sanchez said he will always continue to play rugby and plans to play for one of clubs in Albuquerque after his collegiate career is done. He is also coaches rugby at Volcano Vista High School.
UNM rugby has gained some national recognition, and at one time it was ranked as the country’s seventh favorite sport, Sanchez said.
The club mostly plays teams in New Mexico as well as a few teams from Colorado and Arizona.
“We expect to be competitive in all of our college matches,” Martinez said, “and when we play non-college clubs we expect to learn and become better players as these teams usually have more experienced players.”
The Rugby club finished with two wins and three losses in the pre-season, including a tough loss to the alumni squad. They are 1-0 in the regular season, defeating New Mexico Highlands.
