Post April 15 match Santa Fe Rugby Club team photo. Photo by D. Wheelock
SANTA FE RUGBY CLUB NEWS
Saturday’s third consecutive win in Rio Grande Rugby Union competition assured the Santa Fe Rugby Club a berth in the Southwest Rugby Union playoffs in Phoenix, AZ April 29-30. The Santos traveled to El Paso, TX for their second lopsided win over the Scorpions in as many weeks, 62 to 27. On April 8, in Santa Fe it was Santos 50 to the Scorpions 20, and prior to that the Santos downed arch-rival Albuquerque Aardvarks 60-36 on April 1.
Los Santos rebounded from the COVID pandemic to kick off their 51st year with the addition of several talented graduates of New Mexico colleges, transfers from other men’s clubs, and local athletes new to the game of rugby. Coach Richard Morris and his men will prepare for the Southwest playoffs the next two Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Municipal Recreation rugby field in Santa Fe at 6:00 pm. Learn more at Santafelossantos.com.
The Santa Fe Club has historically been strengthened by several talented ruggers from Los Alamos County. Each season, anywhere from a few to half a dozen Los Alamos residents train and compete with the Santa Fe Club, which is geographically the closest men’s club to Los Alamos. This season, the ranks of Los Santos include locals, Derek Selvage, Isaiah Cisneros, Eric Schmierer, John Bent, Willie Erhle, Mateo Cardiel, and Levi Caizza. Several of which, as well as a long history of, have made it out of the rich high school club rugby program here in Los Alamos. In addition to residents, there are over 20 LANL employees that commute into the County that wear the blood and gold of Los Santos.
Rugby celebrates its 200th this year and has its World Cup this year in France. If you are interested in learning more about local rugby or the Santa Fe Club contact Eric Schmierer at contact@santafelossantos.com.