Capital City Ruggers Defeat Brujos in Albuquerque
55-31 in Albuquerque
November 2, 2024 - DW
The Santa Fe Santos beat the New Mexico Brujos 55-31 at Bullhead Park Saturday to run their autumn 2024 record to 2 wins without a loss. Santa Fe beat El Paso Scorpions in Socorro 40-24 on October 12.
Santo scrumhalf Mateo Cardiel opened the scoring with a five-point try, with Namibian-born sensation Milaan Van Wyk adding the two-point conversion kick. Brujos retaliated with three tries and despite additional touchdowns by Dylan Merrigan and Rainer Ball, the home team led 24-19 at the half.
Van Wyk grounded two tries for Santa Fe in the second half and fullback Isaiah Sanchez bagged one, with Van Wyk connecting on all three conversions. The Brujos also scored a try but never got closer than 43-21 as Milaan Van Wyk, a member of New Mexico Tech’s 2022 national small college championship team, stretched Santa Fe’s winning margin to 55-31 by connecting on all four three-point penalty kicks he attempted. Van Wyk’s last two kicks sailed through the uprights from 58 and 55 yards, respectively.
The Santos will return to Albuquerque Saturday, November 9 to compete in a ten-player tournament hosted by the Atomic Sisters Women’s Rugby Club.
Santos Show Character in Socorro
October 12, 2024 -DW
Opening Disclaimer – Your humble reporter was on separate assignment Saturday (New York vs. Kuala Lumpur roller derby) so this account relies on the cooperation of Coach Richard Morris, board member Briana Rodriguez, and David Jondreau, who by good fortune was seen sipping coffee at Java Joe’s on Sunday afternoon. Thanks to the team for making this insiders’ report possible!
The Santos traveled to Socorro for a prearranged meeting with El Paso’s always-dangerous Scorpions on Saturday, Oct 12. Our gents eventually came away with a 40-24 win, but not without the full dose of elbow grease and nail-biting a good rugby match demands.
The above-mentioned Mr. Jondreau reported it was “a little hot” at kickoff in the Garden Spot of Central New Mexico, a description that transformed to “pretty hot” before he finished his testimony.
Saturday was an “all hands” day as the Santos traveled a bit light in terms of second-half subs (details below).
Here are the match stats, provided separately by Coach Richard and Briana Rodriguez, better half of Angel Villa. To allow your imagination to fill in the visual details, we suggest you read the remainder of this report with your eyes closed. Wait.
Scoring account by minute of play:
10:00 Isaiah Sanchez, try SF
Milaan Van Wyk, conversion SF 7 EP 0
14:00 R.G. Snyman, try EP
Jonny Wilkinson, conv SF 7 EP 7
30:00 D Gabriel Cardiel, try SF
Milaan Van Wyk, conv SF 14 EP 7
HALFTIME – SF 14 EP 7
46:00 Milaan Van Wyk, try SF
MVW, conversion SF 21 EP 7
50:00 James Lowe, try EP
Not converted SF 21 EP 12
52:00 Milaan Van Wyk, try SF
Off the post SF 26 EP 12
65:00 Agustín Creevy, try EP
Andrew Mehrtens, conversion SF 26 EP 19
67:00 Serge Blanco, try EP
Not converted SF 26 EP 24
Sometime around this point, the Scorps decided they’d had enough of losing to Los Santos, and mounted a fierce and sustained attack on our line. One could be forgiven for flashing back to that day in Las Vegas when the Santos put up a valiant fight at the death, only to allow a heartbreaking score . . . Not this time!
72:00 Arvin Hrushka, try SF
MVW conversion SF 33 EP 24
79+ Arvin Hrushka, try SF
MVW conversion SF 40 EP 24
SCRAPS:
- Friday’s list of declared available players on the team’s real-time communication channel worked a charm. Seeing the minimum number of players on the potential roster coaxed both Jared Skillman and Dave Jondreau back into the limelight. A tip of the scrum cap to these loyal and fun-loving gentlemen!
- You may have noticed a new name on the scoresheet. Arvin Hrushka – who’s that?
A witness described Mr. Hrushka as “about 6 foot 5, says he’s a wing.” Arvin started the match in the second row but to his credit scored both his strategically-timed tries from the wing position.
- Our captain Ryan Weir may have set a record for time elapsed in convincing a referee to change his call. Seems the 31st man mistakenly ruled an advantage to Santos had elapsed when in fact a subsequent misplaced kick should have activated the penalty to our team. “Sir” deserves respect for seeing the light, as do El Paso’s old heads for reluctantly agreeing to the adjustment.
- It’s good to see Milaan Van Wyk’s name back on the roster for the first time this fall. Milaan, who earned his boots in Namibia, is helping NMT coach Jason Oliphant while polishing his master’s degree.
This fall’s remaining matches:
Nov 2 New Mexico Brujos Vista del Norte Park Albuquerque
Nov 9 Atomic Sisters Invitational Albuquerque
Anasazi – start thinking about a Railrunner shuttle for November 2!
ROSTER v El Paso Scorpions
Tadeo Herrera
Ryan Weir, capt
KC Martin
Calvin Smith
Isaiah Sanchez
Diego “Gabe” Cardiel
Jeremy Lithgow
Rainer Ball
Angel Villa
Mateo Cardiel, vice capt
Dylan Merrigan
Jared Skillman
Milaan Van Wyk
Justin Stallworth
Arvin Hrushka
David Jondreau
Jason Osborn (17)
2024 High Desert Classic
October 5, 2024 -DW
Our Santos team finished as runners-up Saturday in the 52nd (or 53rd) annual High Desert Classic in Albuquerque. The Santos beat the El Paso Scorpions (25-15) and host team Albuquerque Aardvarks (24-5) but lost (25-15) to eventual champions New Mexico Brujos.
The first rugby action at Vista del Norte Park was a so-called “league” match between University of Arizona and UNM’s Lobos. When this reporter shifted position to attend Santa Fe’s opening match on the adjoining pitch around halftime, Arizona led three tries to no score for the home team. My assumption is Arizona won handily but the score went unrecorded by yours truly.
The Santos started their 2024 High Desert Classic against New Mexico Brujos a bit after noon. Significantly Santa Fe traveled to the tournament with just 10 regular team members. Guest players filled out the 15-man starting roster. Notable also was the competition format of just four clubs scheduled for round robin play with 20 minute halves. No women’s teams competed this year whereas the previous year there were at least three.
Although Los Santos & Friends produced some nice-looking attacking phases in the opening several minutes versus Brujos, inevitable chinks of having so many strangers in the side were evident, noticeably through an unaccustomed hesitation in securing rucks. At 15 minutes the score stood at 10-nil in favor of the Brujos, but then things began to fall into place for our guys and a pleasing multi-phase team try was touched down by prop Jeremy Lithgow. Each team scored an additional try in the short minutes before halftime (#9 Elijah Naranjo may have gotten ours) but the day’s pattern of curiously subpar conversion kicking left the score at 15-10 to the Brujos.
The Burqueños’ fourth try came courtesy of a Santa Fe tactical kick that allowed a bit too much counterattacking space, 20-10. Eight minutes into the half a dustup flared over something somebody did to someone who lost his cool (or something) and a Brujo was ejected for the remainder. At 14 minutes Los Santos were awarded a scrum in an ideal attacking position near the intersection of the naughty guys’ 22 meter line and the right tramline. The forwards – 1. Dylan, 2. Gabe-I-mean-Diego, 3. Jeremy, 4. Ryan Houlahan (Holloman Nighthawks), 5. Kyle Bacho (at large), Tadeo, Jeremy Armstrong (unattached), and Dane – did their thing, Eli passed out to 10. Mateo, who passed to 12. Ryan, who passed to 13. Justin aka $, who passed to 11. Bradford Cook (Holloman AFB Nighthawks), who scored in the left corner, untouched due to the red card. Rugby pure, simple, and smart. Brujos 20, SF 15.
By now our guest players had caught on to how we roll and the Brujos were very lucky to get by on a few unlucky knock-ons late in the match. One of these miscues was too damned close to our try line, and the Brujos were flattered with a 25-15 final score.
A revelation during this match was the defensive chops put on display by Santo newcomer Calvin Smith, playing fullback in his first rugby season since high school “a while back” in --- forgive us, Calvin - Georgia?
Match Two was with El Paso, who from a few glimpses at the neighboring pitch looked good in their opener against the Aardvarks. Unfortunately for our friends from the deep south this match was Santa Fe’s best look of the day.
The Santos won an early scrum deep in EP’s end and Elijah Naranjo scampered in for an unconverted try, 5-0. Santa Fe were then guilty of a mental lapse resulting in a simple overload for the Scorpions, 5-5. The Scorps next profited from a kick that seemed a good idea at the time it was launched to lead 12-5 at intermission.
One minute into the second spell another thrilling Santo attack featuring a long break by that wonderful husband and father Dylan Merrigan was consummated by powerful #8 Dane Robergs, who gracefully tiptoed into the left corner. El Paso 12, Santa Fe 10.
At five minutes Jaylon Colon joined his Holloman Air Force Base teammate Brad Cook, over on the other wing, in scoring his first-ever rugby try on an intercept. This excited whoever was kicking our conversions so much he actually made one and our guys went ahead 17-12.
A few minutes later team captain Ryan Weir scored a most odd-looking try as the Scorpions seemed to totally give up on even pursuing him well before Ryan had crossed the line. Mateo Cardiel, who shared conversion-kicking duties with his brother Gabe - aka “Diego” - added the two for a 24-12 Santa Fe lead.
The Santos played well in this second match and were never close to losing. (For those keeping track, Gabe stole a hook against the head in a scrum, as he is wont to do.) Considering our opponents’ apparent surrender before full time it was a rather unfitting ending when the Scorpions scored a late try to blemish Santa Fe’s 24-17 victory.
Meanwhile the Brujos were, unfortunately for Los Santos, kicking the Aardvarks’ disorganized arses to take control over their own destiny with two wins against no losses. Unless El Paso could beat them in the final round, the Brujos would claim the winners’ trophy. In the event the former did not happen, and so the latter did.
Unfortunately also sometime between Santa Fe’s last two matches a gong sounded and several players had to leave to attend to other parts of their lives. Such is modern rugby, a far cry from those early, irresponsible days enjoyed myself and many others who are still wandering around bumping into things.
Still, the show must go on. Our coach Richard (Morris) and Aardvarks coach Larry Spurgeon (always the gentleman) agreed to play the last match as 12-a-side for 24 minutes while an overworked Jim Domina volunteered to referee the contest. For whatever reason, no Southwest Union referees attended the tournament this year, leaving Mr. Domina and Brujos coach Dustin Soflin as the only officials for seven matches, including the 80-minute collegiate game. Please remember to thank them the next time you see them.
The Santos kicked off their third match vs. the hosts and inside 15 seconds Eli had secured the ball and scored the first try untouched. On this occasion our kicker was so surprised he missed the easy conversion.
My notes for this match read “left wing” for SF’s second try so that must have been Bradford Cook for the second of his career. Santa Fe 12 – 0 inside five minutes.
Tadeo Herrera next wowed everyone with a long break to midfield, topping it off with a chip kick which he ran down before dishing off a neat pass. While not ending with a try, it was impressive play from a forward. Somewhere in here also that gleeful hooker Diego Cardiel called over to your reporter that he had stolen another scrum feed.
An Aardvark winger next touched down a try that went unconverted. Santos 12, Varks 5. Mateo Cardiel answered with another of his signature sidestep-sidestep-sprint-cutback-sprint tries covering three-quarters the length to make it 17-5, before our new friend Bradford Cook scooted for the third try of his day and career.
Final score: Santos 24 Aardvarks 5
CONCLUSION & THOUGHTS
The High Desert Classic has been on a verifiable downhill slide for over a decade, reflected in fewer teams, less ideal venues (the Santos won the 1982 championship at Dukes stadium, current home of the Isotopes baseball team) and the elimination of championship rounds on Sunday. This leaves a huge gap the famous High Desert Classic party used to fill in spectacular fashion. The High Dirt party was a phenomenon, held in a unique location almost every year (through necessity perhaps) and which always presented a fresh approach to fun, rugby style. Oh, the memories! of deeds and actors – fewer of them among us each year. I knew Saturday I would be reviving plenty of tales with lots of old teammates and once-fierce opponents, in the relative safety of the touchlines. Father Time is friendlier to some than others, but eventually we will all be mere memories.
What has brought on the change?
While many amateur rugby clubs worldwide have gone under for a lack of numbers, the remaining ones have subscribed to leagues whose schedules make timing a successful tournament very challenging. In Santa Fe we are fortunate to have staked out, many years ago, a holiday weekend folks can count on, but just as importantly, we have worked very hard to maintain a standard of competition and ambiance that makes teams want to return year after year. Like any successful garden, ours requires year-round maintenance.
Saturday’s experience offers a powerful example of what makes our club special. While the inability to field a full roster is important to note and improve upon, the welcoming heart of Los Santos brought in extra players when we needed them. It was downright heartwarming to see a captain or player take a moment on the touchline or even between plays to offer a less-experienced guest teammate a quick and friendly pointer. In one afternoon Los Santos transformed a group of relative strangers, some of them veritable rookies, into a team with a palpable will to compete, and win. Our coach, Richard Morris, deserves a heap of credit for instilling a team culture that allows this organic process to happen. Along the way we all grow.
Often good fortune is the result of conscious planning and collective effort. Everyone has something to contribute. Three cheers for All of Us!
This Saturday, October 12 the Santos travel to Socorro for a Southwest Union match against El Paso on the New Mexico Tech ground. The match is scheduled for a noon kickoff, with the undefeated Techies scheduled to play Colorado College at 2:00. Those on the fence about going down to support the club are reminded NMTRFC now has a bar right on the touchline . . . and the world-famous Capitol Bar (est 1889) is going strong!
2024 High Desert Classic roster
Ryan Weir, captain
Jeremy Lithgow
Diego Cardiel
Mateo Cardiel, co-captain
Dane Robergs
Tadeo Herrera
Calvin Smith
Dylan Merrigan
Justin Stallworth
Elijah Naranjo
Guests:
Bradford Cook, Alamogordo Nighthawks
Jaylon Colon, Alamogordo Nighthawks
Ryan Houlahan, Alamogordo Nighthawks
Kyle Bacho (unattached)
Jeremy Armstrong (unattached)
Preston Whyte
Santa Fe Rugby Football Club Schedule - Autumn 2024
Oct 5 High Desert Classic Albuquerque
Oct 12 El Paso Scorpions Socorro
Nov 2 New Mexico Brujos Vista del Norte Park Albuquerque
Nov 9 Atomic Sisters Invitational Albuquerque
Southwest Rugby Union competition will resume in early 2025.
PHOTOS:
eldrosphotography.pixieset.com/rugby2024-202
Arizona All-stars Capture Fiesta 10s Rugby Tournament
September 1, 2024 -DW
The Santa Fe Santos Rugby Club had their hopes for back-to-back championships of their own Fiesta Tens tournament dashed 35-17 by The Outlaws, a select team from Arizona composed primarily of players 23 years of age and under. After sailing past the Nighthawks of Clovis and Albuquerque’s Brujos and Aardvarks in pool play, the home team advanced to the championship match via a 29-12 semifinal repeat of their win over the Brujos.
In women’s action, the Atomic Sisters of Albuquerque captured top honors with a convincing 27-0 win over the Pike's Peak club of Colorado Springs. Alicia Pacheco, daughter of former Santo standout Martin Pacheco, appeared for Pike’s Peak.
The accomplished young Outlaws upset Los Santos by running in five tries to Santa Fe’s three, adding two-point conversion kicks after each try for a point total of 35, against the hosts’ three tries and 17 points.
The evergreen Rainer Ball, a former star for frequent U.S. national club champions Belmont Shore (CA), was among Santa Fe’s prominent performers. Mateo Cardiel, his brother Diego of Los Alamos, and Guadalupe Moron also provided inspiration throughout a demanding day of tournament rugby.
An Elevated Weekend
July 9, 2024 - DW
Perhaps beneath the radar of many in the Club, two of our Santos represented us at a higher level on June 22 as the Southwest Rugby Union Select team traveled to Salt Lake City for what’s known in rugby circles as a curtain-raiser to the professional Major League Rugby match between the Utah Warriors and Dallas Jackals.
Santa Fe’s seasoned head captain Ryan Weir and youthful sensation Aidan Gurule both started for Southwest RFU at blindside flanker and number eight, respectively. Their opponents, the Utah Selects, are a team of understudies to the pro team, eager to show their mettle and hopeful of gaining a spot – and a check - in the Warriors roster. According to Aidan the Utah side were a tight balance of young men with obvious, albeit unpolished talent and more-experienced players capable of keeping things real. “You could tell from the time they started warming up they were operating at a more sophisticated level”.
In the wide-open preliminary, Utah and Southwest combined for 115 points, with the home team claiming 69 and the visitors 46.
“I didn’t get the impression we were expected to win” commented Ryan in a phone chat. “It was an open game” he added without irony, “but our guys played well.” Well enough to post 46 against a team of near- and future professionals.
The main event turned out as a 50-46 Warriors win over the Dallas Jackals. You can see highlights at HIGHLIGHTS | Utah vs Dallas (youtube.com). San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium will host Major League Rugby’s championship match on August 4.
Extra Effort
Our two heroes illustrate the diversity of motivation that exists within the Southwest Union representative team. 22-year-old Aidan Gurule may rightfully yearn for and even expect a call-up to the higher echelons of rugby. Aidan was born in Massachusetts in 2001 and discovered rugby as a 17-year-old wrestler in Albuquerque. His first men’s club was Aardvarks where he made enough of an impression that club president Victor Armendaris tipped him off about Southwest Union’s upcoming representative tryouts in Arizona in 2021. Aidan turned up for the trials and although he didn’t get on the pitch for that winter’s close loss to Colorado’s rep side in Albuquerque, he qualified for the next opportunity through his presence on the bench. The next year, now standing 6’ 1” and weighing in at 240 rapid pounds, Aidan got on the pitch, joining Ryan in San Diego for a satisfying 29-24 victory over fabled Old Aztecs RFC in which Ryan scored the decisive try at the end of the match.
Like most of his teammates on the Southwest Selects, Ryan Weir has no illusions about playing professional rugby. He has a wife, Maria, and a son, Lachlan. As a fireman he is a stalwart of his community. Add a long run as captain of the Santa Fe Rugby Football Club and you get mucho mana. What makes Ryan tick? Could it be that timeless, proudly amateur vestige of rugby, Love of the Game?
Pro Rugby in the USA
Meanwhile our champions’ experience provides a peek into the latest and most successful effort at professional rugby in the United States to date, Major League Rugby (MLR).
MLR clubs are intentionally vague concerning their payouts, yet an entire team’s salary cap is limited to $5M, which means All Black legend Ma’a Nonu’s San Diego Legion teammates are probably well-advised to concentrate on the honor of being his teammate. In the real world, rank-and-file MLR players are rumored to get around $40-60,000.
The Utah Warriors is the professional team atop the structure of a high school-age “academy” team at the base and an intermediate team, the Utah Selects, on hand to resupply the pro team. With an objective for players to make the Warriors’ match day 23 within six months of being invited into the Selects, the program takes on 40 athletes for a three-day training week that incorporates strength and conditioning work, analysis sessions and, of course, field sessions. Naturally these backup players require playing time, the presumed reason for the invitation to Southwest. By design everyone gets what they need in this arrangement, including those the game relies on. An interview on the Warriors website with U.S. born Warrior general manager Brandon Sparks reveals the inclusive nature of strategic planning within the Utah Warrior scheme.
“Players won’t be successful without the referees and the coaches, just like the referees and coaches won’t be successful without the players. So, with anything we are looking to do on the development side of things, we should be looking to develop those three entities.”
As for the Warriors’ relationship with players, Sparks’ perspective is the same as all good coaches. “We can teach someone to be fitter, to be better at passing, at tackling and so on, but if the mindset isn’t there and they don’t have the necessary soft skills to be successful in that environment, it won’t work for anybody.”
Bringing it Home
A great feature of Santo News Updates is the occasional opportunity to read how it was back in the Good Ole days. While rugby infected New Mexico in approximately 1969, it was not until 1976 that the Rio Grande Rugby Football Union was organized by legendary player, coach, and administrator Herb Howell. Along with the new association came the selection of an “all star” team made up of players from Santa Fe, Albuquerque, El Paso, and Socorro.
The ultimate model for what are commonly referred to as select sides are the world-famous Barbarians, made up of popular players from anywhere and everywhere. A cool thing about the Baa-Baas is that even capped international members wear stockings of their choice, often from their original home clubs or even schools.
Whatever one calls it, playing in a select side is an experience a player never forgets – a sense of pride, it cannot be denied; but also the distinct feeling of confidence in one’s teammates, that all will go well if one can just perform the role put out for him or her.
Beyond the personal fulfillment, there is the expectation of passing on what was learned to one’s mates in the home club. This is now an added dimension of Aidan’s and Ryan’s rugby identities. It only makes sense that we should encourage more of our players to put themselves in this position.
Hurry before it is too late…
June 20, 2024 - JL
Get your gear!
Our team store is open thru 30 June on Credo. Follow the link to get your gear before it’s too late.
Santa Fe Rugby Club suffers a heartbreaking loss
May 4, 2024 - DW
Las Vegas, Nevada
After leading for most of their 80-minute match versus the Colusa County, California Rugby Club, the Santa Fe Rugby Club suffered a heartbreaking 57-53 loss in the last minute of the Pacific Union championship match in Las Vegas Saturday.
Colusa scored the first five-point try in under two minutes, but the habitually slow-starting Santos utilized the wizardry of Namibian-born Milaan Van Wyk to lead by 19 points, 48-29, three-quarters through the 80-minute match. Colusa County unlocked Santa Fe’s defense in the final quarter through a sustained series of power running by their athletic unit of eight forwards, scoring four converted tries for 28 points in the process.
Colusa County advances to represent the Pacific Rugby Union at the national Final Four championships in Austin, Texas May 18-19. Santa Fe finishes their 51st annual campaign as the reigning champions of both the Rio Grande and Southwest Rugby Football Unions and now pivots to the summer seven-man season. Prospective players are welcome to visit SantaFeLosSantos.com for more information.
Santa Fe Rugby Club Pursues Pacific Region Crown
May1, 2024 - DW
Las Vegas, Nevada May 3-4
The Santa Fe, New Mexico Rugby Football Club’s ongoing quest for USA Rugby’s Division 3 championship broadens this weekend at the Pacific Rugby Union championships in Las Vegas, Nevada. Santa Fe claimed the Southwest Rugby Union crown with a 38-36 victory over Scottsdale, Arizona in Santa Fe on April 21, and will join Southern California champions Beach Cities RFC of Los Angeles, Northern California champs Colusa County of Sacramento, and Pacific Northwest representatives Clark County of Vancouver, Washington in a four-way competition this Friday and Saturday to determine who goes on to the national Final Four in Austin, Texas May 17-19.
Santa Fe will tackle Beach Cities’ Narwahls on Friday while Clark County faces Colusa County, with the winning teams playing on Saturday to determine the Pacific champions.
Watch here!
2023 SWRFU runners-up and 2024 champs!
April 21, 2024 - DW
Triple? Wins Saturday, Sunday, and All Season long!
Los Santos of the Santa Fe Rugby Club won the Southwest Rugby Football Union title Sunday with a gutsy 38-36 home victory over the Scottsdale, Arizona Blues. Playing into a stiff wind at the Municipal Recreation Complex, Scottsdale’s athletic side struck for two early tries and led 12-0 just ten minutes into the 80-minute contest. Santa Fe worked their way back into the game with tries touched down by Isaiah Sanchez, Elijah Naranjo, and South African-born Leon Wilson, all converted by kicks from Cory Micander, to take a 21-17 halftime lead.
The Blues came alive in the second period with three impressive second-half tries to lead 36-33. With referee Wes Livesy’s watch approaching zero Santa Fe’s Namibian-born center Milaan Van Wyk ran the ball on a penalty play, looked to pass to K.C. Martin, and shot the resultant gap in the defense line to score a five-point try in the left corner. Cory Micander’s conversion kick sailed right in the gale but the final whistle sounded immediately afterward to put Santa Fe’s championship title into the books.
Combined with Saturday’s 38-17 win over defending Southwest Union champs Tucson Magpies, Santa Fe finished their fall-spring Union campaign with an unblemished 8-0 record. Their next stop toward a possible national championship is the semifinal Pacific Regional tournament in Las Vegas, NEVADA May 3-4.
Milaan Van Wyk accounted for two of Santa Fe’s tries, with fullback Isaiah Sanchez, halfback Elijah Naranjo, and center Leon Wilson chipping in one each. Crucially, the Santos were awarded a 7-point penalty try in the second half for interfering with a Santa Fe penalty play. Veteran flyhalf Cory Micander turned in an MVP performance including three out of five try conversion kicks.