By Chris DeLeon
Between now and November students can expect a rugby team to develop at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.
Competitive sports coordinator Trevor Brunet said flyers are already posted around campus instructing students how to sign up.
Interested students can contact Stevland Garza at stevland@live.com.
The university expects rugby to operate as a club sport and plans to offer both men’s and women’s teams.
Brunet welcomes all levels of experience, ranging from those who wish to learn how to play all the way to experienced competitors.
“Get out of that rut of your typical basketball, football, baseball [and] try something new. Rugby is an awesome sport,” he said.
A complete rugby team suits up 23 players and fields 15 at a time during a game.
A&M-San Antonio’s rugby club will compete against other universities from around the state and possibly the nation.
There are different levels of competition starting at the less competitive Division III to the very competitive Division I.
The club must register with and operate under rules set by USA Rugby and the Texas Rugby Union, the two organizations that oversee competitive rugby in the U.S. and Texas.
These associations set club laws, bylaws, game rules and provide referees.
Although experience is not required to participate in club sports, some expectations must be met.
Trevor says A&M-San Antonio has not finalized participation rules, but expects a minimum GPA requirement to surface in the future.
Suggestion: Trevor said his department will finalize requirements for club participation, adding that Recreational Sports could implement a minimum GPA in the future.
The university plans to offer various intramural sports in the near future so students can play at a less competitive level.
