TAMU-CC Rugby Club Becomes More Like A Brotherhood

Rugby+players+trying+to+catch+ball+outdoors

Lane Evers, graduate student at TAMU-CC, reaches out to try to catch the ball. Photo by Lillian Crane

Gabriella Ruiz, Sports Editor
February 20, 2023

While Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi doesn’t have an official football team, the Islanders Rugby club is similar to the concept of tackling, making touchdowns, and physical contact with no helmets or pads.

Same players trying to catch ball outdoors
Lane Evers, graduate student at TAMU-CC, reaches out to try and catch the ball. Photo by Lillian Crane

The Islanders rugby club is a sports club here on campus that was established in 2015 and has been active with players since 2018. 

Two players push each other outdoors
Lane Evers, graduate student at TAMU-CC, pushes another player to try and get across the field with the ball. Photo by Lillian Crane

In 2021-2022, the Rugby Club had about 15 players and qualified for state playoffs where they won and made it to nationals. They ended up placing third in Grand Prairie, Texas for the American College Rugby Championship. 

One player tackling another with ball outdoors
Sebastian Cerda, senior at TAMU-CC, runs across the field with the ball as another player holds on to try and stop him. Photo by Lillian Crane

Jeremy Romo, who is a junior marine bio major, has been on the team for a year and said the chemistry between his teammates is insane on always being there for one another through hard times. Romo continued by saying that those who are interested in joining shouldn’t be scared to try something new.

One player pushing another down outdoors
Jeremy Romo, junior at TAMU-CC, pushes an opposing team member away to continue his play. Photo by Lillian Crane

“I never played before and this has been one of the most fun things so far about college for me,” Romo said. “The friends, the road trips, the summer tournaments, everything about this sport is fun and it has opened up many opportunities that I could never have dreamed of.” 

Same player running with ball with other players outdoors
Jeremy Romo, junior at TAMU-CC, runs pasts the opposing team with the ball. Photo by Lillian Crane

Romo addressed how the coaches have been a huge asset to the team by being knowledgeable about the game and knowing that they have played for years at a high level.

Two players tackling each other outdoors
Jeremy Romo, junior at TAMU-CC, collides with an opposing team member. Photo by Lillian Crane
Player chased while running outdoors
Thomas Krozel, sophomore at TAMU-CC, tries to run past the team with the ball during his play. Photo by Lillian Crane

Now for the 2022-2023 season, the team has about 20-plus players to help them reach success. This year they are playing teams such as Trinity University, St. Ed’s University, Prairie View A&M, and the University of Houston in the Lonestar Rugby Conference. 

Tristan Hullett senior president of the club has been on the team for four years and says the club is like a brotherhood where the sport shows them how to become a man on and off the field. 

“People want to say it’s a frat, but it’s more than just a frat,” said Hullet. “For those who are interested just come out and try and [even] if you have no experience, I had no experience.”Honestly, none of these players know how to play we’ve all learned just in Corpus Christi.”

 

For more information on TAMU-CC Rugby club, visit their Instagram @tamucc_islander_rugby and @islanders_rugby on Twitter. To join the club, visit https://tamucc.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/rugby-club.