NMT Rugby Club Announces Third Overseas Tour

by Dave Wheelock, NMT Rugby Director

Right: Tech Rugby Team

The New Mexico Tech Rugby Club announces its third overseas playing tour March 11 through 19, 2006. The tour will coincide with spring break and the destination is England. The Pygmies toured the British principality of Wales in 1998 and Ireland in 2002.

Fifteen current student players will be augmented by approximately nine former Tech players, members of the famous "Ancestors" alumni team. Touring Pygmies include: Pat Garcia, Patrick Simons, Sage Latorra, Paul Quintana, Mike Bauer, Matt Majors, Matt Nelson, Tory Tadano, Seth Daly, Phil Turner, Justin Swafford, Brendan LaCounte, Steve Huelskamp, John Rundberg, and Ben Brooks. Simons and Bauer are veterans of the 1998 Ireland tour. The touring side will be guided by NMT director of rugby Dave Wheelock.

The Tech side will play three matches in England, against Warlingham, Surrey; University of Bristol; and Launceston, Cornwall. The tour offers players the chance to test their skills in the birthplace of rugby football, and to taste English life by staying in their opponents' homes on some nights. The team will also visit the English national team stadium, Twickenham, and attend a professional level match while on tour.

The Club will be raising funds in the coming months for needed uniforms, equipment, and miscellaneous items needed for this ambitious undertaking. For more information or to contribute to the England Rugby Tour Fund, contact Dave Wheelock in the gym office at 505-835-5854, dwheelock@admin.nmt.edu .

- NMT-