In April, Loyola Rugby clinched its first Gold Coast Conference Intercollegiate Division III title since the 2007-08 season, beating Point Loma Nazarene University Rugby Club, 29-24.
At the beginning of the 2023-24 academic year, the rugby club began with a new coach and staff after the retirement of Head Coach Ray Thompson, who was with the team for more than 40 years. The team welcomed Cristian Rodriguez in the fall, who brought more than 15 years of rugby experience to LMU. Rodriguez played at Lindenwood University, winning three national championships and two Collegiate Rugby championships. He was also a six-time All-American. During college, Rodriguez also represented the U.S. in 2017 on the U20 National Team and 2017-19 on the U23s. He later went on to play in Major League Rugby with the L.A. Giltinis. Rodriguez has also coached rugby for Hawaiian Gardens Youth Rugby Club, Loyola High School, and UCLA.
Rodriguez has been working to build the program the last few months, his ultimate goal for this team to earn a conference championship title, which they now have checked the box on. “The team showed an incredible amount of grit and a great defensive stand right at the end of the game,” said Rodriguez. “With PLNU driving down the field right to our goal line, our boys dug deep and held them out, securing a turnover right when the opposing team was going to score. This secured our victory and allowed the team to be conference champs.”
The coaching staff also welcomed Todd Clever, a former professional rugby player, to be the director of performance and development in the fall. His background includes playing rugby at the University of Nevada, with three collegiate All-America selections, being the most capped player for the U.S. Rugby team, and being the first American to play Super Rugby and score. Clever’s favorite moment from the season was watching the team’s transformation throughout the year. “The level of commitment and dedication they displayed was exactly what was needed to win the championship,” said Clever.” I am proud to be a part of building a strong culture within the rugby program on campus.”
Jacques Pelletier ’24, the rugby team president, shared that his favorite moment from the championship game was when the team’s scrum-half, who was just coming off of an injury, scored the try that brought the team ahead and held the ball at the end of the game to prevent PLNU from scoring on their last drive. “I have seen so much personal and team growth this season from players, coaches, just about everything,” said Pelletier. “We would not have been able to win the championship this year if we did not grow like we have. Our team’s strengths this year have been perseverance, grit, and camaraderie. Coming into the season, we faced many obstacles but put all that behind us and won the championship.”
Rugby is a space for everyone, no matter their experience. “We want everybody to come out and join rugby, and we can guarantee it will be the best decision you’ve made in your college career,” said Rodriguez. “We have had multiple players join this past year with no experience, and many of them have started for us. If you’re interested, that’s all you need to play. Next season, we want to be better than last season. I want to develop rugby players and allow these players to be the best team they can be. Our team goals are to be determined by the group, collectively.”
Coaching staff such as Clever shared how rugby can be an incredible sport to play, promotes excellent values, and is a supportive community. “It’s a chance to learn new skills, make lifelong friendships, and be a part of something special,” said Clever. “We are now entering a new era, and our goal is to take the program to the next level and build upon the legacy that has been established. We also aim to foster a culture of commitment and sacrifice within the team, knowing that the results will naturally follow.”
