Loyola’s club rugby program is not just interested in winning games. The club is focused on fostering rugby traditions both on and off the field. A current member of the National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO), the name for small school rugby teams, Loyola secured #2 seed in the playoffs with a win against Frostburg State on Saturday, November 7. They are currently having their best season in at least 8 years. After a recent loss to Wheeling Jesuit, a top-10 ranked Division 1A program, Loyola is looking forward to a promising playoff campaign, where they have the potential to win and then qualify for the NSCRO National Champion’s Cup.
Kenny Ames, assistant coach of the team as well as an alumni connection, recently discussed Loyola’s potential in the playoffs and the future, as well as the Society of Loyola Old Boys (SLOB) Alumni Foundation and their mission.
Club Rugby has been a tradition at Loyola for 40 years now and S.L.O.B. was founded in order to foster the connection between the current club, the Alumni and the University. In addition, S.L.O.B. raises money for the club to get things like new equipment, and they plan to give out four new scholarships to incoming freshman starting next year.
They recently purchased new bleachers and tents for Lugano Field, where the rugby team plays, to allow for more fans to come and cheer for the team. Lugano Field is located at the Ridley Athletic Complex, and is dedicated to Sean Lugano, ’95 who played rugby for Loyola. He was tragically killed on 9/11 while he was working in Tower Two.
Ames was quoted saying that, “The nature of the game of rugby fosters close bonds of brotherhood that last a lifetime. Loyola Rugby is unique in that graduates from five different decades get to know each other, network and support each other.”
Loyola Rugby is not something that graduates and alumni leave behind, but something that stays with them throughout their lives, through the traditions and connections made by the Society of Loyola Old Boys. Loyola Rugby certainly has a lot of potential to compete at a high level this season and the Alumni Association has certainly kept the spirit of the team and their traditions alive.