The Men’s Lacrosse Club and Rugby Football Club are two well known student organizations at St. Edward’s that are looking to build on success from previous years.  

Men’s lacrosse competes in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA). Last year, men’s lacrosse took second place in the Lone Star Alliance Conference, a subconference of the MCLA. Rugby went undefeated in Division III of the Texas Rugby Union, allowing them to move up to Division II. Rugby also competed in the National Small College Rugby Organization’s national tournament and took 5th place in the nation.

So what’s next on the agenda for the rugby and lacrosse clubs?  

Senior Vinny Caruso  is the Men’s Lacrosse Club President and junior Pasquale Mattozzi is the Rugby Football Club President. Both mentioned that their teams would like to become varsity sports.  Having to fundraise to pay for tournaments, trips, coaches and equipment can be tough at the club level, and being a varsity sport would mean the school could pay for these things, Caruso said.

“The schools’ budget does not warrant adding another sport,” said Andy Lemons, Director of Campus Recreation.  However, Lemons believes the two teams are selling themselves short and shouldn’t feel burdened by being designated as a club sport.

Lemons explained that being a part of a club sport enables participants to be involved in other ways and  be engaged on campus on a day-to-day basis.  In addition, these teams have given freshmen and other students a place to get involved, meet other guys on campus, and for some, find a sport they could become passionate about.  

Both organizations have worked to become positive influences on campus by getting involved in community service events such as The Big Event and Founder’s Day. Many of the guys are involved in other student organizations such as Student Government Association and the University Programming Board, while others work on campus in Ragsdale, the library and the bookstore.  

“Rugby helped me get involved in the school, and I found a sport I really love,” Mattozzi said.

Moving up to the varsity level may be something that cannot happen any time soon, but the clubs have other hopes and goals which may be more attainable in the near future.

Currently, rugby cannot host games on campus.

“The biggest thing we want from the school right now is to be able to play games at St. Edward’s,” Mattozzi said.  Having a place to play on campus would allow more people to come out to rugby games.  Caruso also expressed the need for better facilities and more field space for club teams.

According to Lemons, this may be possible soon. Part of the master plan is to have two recreational fields built on St. Edward’s property near I-35, along St. Edward’s Drive.

With support from the students and University administration, both the rugby and lacrosse clubs are determined to continue building positive reputations for themselves on campus. Not only will they continue to work hard for the schools support, but they are set on winning, said Mattozzi and Caruso.

Rugby hopes to finish undefeated once again this year and move up to compete in Division I of the Texas Rugby Union. Men’s lacrosse will fight for first place in the Lone Star Alliance Conference.