Distinguished Traveler Joins SFRFC Hall of Fame Brendan Morris, CEO of SANZAAR
Santa Fe, NM
June 21, 2023 - DW
Brendan Morris, a native of Sydney, Australia, holds the post of chief executive officer of SANZAAR, an alliance taking its acronym-based name from the major rugby nations of the southern hemisphere: South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina. Each year SANZAAR conducts The Rugby Championship, an annual competition between these nations’ national teams, as well as Super Rugby, the professional club competition involving teams from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.
Brendan is also a Santa Fe Santo, having played flyhalf for us from 1994 -1996. In Los Angeles this week representing the global south in World Rugby meetings, the resourceful Mr. Morris squeezed in a 24-hour detour to visit with old mates over, and somewhat after, dinner at Del Charro on Wednesday, June 21.
The club’s fortunes took a decidedly upward turn after Brendan and traveling partner Brett Derwin, a flanker, found their way to Santa Fe through the efforts of Larry Smith, father of fellow hall of famers Darren and Greg. The young Aussies had concluded a playing adventure in Ireland and were interested in spending time in the States. Brett may have gotten more than he expected, as he married an American gal and now lives in the Colorado Rockies. Unfortunately he was unavailable to greet his old friend this week due to travel to Hawaii.
Brendan was known as a strong performer both on and off the pitch and he loved exploring downtown Santa Fe. Thus it was natural for him to check into the former Desert Inn, whose pool and recreation room served as the Club’s post-match social center during Brendan’s time with us.
For some in attendance, Wednesday provided the occasion to thank Brendan once again for his generosity toward old mates who have made the trek to Oz. The legendary wit and huge smile were on display throughout the evening as Brendan was showered with gifts, including a 50th anniversary jersey.
In one of the few serious moments of the evening Brendan Morris became, through emergency declaration, the latest inductee in the SFRFC Hall of Fame.
The following day Mr. Morris returned to business in LA before flying on to London for additional meetings the following week. We wish to thank him for his undying loyalty, both to Santa Fe Rugby and the Game They Play in Heaven. Hopefully he’ll get some well-deserved time off after returning home to Sydney. Hasta la vista, mate!
P.S.
A member of Santa Fe’s fourth estate turned up to interview Brendan prior to dinner and the result is the lead story in the Friday, June 23 sports section of the Santa Fe New Mexican. Pick up a copy.
SANZAAR announces new Leadership team - Super Rugby Pacific | Super Rugby Championship news, results and fixtures from Super XV rugby
2023 Santa Fe Los Santos Golf Tournament
June 14, 2023
August 12, 2023 at the Cochiti Golf Course.
Entry fee $125 per person, includes practice balls.
Other details (see 2023 Santos Golf Flyer.PDF)
Register and pay entry fees with Google Form, click here or email santaferugby@gmail.com.
Be a hole sponsor, support Los Santos Rugby in our annual Celebration!
• Details (see 2023 Santos Golf Flyer SPONSOR.pdf)
• To sponsor, Email santaferugby@gmail.com
For entry or sponsorship payment (if you do not use the Google form) use these links or send an email santaferugby@gmail.com for other options
Venmo payment: @santos-rugby
Paypal payment: santaferugby@gmail.com
AGM and Election Results
Santa Fe, NM
May 21, 2023 - DW
The Club’s AGM - annual general meeting – and board of director elections took take place on Saturday, May 20 at the MRC.
Core Board Positions
President: Eric Schmierer (succeeds Seth Johnson)
Vice President: Tadeo Herrera (succeeds Wm Travis Hudson)
Treasurer: Danny Torrez (succeeds Eric Schmierer)
Additional Positions
Secretary: Wm Travis Hudson (succeeds Adam Jobes)
Communications: Elijah Naranjo (no immediate predecessor)
Match Secretary: Jeremy Lithgow (succeeds Dan Allinder)
Past Player Representative: No election conducted (latest occupant D Wheelock)
Congratulations to all Incoming board members and hearty thanks (and a beer?) to all Outgoing office holders!
AGM and Election May 20
Santa Fe, NM
May 8, 2023 - DW
The Club’s AGM - annual general meeting – and board of director elections will take place on Saturday, May 20 at the MRC. Some manner of weenie roast &/or touch match may be scheduled if enough participation looks likely.
Discussion with the board @ 11:00 am
Your voice is needed in order to carry our reputation for competitiveness and rugby ethics into the next year.
Board Elections @ 1:00 pm
THINK ABOUT running for a board position. Although board members often combine efforts, the current titles are: Pres, VP, Treasurer, Secretary, Match Secretary, and Past Player Rep. Contact the website or Contact@SantaFeLosSantos.com to express your interest, or come loaded on May 20.
2023 Celtic 7’s
Albuquerque, NM
May 6, 2023 - DW
As in the last many years, the self-named New Mexico Brujos hosted the Celtic 7s tournament at Albuquerque’s Balloon Fiesta Park on Saturday, May 6. In a field of teams vastly reduced from the good old pre-Covid daze, Los Santos, with a little help from new friends and old, posted one win against two losses to slide into fourth place. Other clubs participating were Aardvarks, who beat El Paso in the final, Texas Tech, University of New Mexico, and hosts Brujos. In the battle of the collegiates, UNM scored last to outpoint Texas Tech 22-17.
On the women’s side the Atomic Sisters, fresh off their capture of the Southwest RFU championship last week in Scottsdale, eased to victory over University of New Mexico and New Mexico State U. In the collegiate matchup, the UNM ladies beat NMSU 38-17. (More on the Atomic Sisters below.)
For the Santos, sore and distracted by life after the long road to Scottsdale for two 40-minute matches in scorching Scottsdale, AZ the weekend before, the tournament presented a clear challenge, and a choice. After consulting with coach Morris and the captains, the club’s board of directors announced the rescheduling of the annual general meeting and board elections to May 20 so that the Santos could support the Brujos’ effort.
In the absence of veteran captain Ryan Weir, Santa Fe’s effort was led by co-captain Mateo Cardiel. Supremely capable and terminally optimistic, Mateo cheerfully led a small contingent of Santos forward, no doubt buoyed by the faith that the club’s storied resiliency (and good karma) would see the team through. As evidenced by the day’s photo collection, Mateo’s faith was rewarded as a good number of whores (including, perhaps significantly, three or four players from Texas Tech University) joined in to get us home. With an eye toward the future, we secured a contact for TTech’s “recruiting officer”, and continue to monitor the progress of that huge and agile young redhead from UNM. The TT contingent received SFRFC bumper stickers, and a handle on the Big Lobo is hereby requested.
The official Celtic 7s whiteboard recorded Santa Fe’s record thus: an opening 29-12 loss to Aardvarks; a 24-12 win over Texas Tech; second place vs. El Paso Scorpions 24-5; and a third place loss to the hosts by an unrecorded score.
With acknowledgment of those who traveled to Arizona last week- and those still a bit lame for the experience - the Santos worthies who represented SFRFC Saturday were:
Mateo Cardiel
John Bent
Jason Osborn
Jason España
Rainer Ball
Justin Stallworth
Dylan Merrigan
Ben Schlappi, traveling from Ouray, CO
Coaches Richard Morris and Eric Schmierer
(Reporter’s apologies for omissions.)
Thank you, men. You are what makes Santa Fe RFC what we are.
Santos Lose Southwest Union Championship Match
Scottsdale, AZ - April 29th, 2023
April 29, 2023 - DW
Los Santos of the Santa Fe Rugby Club lost the championship match of the Southwest Rugby Union championships in Scottsdale, Arizona on Saturday night, bowing to the Tucson Magpies 63 points to 19.
After an energetic 57-36 victory over the Scottsdale Blues on Friday evening, the Santos attack sputtered against Tucson’s smothering defense. The Magpies built a 32-17 halftime lead and slammed the door on a brief Santa Fe comeback in the second stanza to win the right to represent the Southwest Rugby Union in USA Rugby’s Division Three Final Four in Las Vegas, Nevada May 13-14.
With the completion of their most successful season since the COVID outbreak, Los Santos will play an independent summer schedule and conduct touch rugby sessions at the Municipal Recreation Complex throughout the summer.
Santa Fe Santos Advance to Southwest Rugby Union Finals
Scottsdale, AZ - April 28th, 2023
April 28, 2023 - DW
The Santa Fe Rugby Club Santos claimed a 57–36 victory over hosts Scottsdale Blues Friday evening in the semifinal round of the Southwest Rugby Union championships in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Santos scored three five-point tries in the first half and added six more in the final 40 minutes. Jason Espana, Elijah Naranjo, Jaime Terrazas, and Milaan Van Wyk all scored two tries for Los Santos, while Isaiah Sanchez added one. Van Wyk added six two-point conversion kicks along the way.
Los Santos will take on the Tucson Magpies, winners over Old Pueblo Lions in their semifinal match, on Saturday April 29 to decide who will advance to the USA Rugby regional championships in Las Vegas, Nevada, the weekend of May 6and 7.
Santa Fe Santos Advance to Southwest Rugby Union Playoffs
April 16th, 2023
April 16, 2023 - DW
Saturday’s third consecutive win in Rio Grande Union competition assured the Santa Fe Rugby Club a berth in the Southwest Rugby Union playoffs in Phoenix, AZ April 29-30. The Santos traveled to El Paso, TX for their second lopsided win over the Scorpions in as many weeks, 62 to 27. On April 8 in Santa Fe it was Santos 50, Scorpions 20, and prior to that the Santos downed arch arch-rival Albuquerque Aardvarks 60-36 on April 1.
Los Santos rebounded from the COVID pandemic to kick off their 51st year with the addition of several talented graduates of New Mexico colleges, transfers from other men’s clubs, and local athletes new to the game of rugby. Coach Richard Morris and his men will prepare for the Southwest playoffs the next two Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Municipal Recreation rugby field at 6:00 pm.
Santa Fe Rugby Continues Winning Ways
April 8th, 2023
April 08, 2023 - DW
Santa Fe Rugby Club’s Santos built upon last week’s 60-36 shellacking of Rio Grande Rugby league-leaders Albuquerque Aardvarks with a 50-20 defeat of the El Paso Scorpions Saturday at Santa Fe’s Municipal Recreation Complex. A win in a return match in El Paso April 15 would ensure Santa Fe a berth in the Southwest Rugby Union playoffs, featuring the top teams in Arizona and New Mexico.
Santa Fe got off to a hot start, scoring 31 unanswered points in the first 40-minute half. Five-point ties were touched down by Elijah Naranjo, a small college All-American from New Mexico Tech; Jared Skillman, Ryan Means, Leon Wilson, plus a second by Naranjo. Leon Wilson, a South Africa native, added three two-point conversion kicks.
The Scorpions lived up to their reputation for mental toughness by scoring the first three tries of the second half. But the Scorps couldn’t buy a conversion kick, and successive tries by Milaan Van Wyk, also an NMT All-American, gave the home side a comfortable 45-15 lead following Wilson’s successful conversions.
Perennial standout Cory Micander scored a well-deserved try to close Santa Fe’s scoring binge at 50, making a late try by the Scorpions a moot point.
