By Todd Bailey The New Mexican
April 26, 2006

If Anil Kamat had it his way, he would be on the field, not coaching from the stands.

But he has this problem. Actually, his right wrist has a problem — it’s broken.

Kamat, 27, broke his wrist playing the game he loves and has played since his college days at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces.

Like many other rugby players in the United States, he was taught the sport in college. On this day, he is watching his team, the Santa Fe Rugby Football Club, play another team, The University of New Mexico, at the Municipal Recreation Complex on Caja del Rio Road in Santa Fe.

The SFRFC goes by another name, the Santos. Most Santa Fe residents don’t know it, but Santos has been playing rugby in the City Different since 1972 and faces teams from all over the state. The team participates in an eight-team league that mainly includes college teams from UNM, New Mexico Tech, NMSU and New Mexico Highlands .

“I love rugby,” said Kamat, president of the Santos. “It’s a great team sport. Everyone is involved, and it’s a ton of fun.”

But Kamat acknowledges the sport isn’t for everyone.

“A person will usually know if he or she does or does not like it after one game,” Kamat said. “But the ones who do stay end up being committed to the sport.”

Currently the Santos comprise close to 25 members, all of whom are from either Santa Fe, Albuquerque or Los Alamos. But Kamat says he and his teammates are always looking for players.

So is Chic Kelty, a coach and recruiter of rugby, who has been associated with the New Mexico Youth Athletic Association for the last five years. Kelty is one of a handful of individuals who go to the city’s elementary and middle schools to teach the basics of rugby.

The tactic has worked. Santa Fe has three youth divisions with a total of 16 teams and there is also an adult women’s team.

“We have close to 175 kids that play rugby on a weekly basis,” Kelty said. “Our younger division teams play with less contact, but as they get older you learn to play full contact.”

“Those youth programs are the future of our sport,” Kamat said. “It’s cool to come out here on the weekends and watch these youngster get out there and play. But it’s even better to see these kids begin to appreciate rugby as well.”

Santos participates in two seasons. The fall season kicks off on Labor Day weekend with “The 10’s” rugby tournament and usually ends by November. In March, another “less competitive” season starts up.

The reason it is less competitive is that a league champion is decided in the fall and the champion team travels to the Western Divisional Tournament and possibly to nationals. The last time the Santos reached the rugby postseason was in 1997.

“This sport is much more exciting than football or soccer,” Kamat said. “There is full contact with lots of action. Unlike football, everyone, including the big boys, can carry the ball. Everyone can tackle and score. It’s a thinking man’s game.”

It’s the kind of game that gets into a player’s blood. It’s the kind of game where even the injured can participate.

From the stands, of course.

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