Rugby League in the USA and Canada are growing and have history with the code. But it is Latin America that the code of league is also spreading to and gaining traction, slowly but it is getting there. Guillermo Ruiz Buenrostro is heading up the effort in getting the game to the masses and growing the game as much as possible, even if the odds are stacked he continues on. (Spanish translation coming soon)
LLR- What position do you hold with Rugby League Jalisco?
GRB-I'm the Development Officer, currently in charge of managing the new teams and provide them with both sports development planning and contact with other teams.
LLR- When was Rugby League Jalisco founded?
GRB- Officially, we were founded in 2014, after a series of problems with the rugby union teams and federation. Our teams were always the outliers, not just because we played rugby league in a world of rugby union, but because our teams were working-class from the beginning, with zero budget.
LLR- What does rugby league offer in Mexico that other sports don't, why should people play rugby?
GRB- We believe that rugby in general, and rugby league in particular, offer a true team sport. While it is true that soccer, baseball and basketball have larger fan bases, we believe rugby league is a sport especially well suited to promote friendship; brotherhood, we like to say. Also, rugby league, being a simpler sport than rugby union, promotes a fast gameplay and allows for greater flexibility than rugby union. We also believe it is safer, thanks to the absence of a contested scrum and the lack of a mountain of players in a tackle. Our rules are adapted to the Mexican reality, therefore we can play in a number of different pitches and surfaces. We even have played games in basketball courts made of concrete. Being flexible and safer, it allows us to have mixed-gender and mixed-age teams.
LLR- How many players are there?
GRB- We have four teams in Jalisco, each team wit as little as six players and as much as twenty, but it varies because rugby league is still very amateur. Currrently we have 25 active rugby league players registered with us.
LLR- In the last 5 years how much has rugby league grown in Jalisco and Mexico as a whole?
GRB- Very little, because the circumstances push against us. We have no sponsorships, because we have no time to look for them. We're working-class players and choosing between working and playing we have to chose work. However, when we started we were just a couple rogue teams, one in Mexico city, one in Guadalajara. There is obvious growth but also a huge potential to grow.
LLR- We recently saw Chile join this year the Americas world cup qualifier tournament, is there a goal in the foreseeable future to have Mexico participate also?
GRB- Yeah, about that, it was a shame what happened. We tried desperately to obtain funds to travel to Chile. We had a national team assembled, but we lacked funds to send them to Chile. We only got funds to pay for five plane tickets, obviously not enough tor the whole team. Money and distance played against us. So we want to secure funds in advance for the next edition of the tournament but different circumstances have precluded us from participating on international tournaments.
LLR- What is the relationship between rugby league and union like where you are?
GRB- Currently, one of mutual disdain. Rugby union players tend to have money and therefore look at us like if we're poor, which we are. And we look at them and we believe they're spoiled kids that don't want to play with us because our stuff is not enough for them. Back in 2013 a couple teams didn't want to play against one of our teams because the field was not as smooth as they wanted it to be. Another team didn't want to play against us because we retire from the player down after the tackle, as in rugby league, and they wanted to have mountains of players in each ruck.
LLR- Are there any important dates coming up that people should keep a eye on?
GRB- Yeah! The 16th of March we expect to have a friendship tournament in Mexico City, and if we secure funding, we'll have an Origins cup in November in Guadalajara.
LLR- Is there anything you want to share that wasn't asked that others should know?
GRB- Just that people can Join the Dark Side of Rugby. We have cookies. If you're interested in playing with friends we can train you for free when and where you want, and register to play on the next tournament.
LLR- Lastly how can people get in touch with you and also fallow rugby league in Mexico?
GRB- We have presence in Facebook and Twitter, and a webpage where you can register to play, get the rules and contact us. Schools that contact us can request a development and training class, free of charge, as well as free registration.
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