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At the beginning of July, a collegiate men’s select side from the LoneStar Rugby Conference toured the Cayman Islands for a week of training, games, and valuable experience for the players involved. A project that had been years in the making, the team, nicknamed the Rattlesnakes, hit the road on July 5th for the Cayman Islands with a roster of 26 players.
After a couple days to get acclimated to their new surrounding and get in a couple of training sessions, the Rattlesnakes took on a Cayman Islands U23 Select side in their opening match of the tour.
The Rattlesnakes took an early lead, but the home side bounced back quickly. The Rattlesnakes suffered the first of two major injury blows late in the first half as Michael Beiter (St. Edwards University) separated his shoulder scoring a try. The two sides went into the half deadlocked at 17-17.
The second half was more of the same as the two sides went back and forth matching each other’s moves when the Rattlesnakes were hit hard with another injury as Phil Maruta (Midwestern State University) broke his leg. The tide turned in the Cayman Islands favor as they began to pull away. A late score by the Rattlesnakes got the squad within a converted try, but time wasn’t on their side as the Cayman Islands U23 Selects won by a score of 36-29.
Dundy Walker (Angelo State University) was named Man of the Match for the Rattlesnakes.
After a free day of relaxation, for the players to recuperate, the squad was back into training working on making adjustments from their close loss.
The Rattlesnakes took the pitch on a humid afternoon for their second, and final match of the tour, against a Cayman Islands Select Side. Just as with the first match, the Rattlesnakes got on the scoreboard first, but were faced with another seesaw battle with a Cayman side resolute on sending them back to Texas with another loss.
Unlike the first match, the Rattlesnakes were the ones to hold on at the death as they pulled through with a 32-28 win. Rattlesnake’s Team Captain Ryan Rackley (UT-San Antonio) was named Man of the Match.
Troy Knudsen (Angelo State University) led the Rattlesnakes with 21 points during the tour. Dundy Walker led the team with two tries scored. Ryan Rackley, Ryan Knight (St. Edwards University), Tadeo Masjoan (Angelo State University), Frank Diaz (St. Edwards University), and Mike Beiter each scored one try apiece for the Rattlesnakes.
“Looking back on the trip, it proved to be a huge success and accomplished most of the results we were looking for. The main one being bringing together a group of talented ruggers and providing them with the highest level of coaching the LoneStar Conference has to offer,” said Rattlesnakes Coach Shayne Robertson who also coaches at UT-San Antonio.
The squad came away from the Cayman Islands with valuable experience and memories that can’t be replaced.
“Letting them play a higher caliber and style of rugby that can only be found internationally. The skills and lessons they learned deemed to be way more valuable and hopes that they will continue to learn and take the lessons and intensity of play back to their home clubs and lift the entire level of play in the LoneStar Conference,” Robertson added.
The tour to the Cayman Islands was such a success that organizers are looking at touring with the side again in 2017. Possible destinations include New Zealand or Zimbabwe.
LSC Rattlesnakes Roster
First Name Last Name Individuals Home Club
| Michael | Beiter | St. Edwards Univ |
| Enrique | Brown-Spence | Prairie View A&M |
| Quincey | Daniels | Lamar Univ |
| Frank | Diaz | St. Edwards Univ |
| Daniel | Eljuri | Univ. of Texas @ Dallas |
| Dylan | Forbes | Univ. of Texas @ San Antonio |
| Deon | Ford | Univ. of Texas @ San Antonio |
| David | Frairer | St. Edwards Univ |
| Preston | Granzin | Angelo State Univ |
| Tim | Jarvi | LeTourneau Univ |
| Ryan | Knight | St. Edwards Univ |
| Troy | Knudsen | Angelo State Univ |
| James | Maillet | Southern Methodist Univ |
| Phil | Maruta | Midwestern State Univ |
| Tadeo | Masjoan | Angelo State Univ |
| Moustapha | Massoud | Lamar Univ |
| Michael | Morgan | Univ. of Texas @ San Antonio |
| Osuchukwu | Precious | Univ. of Texas @ Dallas |
| Matthew | Provost | Prairie View A&M |
| Chris | Pugh | Univ. of Texas @ San Antonio |
| Ryan | Rackley | Univ. of Texas @ San ntonio |
| Kenneth | Roller | Angelo State Univ |
| Jonathan | Sanders | LeTourneau Univ |
| Travis | Smith | Univ. of Texas @ San Antonio |
| Brandon | Udeme | Prairie View A&M |
| Dundy | Walker | Angelo State Univ |
| Beau | Waskom | Angelo State Univ |
| Josh | Womack | St. Edwards Univ |
