ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A local rugby team is preparing to take the field overseas, with a focus that goes beyond competition.
The Albuquerque Aardvarks will travel to Ireland in August as part of an international tour centered on mixed-ability rugby, cultural exchange, and expanding opportunities in the sport for athletes of all backgrounds and abilities.
The trip begins August 8 with an exhibition match against Terenure College Rugby Football Club in Dublin. The following day, the team will visit the MU Barnhall Buffaloes in County Kildare — a mixed-ability rugby program that includes players with special needs.
In addition to the two-hand touch match, the visit will include a cultural exchange, a social event at the clubhouse, and demonstrations of traditional Irish sports such as hurling and Gaelic football. Organizers say current and former Irish rugby players are expected to attend.
The tour is supported by the Irish American Society of New Mexico and the Consulate General of Ireland in Los Angeles. Leaders say the experience is designed to strengthen both cultural ties and opportunities within the sport.
“We are delighted to hear that the Albuquerque Aardvarks will be traveling to Ireland,” said Consul General Caitlín Higgins Ní Chinnéide. “This is an opportunity to further grow cultural and sporting connections between Ireland and New Mexico.”
Organizers say the insights gained during the trip could help expand inclusive rugby programs in New Mexico, while also building lasting relationships between the two communities.
