About Us
Mission Statement
Albuquerque Youth Rugby United (AYRU) is an all-volunteer registered non-profit whose sole purpose is to provide an all-inclusive rugby league with a safe, structured playing environment for the youth of Albuquerque and surrounding environs.
Core Values:
Albuquerque Youth Rugby United operates under the following cores values: Respect, Unity, Discipline, Integrity, Enjoyment, and Teamwork and Sportsmanship
Respect: AYRU emphasizes positive behavior and respect among players, coaches, officials and parents
Unity: AYRU players, coaches, administrators, and referees understand that rugby is a sport for everyone. AYRU is all-inclusive and operates under a zero-tolerance discrimination policy.
Discipline: A quality that is a key to success in any area of life. Discipline in rugby teaches players the importance of maintaining a consistent and obedient approach toward achieving ones' goals.
Integrity: AYRU players, coaches, and referees will never cheat or tolerate unfair play or conduct of any kind.
Enjoyment: Fun is the reason kids play sports. Our goal is that every child who participates in our program will have enjoyable experiences
Teamwork and Sportsmanship: Rugby is a game all about teamwork and support. All the individual skill in the world won't take you anywhere without your mates. We win or lose as a team and as an organization.
Philosophy:
Our philosophy is to teach leadership, community, and responsibility through the sport of rugby. in doing this we provide a pathway for competitive student athletes to represent their communities into community, state, regional, and national competitions. As part of that goal we strive to provide opportunities for athletes to travel and compete.
Club Contacts
Organization
New Mexico Youth Rugby
New Mexico Youth Rugby is a non-profit organization that promotes rugby to New Mexican youth. We partner with USA Rugby as a state based rugby organization, working to promote a healthier active life style for New Mexico's youth. Governing body for Youth & High School Rugby in New Mexico.
Albuquerque Youth Rugby United Board
Get to Know Us
ET Wilbur
Board President
Growing up in Eastern Arizona, E.T. Wilbur III played about every sport in the world, but had never heard of rugby until 1984 while a student at Brigham Young University. After years of never touching the ball on the line in American football, he found his true calling in life when he was told to just run everyone over when he had the ball. Decades later, E.T. finds himself in a full on love affair with the game played in heaven.  Having been fortunate to learn the game at one of the winningest programs in American colleges, E.T. burns with the need to spread the gospel of rugby. After college, he played for several teams in the Washington DC area, and seemed to find himself playing everywhere from Alberta, Canada to Maracaibo, Venezuela as he traveled. Since moving to Albuquerque, NM, he has played for the Kirtland Coyotes, the Albuquerque Aardvarks, and the New Mexico Brujos, but these days can often be found wearing the kit of whatever team needs an extra player, when not wearing his trademark Hawaiian shirt.
Through the brotherhood of rugby, he has met and become family with some of the greatest people on the planet.  As former president of several clubs and New Mexico Youth Rugby, and current president of Albuquerque Youth Rugby United, his goal is simple – to help young men and young women become good adults, through rugby. As a young wrestler, his coach helped and inspired him to constantly improve, and to be a good person. His goal today is to pay that act of service forward.
Gabriella Rivera
Board Member At Large
Gabby started playing rugby as a freshman at UNM, and since then has become passionate about helping the sport grow in New Mexico. She serves as a board member on Albuquerque Youth Rugby United and as Vice President of New Mexico Youth Rugby, coaches youth rugby clinics in ABQ, referees for the Southwest Rugby Referee Society, and plays for the Albuquerque Atomic Sisters. Outside of rugby, she has a Master’s in Public Policy and works as a health policy coordinator for a local nonprofit, and enjoys competing in CrossFit and spending time with family and friends.
Johan Botha
Board Member at Large
I come from the rugby crazy and sunny South Africa. I've actively played rugby since the age of 5 until 32. Since then I've been involved in refereeing and coaching, especially on high school and youth level. As player I played on different levels, but could never realize my boyhood dream of one day playing for the Springboks. I was fortunate enough, though, to be coached by some extraordinary coaches throughout my playing career (school, college and senior club level), who not only inspired me to give back to rugby the day I stopped playing, but also taught me valuable life lessons. When I relocated to the USA in Nov 2012, I thought my involvement in rugby would come to an abrupt halt and be restricted to only watching the game on television. I was however very surprised when I got to know that rugby is actually alive here in Albuquerque and immediately got involved!
For me Rugby is not only about playing the game, it is about learning, respect (for yourself, and opponents), character building, brotherhood, pushing yourself beyond your boundaries, picking team mates up when the odds are down, inspiring others, being critical about yourself and your abilities. I see losing is an opportunity for learning and growing. Winning is important, that's why we compete and everyone wants to be a winner; be the best, however winning should be achieved through hard work, dedication, persistence and with good sportsmanship. I see winning as a goal accomplished; time to set new goal and objective.
My vision for Albuquerque Youth Rugby is to grow the sport of rugby and through that develop stand-out young athletes and teaching them valuable life lessons, which they can apply throughout life. I wish to make every young player's rugby journey as memorable and life changing as possible.