LEMOORE (KMJ) A south Valley man wants to bring about a resurgence in rugby.
The game already has a presence in Fresno and Merced, as well in other cities all over the state.
But Lonny Wedell, the Executive Administrator and Head Coach for Kings County Rugby, is trying to get it to take hold further south.
“It all pretty much started with my son,” explains Wedell. “He’s a 12 year old boy and after football he really didn’t have much to do…I took him down to Tulare for one of their clinics. He played probably 15 minutes of the game and fell in love with it.”
That sparked an idea to get those in Kings County involved in the game, something he describes as a combination of football and soccer.
“You have to watch it to understand it…I would say there’s one thing with rugby that’s unlike soccer or football is the comradery between the athletes.”
But to make it happen he’s asking for your help to support a team.
“Where I was playing, the City of Lemoore charges us $40 a night for lights. If I’m to run a team from the time it starts in November to the time it ends in March or April, that’s around $3000 worth for lights.”
He also intends to use the funds to purchase uniforms and equipment.
“Kids can’t play in the dark!”
The link to his GoFundMe can be found clicking here.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
