DNVR Rugby Podcast: American College Rugby Chairman Rich Cortez

Colton begins the show with “The Breakdown” presented by First Bank by talking about the Raptors’ loss to Yacare XV in Round 11, a change in times for one of the final matches, and All of the Rugby You Can Watch this weekend presented by Wintergreen (0:00-7:13). After “The Breakdown”, Colton talks with American College Rugby chairman Rich Cortez about his interesting career, American College Rugby, and the responsibilities of a Match Day Commissioner for Super Rugby Americas (7:15-41:05). Following the interview presented by O’Neills, Colton assigns some exciting “Required Reading” presented by Maria Empanda, and closes the show with “The Loop” presented by Physio Pro (41:07-46:27).

Rich Cortez has been a rugby player, coach, referee, administrator, and chairman. After ditching the golf team to play rugby as a student at Stanford, Cortez was hooked and has been involved in the game in some capacity ever since. After serving as the Associate Athletic Director at Northwestern, Cortez served as the head coach of the University of Wyoming for 17 years. Cortez also served as USA Rugby’s Collegiate Director. Cortez is now a chairman of the Rocky Mountain Rugby Football Union and American College Rugby, and he also served as Super Rugby Americas’ Match Day Commissioner for all American Raptors’ home matches throughout the 2023 season.

Please send in any questions you have about the American Raptors, rugby in Colorado, Major League Rugby, or American rugby as a whole to @DNVR_Rugby and @coltonstrickler on Twitter or leave a comment below.

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