Matt Thannisch (photo below), Class of '01, moves to New York City to work for an investment bank, not knowing a soul beyond a few work acquaintances. Within 24 hours, he is instantly accepted as an integral part of a group of men of diverse backgrounds and professions- firemen, lawyers, policemen, doctors and tradesmen.

     Joe Lochridge (photo below), Class of '03, lands in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), Vietnam, equally rootless. Within a week, he is an accepted member of the local ex-pat community, has a place to live and a job with an international real estate company.

     Who or what do Matt and Joe have to thank for this immediate integration into foreign and strange communities? Good looks? Hardly. Good manners? Even less likely. The unlikely common denominator here is the sport of rugby, which both men began to play while at Westlake High and which both credit for opening doors in their professional and social lives ever since.

     Thannisch, starting tackle for the WLH 2000 State Finalists, and Lochridge both began playing rugby with the Austin Area High School Rugby team while at Westlake. They, along with other Chap stalwarts, led AAHS to multiple state and regional championships, culminating in two trips to the National Championships, where they represented the State of Texas in exemplary fashion. Thannisch went on to star at Texas, where he earned accolades as forward of the year in 2004-05. Lochridge, along with classmate Adam Gregory, helped turn around the University of Denver rugby program, and both served as captains and were selected to the All Western rugby team.

     But the sport and camaraderie of rugby extended, and continues to extend , well beyond their college years. After graduating from UT, Thannisch went to seek his fortune in NYC. While moving into his apartment in Bayonne, New Jersey, a passerby noticed Matt's rugby shirt and inquired if he played rugby. Matt answered "yes" , was invited to practice with the Bayonne Bombers the next day, and became a fixture on that team throughout his tenure in NYC. The story repeated itself when Thannisch's career took him to Chicago and now Phoenix, where he is currently playing for the Scottsdale Blues. In Matt's words, " Both personally and professionally, rugby has been a safe harbor and an open door. In three big cities, a rugby team has welcomed me with open arms, been an instant source of friends and  business contacts, and plugged me immediately into the community. Rugby creates a bond unmatched by any other sport I have played. I have friends from six continents that  have created business and social opportunities I never would have had otherwise."

     As for Thannisch's former teammate Lochridge, Joe's wanderings landed  him alone in Vietnam. Within days, he located the local rugby team, the Saigon Geckos, a team populated with Kiwis, Aussies , South Africans, and Scots who had come to Vietnam for myriad reasons. Soon Joe had a place to live, a job with CBRichard Ellis managing a downtown office building, and a bright future, all through his new friends on the Geckos.

     How did Matt and Joe find rugby? Rugby actually found them. In Matt's case, a chance encounter with rugby afficionado Charles Vermont at a religious retreat in the South America convinced him to play . To this day, Matt marvels at how that brief conversation could lead to so much. As for Joe, his brother, father, and grandfather played the game.  'Nuff said.

     Both players also thank their old coach, Vietnam veteran Al Niece. Coach Niece started the AAHS 11 years ago,. He is now coaching the newly formed Westlake High Rugby team. Nothing delights him more than to hear of the rugby exploits of his former players. Coach Niece has actually traveled to New Zealand, Vietnam and Scotland to see his charges play. Coach Niece and the Westlake team are actively recruiting new players for the Westlake team so that they can replicate the success of AAHS and add to the considerable winning tradition at Westlake. New players should contact Jim Robison, 327-9489, Clint Sayers, 328-3866, Jamie McNally, 329-6720, Al Niece,422-1476 or visit the website www.WestlakeRugby.com. No experience necessary. Let rugby  open doors for you. Plus, its a blast!!