Luis Adriasola

Luis Adriasola was from Santiago Chile and was an exchange student at the Naval Academy. He played soccer at Navy but had also been a scrumhalf rugby player in Chile while in high school; Luis was truly the catalyst for starting the Navy Men’s Rugby team. During his 2/C year at Navy, Luis requested a meeting with Navy Athletic Director, Capt Bill Busick, seeking approval to start a rugby team. Luis was tasked with finding a competent coach and enough midshipmen to field a team. Fortunately, a foreign language professor, William Buffum, had rugby experience and agreed to coach. Initially, the program was a Battalion intra-mural sport but in the spring of 1963, Navy Rugby (players combined from the battalion teams) played in 3 out of school matches led by team Captain and player-coach Luis Adriasola. The team went 1-2 that initial season including a victory over the Washington Rugby Club 23-3, a loss to an undefeated Baltimore First Fifteen, and a loss in a close match to a visiting team from England’s Naval Academy during Commissioning Week. There is no doubt that Luis continued his passion for the game, playing and coaching upon his return to Chile. He passed away in 2013. (For more detailed information on Navy Rugby beginnings see the article in this website: “History” heading- “Navy Rugby History Anecdotes”)