Former Bow Valley Grizzlies wing and fullback Art Reyes has signed a contract with Major League Rugby’s (MLR) Houston Sabrecats Rugby Club.
Reyes, who played with the Grizzlies in 2012 before moving to Seattle the following year to play for the Seattle Saracens of the Okanagan Div. 1 British Columbia League, is originally from San Antonio, Texas.
Reyes first started playing rugby when he attended Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, in 2010.
He was originally there to play football, but ended up competing in rugby as a wing and fullback.
The San Antonio native has also suited up for the Serevi Selects, the Alamo City Rugby Club, which led him to represent the army on the All Army Rugy team prior to signing with the Sabrecats.
He is currently stationed at Fort Hood in Texas.
Reyes couldn’t contain his excitement about signing his first pro contract with the Sabrecats.
“I really wish I could tell you how excited I am,” Reyes said. “It’s something I’ve dreamed about for the last seven years.”
He also said his time in Canada playing for the Grizzlies during their inaugural season six years ago, was a wonderful experience.
“Honestly, it opened my eyes to rugby. When I first picked up the sport at Lamar University, we had a team full of football players trying to play football in a rugby match,” Reyes said.
“It wasn’t until my brother and I travelled to play with the Grizzlies did I really learn rugby and fall in love with the culture.”
Grizzlies head coach Ty Hawes said graduating players from the Grizzlies’ program is a testament to how far the team has come over the last six years, and he couldn’t be more proud of one of his former players.
“I’m really stoked to see both Art (Reyes) and Willie (Perry-Jackson) signing pro contracts with the Houston Sabrecats Rugby team. Super proud to see where these boys have taken the game,” he said.
Rugby is played around the globe and there’s so many opportunities out there for guys if they’re willing to put the work in and venture outside of their box,” Hawes said.
“We have had a lot of talent come through this club and I’m sure they’ll be the first of many to get compensated for playing a sport they love and use it to travel around the world.”
Reyes will join his brother Perry-Jackson on the Houston club, which is an opportunity that Reyes is looking forward to … both played together for Bow Valley.
“That was the dream. We literally grinded for the last seven years side by side working to get an opportunity like this,” Reyes said.
“It wouldn’t have been the same if only one of us made it.”
