Temecula Mountain Lions Rugby Club provides goal posts at Vallecitos School

The Temecula Mountain Lions Rugby Club plays its home matches at Vallecitos School in Rainbow, and the collaboration between the rugby club and the Vallecitos School District has led to the installation of goal posts at the elementary school.

On Sept. 9, the Vallecitos School District board approved the donation of the goal posts from the rugby club. The goal post installation was completed Sept. 30.

“They look great and our field looks a lot more professional,” said David Jones, who is both the Vallecitos School District superintendent and the principal of Vallecitos School.

The objective of the four-year-old Temecula Mountain Lions Rugby Club is to build rugby in Temecula. The senior club of players ages 21 to 35 (there is no maximum age limit, but players over 35 are eligible for an “Old Boys Game”) plays its home matches on Saturdays at Vallecitos School. Approximately 150 youth players ages 6 to 18 are also in the program, and the youth league games are also at Vallecitos School. The “Old Boys” team is not in a league but occasionally schedules matches against other “Old Boys” teams, some of which are at Vallecitos School, and the over-35 squad also plays in tournaments.

Rainbow resident Rua Petty is on the board of the Temecula Mountain Lions Rugby Club. “He’s helped to improve the playing field,” Jones said.

Petty has represented the rugby club in its activities with the school district. The rugby club pays the school district each time it uses the field. Additionally, fundraising activities have been split evenly between the rugby club and the school district, which earmarks that money for physical education equipment.

“It’s just a good relationship,” Petty said.

The goal posts meet National Collegiate Athletic Association standards and are close to actual rugby goal post dimensions. A rugby field is 100 yards between try lines and the Vallecitos School goal posts are at the try lines. Gridiron football goal posts are at the back of the end zone, although prior to the 1974 season National Football League goal posts were at the goal line. An eight-man football field measures 80 yards between the goal lines, so the 100 yards between the two Vallecitos School goal posts would enable formal eight-man football to be played at the school.

Petty approached Jones and offered to have the goal posts donated and installed. The cost for both the goal posts themselves and the installation was approximately $4,800.

“It’s been a fun donation to receive,” Jones said.