Rugby (M) 3/15/2023 10:45:00 AM Mario Russo

Ian Custadillo: Laying the foundation for rugby at TMU

A quick glance at a lanyard in his first weeks on campus was all Ian Custadillo needed to put a life changing experience into gear at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). His orientation week finding quickly turned into an endless conversation with Hamilton native Rajiv Bahadur as the two fused together an immediate connection around their favourite sport.

Little did Custadillo know that his preliminary interaction on campus would kickstart the biggest achievement of his young-adult life. His shared passion for rugby ignited what now stands as a lifelong relationship for Custadillo, and above all else, inked the early pages of rugby's history at TMU.

Fueled by the desire to play the sport at the university level, Custadillo and his partner in crime marched their way to the Mattamy Athletic Centre with the sole objective of birthing the school's first ever rugby squad in mind.

"We literally knocked on the athletic director's office and asked to start a rugby team," said Custadillo. The then-first year's wish would be granted shortly after his impromptu meeting with the athletics department and in only a year's time, saw a full squad of rugby players take the field.

Despite its trajectory, Custadillo's passion-project was not granted success right away and required numerous blind commitments from coaches and players alike.

Bringing in his former head coach Robert Brohman was the first domino to fall in Custadillo's plan and rested upon his high school leader taking up the vacant position for free. Brohman happily obliged and rapidly set the wheels in motion for a chance at turning this fantasy into a reality.

"He became a big part in building the foundation," said Custadillo, adding that attracting players remained just as difficult of a task for the startup club. "For every ten 'no's' you get, you'll eventually get one 'yes'. That one yes will make a club."

Those 'yes's' would come in a combination of languages during the team's first recruitment stint in 2019. Players from Dubai, Paris, Whales and even Zimbabwe latched onto the squad and were welcomed by Custadillo with open arms. This cultural feature soon became the selling point for the squad and attracted more and more players to take the chance and tag along.

"The diversity is the beautiful part about this team," said Custadillo. "We want anyone no matter their race, size or skill level to come out to the club."

Understanding the culture within the team quickly became the driving force behind the program's first ever squad. This reliable and unique backbone set the group up for success both on and off the field, with Custadillo prioritizing his focus on developing the latter.

Whether it came in the form of enjoying a post-game meal or simply appreciating each other's company on the field, Custadillo steadily worked at creating a family dynamic throughout his roster.

"The social side is just as important as practicing and playing," said Custadillo, adding that the group activities away from the sport played a crucial role in fully developing the team.

"As much as you remember the game part, those moments when you're out with your teammates is the part that you really remember."

Despite having his memory crowded with lively experiences away from the field, one special recollection stands alone in the mind of Custadillo that not only changed his outlook on the sport, but the team's as well.

Playing in their first ever game at the university level, the then-Ryerson Rams matched up against the heavily favoured and experienced Queen's Gaels. Posed as underdogs from the start, the group opened the scoring in the match and closed out their road contest with an historic win over the Kingston side.

Scoring your first career points at the university level would be something worth celebrating in and of itself, but for the sophomore co-founder, the early success stood as a testament to all the work he and his founding members invested into the squad.

"For me that was a crazy feeling. Everything we worked for came to fruition…after you feel that initial success, you feel a little more confident with the obstacles that come after," said Custadillo.

The on-field success gave Custadillo's side purpose, ripping down the barrier between what was then a dream and thrust the program into an ongoing sense of reality. Four years and a worldwide pandemic later, the team's goals still align with what put this dream in the driver's seat from the very start, with determination and diversity consuming each and every member.

This past season saw both sides of the coin cash in on the program's potential and redefine the limits of this group in the process. An undefeated 5-0 campaign saw the team hurdle an unprecedented amount of obstacles, including an historic first ever win over their city rivals (UofT) and discussion of formal entry to OUA league play.

However, the biggest challenge for this squad will come during the upcoming fall as they look to compete without their co-founder Custadillo behind the wheel. Despite leaving the team to pursue his post-graduate career, Custadillo could not be more confident with the shape the group now finds itself in.

"I'm excited to see how the program develops. I think it's in really good hands," said Custadillo. The Business Management major will become the final graduate from the inaugural squad, setting up a bittersweet emotion while the team embarks on its new era.

"It's cool to see competition progress and new kids playing the game," he added.

No matter how far life may take Custadillo away from the sport, his ability to expedite the game will forever be remembered at TMU. Every try, blitz and forward pass from those in blue and gold will have Custadillo's name written all over it.

Yet regardless of the results or the players that suit up to earn them, one historic element will eternally reign supreme; the flash of a lanyard and its ability to accentuate the lives of so many.

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Players Mentioned

Ian Custadillo: 5' 7"; 2

Rajiv Bahadur: 5' 6"; 2

Players Mentioned

Ian Custadillo
: 5' 7"; 2

Rajiv Bahadur
: 5' 6"; 2