Recent Los Alamitos High School graduate Sariah Ibarra will be joining the U.S. national rugby team this summer.
Ibarra’s love for rugby began in her childhood, playing alongside her brother on an all-boys team with the Back Bay Youth Rugby Club in Costa Mesa. As she grew older, she transitioned to an all-girls team with the Belmont Shore club in Long Beach.
Last year, she had the opportunity to study and play rugby in New Zealand, training with some of the top players in the world. There, Ibarra said, is where she realized she wanted to pursue rugby professionally for her country.
“I want to do my country well and play my part in putting USA women’s rugby higher up on the map — making it known here within the United States,” Ibarra said. “I will be the start of the new generation that filters through this sport and I can be a key example to other young girls that USA rugby is growing and exciting things are yet to come.”
Ibarra said that during her time at Los Alamitos High School, the administration has been “nothing but supportive” of her rugby dreams.
“I had to visit the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista where the USA rugby headquarters is located a few times during the school week,” she said. “The school was very cooperative and flexible with my visits and the administrators in the office were super happy and excited for me.”
Becoming a professional athlete straight out of high school is certainly a different plan, she said, from most of her peers who taking the traditional academic path or signing to college sports teams.
“My path feels different, but it is a special difference that I am very proud of,” Ibarra said. “I am super grateful to be able to represent the school I came from that helped me gain and sharpen my leadership and everyday quality attributes.”
Ibarra’s contract with the United States National Team begins after the 2024 Paris Olympics. Although she won’t compete in these Summer Games, she aims to participate in 2028 in Los Angeles.
In the meantime, she will be part of the HSBC Sevens World Series, an annual tournament featuring national teams from around the globe. The series consists of eight stages, beginning in December in Dubai.
“I plan to work as hard as I can to help bring USA to the top and I’m looking forward to representing God, my loved ones and all things that have helped me get to this new reality of mine,” Ibarra said. “I’m looking forward to giving my all to the red, white and blue.”