WFR News
New Mexico Stunned at Rankings
2026-07-03 15:19:15
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Back in World Fantasy Rugby for the first time in way too long, the Diablos found that they were the talk of Albuquerque for a short time this week. Leading the parade of disbelief was none other than the Diablos' owner, Benson Hendrix.
"Who in the hell put these guys at the top of the ladder," Hendrix mumbled when reach for comment at Dickie's Shack in the Back Sports Bar, six beers in.
"I just told the boys that we should try not to suck this year," he continued. "Who knew they would try to take me seriously? The one time anyone around here listens do a damn thing I say..."
Going into week five of WFR XXX, the Diablos have combined an open, flowing rugby style with what the team considered home field advantage in Albuquerque to lead the Premiership in total tries with 24, and points scored with 163 at this point. Despite what logic and common-sense dictate, the team tries to attribute their success to science.
"We like to joke about Albuquerque being the 16th man," first five A.J. MacGinty said. "We're a mile up in the mountains, the air is thinner up here. So, when teams visit New Mexico, they have to get acclimated to the air, and when we have away games at lower elevations, we benefit from there being more oxygen in the air.
Even more surprising for the Diablos is that they've achieved their success without wing Damian "Glass Hips" Penaud. The $7.5 million dollar man was injured in the 8oth minute of the season opener when he tripped over a random water sprinkler head that wasn't on the pitch at the beginning of the match. The slack had been picked up so far by MacGinty, fullback Toby Fricker, and captain Manie Libbok, who has covered both first five and scrumhalf positions this year.
While the team may be putting their luck in playing a mile above sea level, the thin air hasn't done anything to help the Diablos with defense or learning the basics of tackling.
One of the other stats that the Diablos are near the top is "Points Against," with 120 points scored against the Diablos so far. The concept of tackling continues to plague the team as they prepare to face a dangerous Central Vikings team looking to play Giant-Slayers in week 5.
"That's why our games turn into shootouts, because we have to outscore the rest of WFR because we know we're not going to out defense them," Hendrix said, showing momentary signs of sobriety.
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"Who in the hell put these guys at the top of the ladder," Hendrix mumbled when reach for comment at Dickie's Shack in the Back Sports Bar, six beers in.
"I just told the boys that we should try not to suck this year," he continued. "Who knew they would try to take me seriously? The one time anyone around here listens do a damn thing I say..."
Going into week five of WFR XXX, the Diablos have combined an open, flowing rugby style with what the team considered home field advantage in Albuquerque to lead the Premiership in total tries with 24, and points scored with 163 at this point. Despite what logic and common-sense dictate, the team tries to attribute their success to science.
"We like to joke about Albuquerque being the 16th man," first five A.J. MacGinty said. "We're a mile up in the mountains, the air is thinner up here. So, when teams visit New Mexico, they have to get acclimated to the air, and when we have away games at lower elevations, we benefit from there being more oxygen in the air.
Even more surprising for the Diablos is that they've achieved their success without wing Damian "Glass Hips" Penaud. The $7.5 million dollar man was injured in the 8oth minute of the season opener when he tripped over a random water sprinkler head that wasn't on the pitch at the beginning of the match. The slack had been picked up so far by MacGinty, fullback Toby Fricker, and captain Manie Libbok, who has covered both first five and scrumhalf positions this year.
While the team may be putting their luck in playing a mile above sea level, the thin air hasn't done anything to help the Diablos with defense or learning the basics of tackling.
One of the other stats that the Diablos are near the top is "Points Against," with 120 points scored against the Diablos so far. The concept of tackling continues to plague the team as they prepare to face a dangerous Central Vikings team looking to play Giant-Slayers in week 5.
"That's why our games turn into shootouts, because we have to outscore the rest of WFR because we know we're not going to out defense them," Hendrix said, showing momentary signs of sobriety.