MASATO ANDO

Masato Ando arrived in the US by way of Japan in the summer of 1995. He studied English at a language school at Southern Oregon University in the winter of 1996, but soon decided to move to Lincoln because he wanted to learn English where there were very few Japanese which would force him to learn the language faster and more effectively.  

“Not knowing anyone in Lincoln was lonely at first, but I was fortunate to meet the rugby guys,” said Ando.  “I was introduced to the game while in Oregon and was athletic and smart enough to pick up the game quickly at winger.”

He recalls eating “tacos with a lot of beans and spicy ground beef, juicy and delicious chicken wings, and drinking cold, cheap beer at the Watering Hole after Thursday night practices.”  He also has fond memories of playing in The Heart of America Tournament, SNAFU in Winnipeg, and living in the rugby house on 14th and E.

Masato and his wife have two boys ages 13 and 16 and lives in Japan.  While he no longer plays rugby, he stays competitive with running distance races.  He credits rugby for making his experience in Lincoln memorable and hopes to make it back to the states in a few years to see his old teammates.