Richmond student means business on and off the field
STUDENT EXPERIENCE
Senior Matt Lynch was selected to the National Collegiate Rugby All-American team for Division III and has secured a position with L’Oréal after graduation.
Senior Matt Lynch will start his professional career as a marketing management trainee at L'Oréal after graduation. He credits lecturer Joel Mier for helping him discover his passion for marketing.
“He told me he thought I would be a great fit for the Bench Top Innovations class and that I would get a lot out of it. I ended up taking his advice, and now two years later, I am the CEO of RALI Coffee, the newest Bench Top Innovations company,” Lynch said.
Recently, Lynch was one of 23 players selected to the National Collegiate Rugby All-American team for Division III — the first-ever Richmond rugby player to achieve this honor. He was named to the Southern Rugby Conference All-Conference team in December.
He played soccer throughout middle and high school and admits he had limited exposure to rugby before coming to UR. Then, his roommate and some other friends asked him to join the rugby team in the spring semester of his first year.
“At first, I was hesitant to play a high-contact sport. However, it didn't take long for the community of motivated players and the competitive atmosphere to draw me in,” Lynch said. “I like that rugby is fast-paced, involves lots of teamwork and communication, and fosters a strong sense of brotherhood and sportsmanship.”
Last spring, the co-captain led the team to a Shield Championship at the 2025 Collegiate Rugby Championships National 7s, where he finished the tournament as the fourth highest scorer and tied for third in tries scored. Under his leadership this fall, the team defeated Duke, the No. 1 team in Division III rugby, advanced to the 2025 Men’s National Championships Round of 16, and finished the season ranked No. 11.
“Matt has also been a force off the pitch,” said Patrick Benner, one of the rugby coaches and UR’s senior director of Campus Life. “He was named an NCR Scholastic All-American for the past two years.”
Lynch said his teammates push him to achieve his goals and improve his game, adding that he may play rugby after college, although at a less competitive level and more for fun.