For proof of the popularity of rugby continuing to grow, not only worldwide but here in the United States, look no further than Felix Olazaran of the University of Texas Longhorn rugby team, who exemplifies the international flavor of the sport.

Olazaran's life experience can only be described as "global," considering the many roads he has traveled. Raised in Mexico, Felix studied abroad in England at a young age, where he learned how to play rugby -- a sport as popular as soccer or cricket across the pond.

"I first learned to play when I studied in prep school in England," says Olazaran to LatinPost.com. "I played 15s first and the sevens. I had so much fun playing the sport."

Olazaran moved back to Mexico, where he studied at the Tecnológico de Monterrey (Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education) but Olazaran brought back a piece of England with him, still having a burning desire to continue playing the sport of rugby -- a sport he knew in his heart he excelled at and wanted to keep improving his skill sets in. Olazaran joined the Tec de Monterrey's rugby club team, hoping to gain more experience.

"Tec de Monterrey had more of a club team but I just wanted keep playing," says Olazaran "It was great to be back in competition, traveling to play other local teams."

After Monterrey, Olazaran attended the University of Texas where, as a junior, Olazaran is studying a double-majoring in computer science and economics. But Olazaran wanted to continue his rugby career and approached the Longhorns' coaching staff hoping for an opportunity to play for Texas. After talking with the coach and a recommendation from his U-23 Mexican national team, he was invited to join the team and now plays both their sevens and 15s for the Longhorns.

Olazaran will play during this weekend's annual USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship, being played at PPL Park in Philadelphia, where 20 of the top sevens rugby teams from around the country will compete for the championship, with the games being televised on Saturday and Sunday on NBC Sports.

The Longhorns will compete against the likes of Dartmouth, Arizona, Drexel, Kutztown, Life, Maryland, Michigan, Navy, Northeastern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn, Penn State, St. Joseph's, Temple, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, and UCLA, all vying for the sevens national title.

Olazaran is particularly looking forward for Texas' match-up against Navy -- the teams having split the season record 1-1 (both sevens and 15s combined) -- and would like to finish strong with a victory over the Midshipman.

"I think we caught Navy by surprise the first time we played them," says Olazaran. "The beat us the second time so I would love to beat them to break the tie for the season."

Olazaran, who has aspirations to compete at the national team level after having played with Mexico's U-23 national team in international tournaments, does not really put any thought to the fact that he is one of only a few Mexicans playing a sport that is just now growing and gaining traction in the Western Hemisphere, especially since rugby comes almost naturally for the Texas Longhorn junior.

"To be honest, I don't think about it," says Olazaran. "I've been involved in rugby almost my entire life, played the game for so long, it's just an environment that has been a huge part of my life. I want to keep playing and hope to make the senior [Mexican national] team."