Rugby's Olympic debut in 2016, Major League Rugby's launch in 2018, and a growing college draft have revolutionized college rugby in the past 5 years. There are now 900+ college teams and 32,000+ registered players with USA rugby. While Men's college rugby is primarily a club sport, 35 Men's and 43 Women's programs hold varsity status, a figure that doubled in the last decade. Competitive colleges, including Ivy League schools and Cal Berkeley, recognize rugby's value in the admissions process. Our club measures success by getting our alumni to play at the college level.
Explore Next Phase Rugby for guidance in this landscape. High school rugby players can join, create profiles, and share their video highlights (Our club records the high school games for this purpose). The site lists recruiting colleges, and your profile can attract their attention. Good grades matter, as many scholarships are based on academics. Higher grades mean better scholarship offers and more school interests. Reach out to rugby coaches at your desired colleges; their support can bolster your application. Self-promotion and attending a college rugby camp between your junior and senior years can boost your rugby visibility.
Of our seven high school graduating seniors last year, five are now college rugby players, with two of them benefiting from partial scholarships. College rugby offers an exceptional experience for staying active and forging lasting friendships. It's common for college rugby alumni to maintain one of the most vibrant alumni networks at their respective institutions.
A recent example is Harvard, where their rugby alumni weekend recorded the highest attendance of any alumni sports event in the university's history. Unlike many other sports, rugby allows you to continue playing during alumni weekends. The distinctive culture of rugby is what keeps individuals engaged and motivated to give back long after they've hung up their boots.