World Rugby has granted its first-ever funding to a youth rugby initiative in the United States — part of an effort to boost the game ahead of the 2031 Rugby World Cup, which will be held in the Americas for the first time since the tournament began in 1987.
Rookie Rugby is a national educational program that helps teachers introduce the sport in physical education programs throughout North America. World Rugby’s grant funding will cover the costs for all Fall 2023 equipment needs — including the Rugby 101 curriculum, 750 bag kits and 6,000 rugby balls.
According to Major League Rugby, which relaunched the Rookie Rugby Program earlier this year in partnership with USA Rugby, USA Youth & High School Rugby and state youth rugby organizations, the program will support the introduction of non-contact rugby to an estimated 250,000 American youths this year. The intention is to generate increased interest in after-school flag rugby programs that ultimately lead to increased participation in local youth clubs.
The goal? One million active youth rugby players in the United States by 2030.
“One key strategy to unlocking rugby in the United States is to get the sport into our existing infrastructure,” Guy Hagen, director of youth development for Major League Rugby, said in a statement. “This funding allows for rugby to be incorporated into the PE curriculum at hundreds of schools across the country, thereby creating awareness and opening the door for the creation of new youth rugby clubs.”
Hagen calls the Rookie Rugby Program “the most comprehensive commitment ever made in the U.S. market to give kids a chance to learn about our great game.”
Major League Rugby, which will expand to 13 teams soon, also is involved in the college game via partnerships with the College Rugby Association of America and various college and university programs.
One example of the grassroots effort to bolster rugby’s presence in the United States can be found in Maryville, Mo., where Trey Gaudet — a former Weber State University rugby player who now is coach of the Nodaway County Rugby Football Club — is beginning a youth flag rugby program that will run on Saturday afternoons this fall, culminating with a tournament and championship game. The program is open to boys and girls ages 8 to 13 and will be free.
“What I plan on doing is a six-week program,” Gaudet told the Maryville Forum. “The first two weeks are introducing them to the sport of rugby and then after that, breaking up into little teams or groups and pretending like you are on an actual team and have a tournament. Then the last week will be a … championship, and we are going to have fun and enjoy some pizza. It is about creating a culture and creating a family.”
Look to Tecumseh, Mich., for another example of introducing the sport to new players in grades second through eighth. The city’s parks and recreation department partnered with Adrian College men’s rugby coach Benny Mateialona in June to offer a three-day “Introduction to Youth Rugby” minicamp.
“When he approached City of Tecumseh Parks and Rec to start a youth program, it was a short conversation. ‘Yes.’ That was my quick answer,” Parks and Recreation director Sarah Gilmore said when the program was announced. “When you have someone with that experience, positive outlook and he has a similar goal of more opportunities for more kids, that’s an easy decision to make.”
USA Youth & High School Rugby — a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and an affiliate of USA Rugby — is the sanctioned governing body for all youth rugby in the United States. Catering to players ages 5 to18, the organization last year teamed up with the US Rugby Foundation (USRF) to develop and grow 20 new high school rugby programs across the country.
“A critical step in the development of rugby and the growth of the game is through our schools,” David Pool president of USA Youth & High School Rugby, said in a statement. “Once rugby is established as part of the athletic programming on high school campuses, we will see new levels of growth in grassroots rugby. This new funding arrangement with USRF will make this a reality for aspiring programs across the country.”
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