United States Rugby Foundation

Last year, the East County Grackles (Portland, OR) were awarded with a US Rugby Foundation Match Day Tent.

Today they are proud to highlight their tent, which has been a great addition to their sideline. They are grateful it protects the team from the PNW rain and sun, and it also promotes the team’s logo on and off the pitch.

Assistant Coach Blacker says, “[The tent] shows the fans that we are a cohesive unit that is proud of our team and our Oregon State Champion status!”

Congrats again, Grackles. We are happy to support you!
For more information on Match Day Tents ->https://bit.ly/47sv2rR
How you can help provide tents to teams ->https://bit.ly/3ZjU2iT

Team USA wheelchair rugby team's Sarah Adam made history as the first American woman to win a Paralympic medal in the sport - >https://buff.ly/4dW1s0f
Congrats again to Adam and her team on your silver metal!
To get more involved with rugby ->https://buff.ly/3ATsDtK

(Image: Lars Møller for Parasport Danmark)

Paris 2024: USA wheelchair rugby pioneer Sarah Adam ready to make history Sarah Adam is set to become the first woman to represent Team USA in wheelchair rugby at a Paralympic Games. As she prepares for her Paralympic debut, she shares how she started the sport and what it means for her

After five days of fierce competition against the world’s top wheelchair rugby teams, USA Wheelchair Rugby team is bringing home SILVER from Paralympic Games Paris 2024! Congratulations to the team, well deserved!
Check out https://usawr.org for their daily recaps.
To support USRF visit -> https://bit.ly/3XnmEq4

📸 Mark Reis/USOPC

In 2023, Blackthorn Barbarians Inclusive RFC, out of Wycombe, PA, received a Match Day Tent from US Rugby Foundation.

They debuted their tent at a match with Media Wolfpack Unified Rugby. The tent fills their players, their parents, and coaches with pride to see their club represented so well.

The Blackthorn Barbarians are incredibly grateful for this gift, and we couldn't be more excited for them!
Learn more on how you can get involved: https://buff.ly/3ATsDtK

Go Team USA!

Former Shriners Children's patient breaking barriers, ready for Paralympics Zion Redington, 18, will compete as the youngest member of the United States wheelchair rugby team

Final Week to Apply for a College Rugby Scholarship!

Class of 2024 grads, time is running out! With just one week until the August 31st deadline, now’s your chance to apply for a US Rugby Foundation scholarship.

We’re seeking students who excel both in academics and on the rugby field. Know someone who fits the bill? Spread the word!

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity—submit your application before time runs out!
Apply here -> https://buff.ly/4cCKiDg

One of the most extraordinary rugby stories of our time!

At this year's US Rugby Hall of Fame ceremony, Traci Schmidtke Young was honored while Mike Tolkin was inducted.

Just weeks later, Traci became a liver transplant donor, saving USA Rugby Legend Mike Tolkin's life ❤️

In rugby, there's nothing we can't accomplish together!
Read the Story 🙏🏼https://bit.ly/RugbyPass-MikeTolkin
Listen to the Story 🇺🇸https://bit.ly/EaglesOverseas-MikeTolkin


(Photo: Young)

The US women made history by winning the bronze medal in rugby at the Olympics.

Own a piece of HERstroy, and support youth and grassroots rugby by bidding on a jersey and ball signed by the entire U.S. Women’s 2024 Olympic Rugby 7s Team: https://bit.ly/4fnX9vJ

Lauren Doyle, Naya Tapper Oly, Alev Kelter, Kayla Canett, Kristi Kirshe, Ilona Maher, Ariana Ramsey Oly, Alena Olsen, Spiff Sedrick, Sammy Sullivan, Sarah Levy, Steph Rovetti, Kris Thomas, Nicole Heavirland.
(Apologies if we missed anyone, tag them!)

Earlier this year, the US Rugby Foundation proudly supported the 2024 Urban Rugby Championship in Washington, D.C. It was an honor to back these teams as they came together to compete in our nation's capital.

We are continuously inspired by Urban Rugby America's commitment to empowering young athletes and promoting the inclusivity of rugby for all.

For more information on our support for URA, be sure to watch this video -> https://bit.ly/4fL1MQP

Discover ways to engage with us at www.usrugbyfoundation.com

(Photo: URA)

Happy Friday, rugby fans!

Want to kick your weekend up a notch?

How about bidding on some epic rugby memorabilia?

Continue to celebrate the U.S. women’s rugby sevens team’s bronze victory at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris!

The ENTIRE team signed a replica rugby ball AND a jersey!

Your rugby collection isn’t complete without these gems! 🏅

Bid now and own a piece of history! -> https://buff.ly/4dgkY6S

Goff Rugby Report dives into the rise of youth rugby across the U.S. with stats and analysis -> https://bit.ly/4cjEcYa

Interested in rugby or supporting youth in the sport? Reach out to us and help fuel their passion for the game!

Youth Rugby Grew 27% This Past Year; Maybe More in 24-25? The number of youth and high school players and coaches in the USA rose in the 2023-24 cycle, and one wonders if that growth will increase in the next cycle. Fueled in part by a return to the idea that going outside is good, and in part by more regions getting back to normal post-COVID, registration...

Highlighting another incredible opportunity: The Richard A. Donelli Memorial Scholarship.

Created to honor one of rugby’s most dominating players, Dick Donelli, this scholarship celebrates his legacy as a former starting quarterback for Columbia University and co-founder of the Old Blue Rugby Football Club. Known for his athleticism, technical skills, and competitive spirit, Donelli captained the Met New York All-Stars and later coached Old Blue RFC to four final four appearances.

Each year, the US Rugby Foundation awards this $2,500 scholarship to a collegiate player, male or female, within proximity to the New York Metropolitan area. The award is presented at the Old Blue Annual Hall of Fame Dinner.

Who is Eligible?
The scholarship is primarily for junior and senior collegiate players, but graduating high school seniors may be considered if no qualified collegiate applicants are available. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, demonstrate financial need, and attend an accredited four-year college with a recognized rugby program. Character, recommendations, community work, extracurricular activities, rugby potential, and a personal statement are also evaluated. This scholarship can be used for tuition, books, or fees.

Apply now and honor Dick Donelli’s legacy! -> https://buff.ly/4aGJxYX

📢 Reminder: Our scholarships are open for applications!

One of our prestigious scholarships is the Terry O'Reilly Memorial Scholarship Program.

Terry O’Reilly was a lifelong rugby enthusiast. Born in England, he started playing rugby at a young age and moved to Los Angeles at 16. After law school, he played for several club teams, including the Bay Area Touring Side (BATS), the Old Blues of Berkeley, and the San Jose Silverhawks. After 25 years of active play, Terry supported the Northern California Rugby Football Union and Cal rugby. He served as a Trustee of the U.S. Rugby Foundation from 1993 until his passing in 2015, dedicated to making rugby as popular in the U.S. as it is worldwide.

This scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors. Eligibility requirements include:
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Demonstrated financial need
- Plans to attend an accredited four-year college or university with a recognized rugby program
- Commitment to joining the rugby program in Fall 2024

Selection also considers character, recommendations, community work, school extracurricular activities, rugby potential, and a personal statement. This scholarship can be used for tuition, books, or fees. Apply now!

Spread the word -> https://buff.ly/4aGJxYX

In the timeframe of 2023-2024, a collective endeavor by the US Rugby Foundation and USA Youth and High School Rugby took place. Their mission was to provide startup funds to emerging high school rugby programs. This venture led to the successful creation of numerous varsity and school-supported rugby clubs across the United States, thereby expanding the reach of the sport at the high school tier.

One of the grant recipients, Hudson Catholic High School in New Jersey, has shown remarkable progress and significant achievement in a short period. This is particularly evident in the graduation of four outstanding seniors from their Girls Rugby Team.

Jordan Bates ( #10) will be advancing her studies at Montclair State in New Jersey and will be part of their club rugby team.

Zoe Bozzone ( #18) is bound for Fairfield University in Connecticut, with both academic and rugby scholarships.

Kayla Spiegel ( #15) has pledged to Emory & Henry College in Virginia, where she has received both academic and rugby scholarships.

Alana Garcia ( #8) is set to join Marywood College in Pennsylvania and will be competing in the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union.

We extend our congratulations and look forward to witnessing their future triumphs! .

Amy Morgan, a senior editor at NPR and a fellow rugger, celebrates the bronze medal win of the USA women's team, emphasizing that rugby is an inclusive sport that welcomes all - irrespective of body type or size.
Check out her article here -> https://buff.ly/46DJfBx.

(Carl De Souza/AFP via Getty Images)

The 2024 Hall of Fame Ceremony is in the books, what better time to check out U.S. Rugby Foundation's ‘With You!’ Rugby Podcast with Alec Parker- Ep. 43. Listen/watch to the full episode here: https://buff.ly/3SC6pTo

Today, we spotlight another one of our available scholarships: the William V. Campbell Memorial Scholarship, named after the late US Rugby Hall of Famer, William “Bill” Campbell. This scholarship will be awarded to a college freshman who excels both on the rugby field and in the classroom.

Bill Campbell, a Columbia University grad, transitioned from football to rugby and was celebrated for his athletic prowess and intellectual brilliance. He was a dynamic rugger and a highly regarded Silicon Valley executive.

The $2,500 William V. Campbell Memorial Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors. Eligibility requirements and details can be found here https://buff.ly/4aGJxYX.

We’ve all had a moment to catch our breath after the USA women’s rugby sevens team’s epic win.

The excitement is still electrifying, from Paris to across the U.S.

But what’s next when the Games end and the Team returns home?

Get your hands on two authentic, SIGNED items by the USA women’s rugby sevens team! Bid now until the end of August. Don't miss out! (https://bit.ly/4fnX9vJ)

Lauren Doyle, Naya Tapper Oly, Alev Kelter, Kayla Canett, Kristi Kirshe, Ilona Maher, Ariana Ramsey Oly, Alena Olsen, Spiff Sedrick, Sammy Sullivan, Sarah Levy, Steph Rovetti, Kris Thomas, Nicole Heavirland (Apologies if we missed anyone, tag them!)

We can't get enough, love this photo!

FLAVOR FLAV::: Yeaaah boyyy, you see the shine🇺🇸🇺🇸

Washington Post published an article explaining rugby sevens, inspired by Team USA women’s rugby sevens team’s thrilling win against Australia. We greatly appreciate WaPo for producing this piece. (https://wapo.st/4dpVHHo)

Reach out to the US Rugby Foundation to learn more about non-contact, flag, touch, and tackle teams in your area.
(Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images)

2024-2025 College Rugby Scholarships Are Open!

The US Rugby Foundation's scholarship program provides financial aid to student-athletes excelling in academics and rugby. Applications are open until August 31st!

One of our prestigious awards is the Kaler Family Rugby Scholarships! Founded in 2016 by Paul & Sarah Kaler, the Kaler Family Rugby Scholarship supports athletes transitioning into college rugby. Paul started his rugby journey in 1990 with River City RFC and has played for several clubs across the Midwest. Sarah began playing college rugby in 1996 at Wartburg University and has been an active club rugby player and avid rugby tourist. Together, they promote youth and amateur rugby across the U.S., funding scholarships through private donors and personal contributions to give back to the sport they love.

Each year, one female and one male rugby player will receive a $1,500 scholarship. To apply, be a high school senior graduating in 2024, need a minimum GPA of 2.5, demonstrate financial need, plan to attend an accredited four-year college with a recognized rugby program, and join the rugby team in Fall 2024. https://buff.ly/4aGJxYX