As one of the most popular sports in the world, rugby has struggled to gain a foothold in the United States, even though it has been played here for over a century. But that is changing. The Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cup will occur here in 2031 and 2033, respectively, and interest in the sport is at an all-time high. There are now over 3,000 rugby clubs with over 800,000 registered players who grind it out on the pitch across the USA.
Part of what is leading to this rebirth of rugby here—the USA did win two gold medals in the Olympics in the sport in 1920 and 1924—is the accessibility and fervent community that surrounds the sport. All you need to play is a pair of cleats, a mouthpiece, and an openness to getting dirty while getting bashed about and having fun.
"The beauty of rugby is that anyone with any body type can play; it just doesn't matter on the pitch as long as you have a drive to compete"
“The beauty of rugby is that anyone with any body type can play; it just doesn’t matter on the pitch as long as you have a drive to compete,” says Kevin Flynn, the president of the Seattle Rugby Club. “Also, unlike many other sports, you can keep at it well into middle age as long as you find a local club to play on, and every club is looking for people to join their community.”
If you talk to just about any rugby player, you will hear a fervor for their sport in their voice. While they love playing it, they really talk about the community that surrounds it. The connections they form on the pitch carry on long after the match is over. Players go out for beers after practices and matches, meet at the gym, and help each other out when needed. For many, the team becomes their tribe or second family.
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“I’ve met many of my best friends on the rugby pitch. You form a deep connection in the mud, muck, and blood out there. One that tends to stand the test of time,"
It can also offer a lifeline to people who are hurting and in need of help. The Seattle Rugby Club and the Seattle Seawolves, a Major League Rugby Club, like many others, have been quite active in their local community. Working with at-risk communities, they introduce the sport to high schoolers, ex-cons, soldiers with PTSD, and others who are looking for a way to stay in shape and connect with people.
“I’ve met many of my best friends on the rugby pitch. You form a deep connection in the mud, muck, and blood out there. One that tends to stand the test of time,” says Quinn Williams-McClure of the Hilton Head Rugby Club. “Once you meet on the pitch, all the other noises in life melt away. No one cares about your religion, politics, race, and such. Instead, you focus on a sport you love and nothing else.”
Getting into the sport isn’t that hard since it has a low barrier to entry. It’s not as complicated as it seems at first glance. The sport resembles America’s favorite sport, football. That’s because rugby is in football’s DNA as one of the sports it evolved from. Players work together to move a ball resembling a large football forward to score a goal. You can play if you can run, pass a ball backward, and tackle.
The beauty of the sport is it requires a small time commitment. Most clubs’ seasons run for around six months, and they play eighty-minute matches on the weekends. Practices are usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays for two hours.
“When you join a rugby club it offers you a cheat code to instantly connecting with people on both a personal and professional level. Those connections often extend way beyond where ever you play and live.”
“The beauty of rugby is it comes with its own built in community and that matters a lot when you live in a major metropolitan area,” says Ski Bailey, assistant coach and player with the New York Rugby Club, America’s oldest club. “When you join a rugby club it offers you a cheat code to instantly connecting with people on both a personal and professional level. Those connections often extend way beyond where ever you play and live.”
Finding a club is effortless these days. Most major metropolitan areas have many, from high-level to entry-level ones. Even smaller communities tend to have teams. The best way to locate a club is to go online and do a search. Clubs usually have either Facebook, Instagram, websites or a mix of the above to maintain visibility. Find their recruitment officer and drop them a line or attend their next practice.
"The beauty of our sport is that it's very welcoming; it's like that worldwide. We love it, and we want to introduce it to others," says Flynn. "Once you have played a match, you will want to return."
As stated above, all you need to play on your first day is a pair of shoes (cleats are best), clothes you don’t mind getting trashed (they play in all types of weather), and a mouthpiece. Since no pads or specialized equipment are worn, the costs are minimal. Besides that, everyone interviewed for this story said to bring a willingness to learn and have fun; the rest comes easy.
“The beauty of our sport is that it’s very welcoming; it’s like that worldwide. We love it, and we want to introduce it to others,” says Flynn. “Once you have played a match, you will want to return.”
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