The first college rugby match was played between Harvard and McGill University on May 14, 1874, it slowly began to take off in the late 1960s. Currently, there are over 900 college rugby teams. Most of these are not “Varsity Sports”, meaning they do not form part of the universities’ official sports programs. However, the number of Varsity teams is increasing, with many new colleges offering scholarships. In fact, rugby is the fastest-growing college sport in the USA!
Some notable alumni who played college rugby include Nate Ebner, three-time Super Bowl-winning New England Patriot; Madison Hughes and Danny Barrett, US Sevens players; and Gerhardt de Beer, former Affies prop and current NFL offensive lineman.
The NCAA does not govern college rugby; it is instead overseen by USA Rugby. It is played at Division IA, Division I-AA, Division II, and National Small College Rugby level. Due to this, scholarships are offered in a slightly different way to other NCAA sports. USA Rugby does not place a cap on how many scholarships each team can provide, which means that the funding can be issued at a university’s sole discretion.
The American rugby community has built a passionate following with an esteemed college history. Many high-profile universities have deeply entrenched rugby traditions; for example, Dartmouth boasts one of the strongest teams in college history.
Your journey to the school of your dreams could begin right now! It is better to start early, as this will allow you time to collect video footage, put together your sports resume, and write the SAT with enough time to find an offer from your ideal school and program. Generally, a good time to start the process is at the beginning of Grade 10. Apply now to speak to one of our expert recruiters who can answer all your questions about the college sport scholarship recruitment process!
Remember, it’s always the perfect time to begin your journey towards studying at the university of your dreams. Sign up here for a free consultation with one of our recruitment experts. You could join over 300 student-athletes already placed in the USA, competing at the highest level and earning a world-class degree!
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