Many players/parents have asked about playing rugby in college.  So here are a list of FAQ’s that hopefully will answer many questions you have.  Of course, if you have further questions, feel free to contact the coaching staff and we’ll be happy to help you.

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1.  Do you have to be an A-side player or generally a top player on the Prep team to play in college? 

The simple answer is “no”.  By the time you’ve gone through the Prep Rugby Program, you will be well prepared to play on most college teams as a freshman.  That being said, the top Rugby universities (Division 1A) will require a fair amount of fitness and commitment which will be beyond that of a lower division school.  Also, most schools have two sides (A-side/B-side) so you can test yourself in the early goings on that B-side level.

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 2.  Do all colleges have Rugby?

 Generally, I would say most colleges have a Rugby team.  At the collegiate level, Rugby is considered a “club” sport in that it is not governed by the NCAA but rather by the USA Rugby organization.  As such, some colleges are better organized and funded than others – at the school’s discretion.  Most colleges have someone who volunteers as a coach while others have full-time staff positions; and some colleges exist on students self-coaching.  There is a wide variance so check with the school.

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 3.  Can you get scholarship money for Rugby?  

Schools generally do not give scholarship money for Rugby.  However, since Rugby is not an NCAA sport, there are not specific rules governing college recruitment.  Hence, some schools who have committed to Rugby (e.g. Penn State, St. Mary’s, BYU, Cal, Wheeling Jesuit, etc.) do have either scholarship or perks they can provide.  For example, Penn State is able to bring a player to main campus who otherwise may have to attend a branch campus.  Wheeling Jesuit gives a $10,000 scholarship to all Rugby players.

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4.  How serious is college rugby and what kind of commitment is required?

 Again, this will depend on the school’s rugby program.  It would be best to speak with the coach as well as players to get a feel.

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5. What should I be doing to prepare for Rugby at the collegiate level?  

Again, it will depend on the program but the number one difference will be the level of fitness.  Any organized program will require a higher level of fitness than high school.

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6.  What school should I go to if I really want to play rugby at a high level?  

Foremost, I would caution you not to pick the school based on its Rugby program.  It can, however, be a factor in your decision the same as you may like one campus better than another or they have a good basketball program of which you are a fan and so on … but it shouldn’t be THE deciding factor.  Find the schools that fit your future plans and then use Rugby as just one of the factors in your college decision.

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7. What is the recruiting process for colleges?  Do I need video?  Do I need to contact the coach?  

First, do a little research on the school’s team.  Google the school’s rugby team to see if there are any videos of their games, see what division they’re in, look at their website – is it something someone created on their own or is it part of the university’s website; is it up to date, does it show their recent games and results?  Also, send the coach an email and set up a time to talk to him.  Part of enjoying Rugby (or anything) is dealing with the people around you.  Have a conversation with the coach about his team, his season, his philosophy, the players and so on.  That will give you a feel for that particular program – i.e. is it a loosely coupled team that his held together by players or is it a well-operated and funded “Rugby Program”?