In the United States, Rugby is primarily a club sport played on college campuses. Players generally pay their participation fees and the university may help the teams with access to training and competition facilities and financial help to cover some expenses. Given Rugby’s status as a college club sport, there are currently no full club rugby scholarships available at universities or colleges in the United States. For information about scholarships for NCAA women's varsity rugby, please visit NCAA Scholarships.
USA RUGBY is aware of only a few American Universities that currently give certain scholarships or stipends for club rugby players. These include:
American International College - A four-year private school college located in Springfield, MA, is offering over $100,000 in scholarships for the men’s and women’s rugby programs. The team is starting this year and is being considered a Varsity B program with full backing from university officials from top to bottom. Prospective players will enjoy use of varsity facilities and trainers, and receive the person-first education a private school can offer. Interested players are encouraged to contact Head Coach Josh Macy through his e-mail (joshua.macy@aic.edu) or blog (coachingchronicle.blogspot.com). While admissions and academic info can be found at www.aic.edu or through a FaceBook search of “AIC Rugby.”
Arkansas State University - Rugby has grown at Arkansas State to the extent that the school is now able to offer partial scholarships for men and women Rugby players. Qualifying Rugby players from out-of-state may now attend Arkansas State for the in-state tuition rate.
Idaho State University - Idaho State offers out of state fee waivers. The tuition at Idaho State for residents is $2200 a semester for those who have their own insurance and $2600 for those who do not have their own insurance. Idaho State is a D2 program in the Utah Rugby Union. The cost to attend ISU without the waiver is $7500 plus per semester. With a waiver you save an estimated $4800 a semester. We are looking for the serious student athlete, who wants to continue their education and rugby career. We are proud of our 85% graduation rate since 1996.
For more information interested parties can contact:
Coach Ram Eddings,
Idaho State University
P.O. Box 8345,
Pocatello, ID 83209
work 208-282-3242
home 208-232-6221
cell 208-244-1252
fax 208-282-4864
eddierans@isu.edu
James Madison University - The rugby alumni at James Madison University have recently endowed the Luis de Souza Pinto Memorial Scholarship, to benefit an international rugby player attending James Madison University. JMU rugby alumni are responsible for finding a worthy recipient for the Fall 2008 semester. The initial scholarship is estimated to be $1,000 for the first years tuition. As the endowment grows, additional scholarships with greater monetary values will be awarded. The team expects to award the first scholarship in 2008. Any individual interested in attending JMU and playing rugby is encouraged to apply, regardless of international status.
Kutztown University - The Kutztown University Rugby Club offers financial assistance in the form of rugby scholarships totaling $10,000.00 per year , donated annually by the Kutztown University Alumni. In conjunction with that, Kutztown University offers half and full tuition waivers to international students that score 1250 or more in their SAT. Please read more about the financial awards and the Kutztown University Rugby Club, at http://kutztownrugby.com.
David Bailey Scholarship - A $2,000 scholarship awarded to a rugby player that has completed a minimum of thirty credits and is majoring in Sociology. This scholarship is awarded by the Bailey family in honor of their son, David, who was a four year member of the rugby club.
KU Fallen Brothers Scholarship - The Kutztown rugby alumni awards two $500.00 academic scholarships in memory of David Bailey and 9/11 casualty Robert Devitt Jr.
RP Fitness Scholarships - Two $1,000 awards , will be given to one forward and one back, each semester. This award will be given to a member of the twenty five man travel squad that obtains the highest fitness score in their respective category. The awards are being funded by Kutztown Rugby Alumni, Mr.Jeff Reiss and Mr. Paul Presinzano.
Book Scholarships - Six, $250.00 book awards will be given each semester, to players selected by the coaching staff. This includes incoming freshmen.
University of Connecticut - The UConn Rugby Alumni Association is proud to offer a $500 scholarship to an incoming freshman rugby player at the University of Connecticut (”the University”). Our goal is to assist student their rugby and academic career at the University. Click here for more details.
If you have information on scholarship opportunities at your college or university and would like them to be listed on this webpage, please contact kwurst@usarugby.org.
Miami Rugby Scholarships - The Miami Rugby Alumni Association awards two $500 scholarships each year at Old Boys. Our first scholarship is named after Doug Edwards, Miami RFC's long time player and coach who passed away in 2002. Minus a few years living and playing in Pittsburgh and Atlanta, Doug played for Miami from 1969 through 1983. In 1984 Doug began coaching Miami. Doug also volunteered as an Ohio Rugby Union select side coach, Midwest Rugby Union select side coach and Collegiate All American manager.
The Collegiate All Americans award the Doug Edwards Best Tourist Award each year to "the player who shows outstanding ability on the pitch and character off the field during the course of the annual All-American Tour." This is the only award presented during the Collegiate All Americans annual tour. You can read Doug's obituary, written by Bowling Green State University RFC head coach Roger Mazzarella in our August 2002 Newsletter. The Doug Edwards Memorial Scholarship is annually supported by Doug's wife, Barb.
Our second scholarship is named after Lionel Young who founded Miami RFC in 1968 and passed away in 2004. Lionel was born in Birtley, England in 1921 where here played for Rockcliff RFC. After serving in the British army in WWII, Lionel emigrated to Canada where he played a part in founding two clubs in Toronto. Lionel started Miami RFC in the fall of 1968 and left Oxford for Florida in 1970. More information on Lionel can be found on page 2 of our August 2005 Newsletter. The Lionel Young Memorial Scholarship is supported by the Miami Rugby Alumni Association.
Scholarships are awarded to students who have been active members of Miami RFC for at least two semesters, are not graduating in the coming semester and are in good standing with the university. Scholarship applications are sent out each spring and include a short essay portion about how rugby has transcended into other areas of the player's daily life. Applications are reviewed by the Scholarship Committee and are awarded at our annual Old Boys Match each September.
Palmer Chiropractic College - Palmer is a competitive Mens Division One club side that is nestled in the heart of the Midwest, USA. A Rugby programme with a lot of great opportinities. One of a kind. The Palmer College Scholarship Rugby Program offers both partial and full Rugby scholarships ranging from 25%-100% of tuition. School fees are approximately $21,000 per year. All first team players will recieve at least a 50% scholarship. 6-7 will recieve a 75% scholarship. A chance of a lifetime to play the game of Rugby and at the same time get money for school towards becoming a Doctor of Chiropratic. What an opportunity this is and its up to you to seize the moment. The scholarship applies year round and so is not specific to the rugby season. Also, students may receive an additional $2,100 towards tuition fees from working in the school gym. We would love to have you if you have what it takes to part of a great club that is deeply rooted in its rugby tradition and chiropractic philosophies. BE PART OF THE FAMILY.
Please direct all enquiries to:
Coach: Nemani (Mani) Delaibatiki
Contact Phone: 563 212 8823
Penn State University - There is a $1000 scholarship for high school players that come to Penn State to play rugby. There is also admissions assistance available.
Contact:
Peter Steinberg
410 BAB
University Park, PA 16802
814-883-5732
pete@psurugby.org.
Team websites: www.clubs.psu.edu/up/mensrugby and www.clubs.psu.edu/up/womensrugby
Texas A&M University - After 39 years of prestigious rugby and numerous National Championships and playoff runs, this Division I Collegiate powerhouse now offers partial scholarships for in-state and out-of-state rugby players. Qualifying players from out-of-state may now attend Texas A&M for the in-state tuition rate.
Truman State University - The Truman Alumni Award is given to entering freshmen (1-3) that come to Truman with previous high school Rugby experience and promise to be leaders on the team. Each award is up to $500 and is paid in two installments - at the end of the fall and spring seasons. The award is for the freshman year only. It is expected that the recipient(s) will be contributing members of the team, attending practices and games.
To find out more information:
Visit http://rugby.truman.edu/men or http://rugby.truman.edu/men/PDF/AlumniAward-Application.PDF
Or contact:
Coach Bill Sexton
1405 East Meadow Lane
Kirksville, MO 63501
660-626-2324
rugby@truman.edu.
University of Stony Brook - Partial scholarships are available for both Men's and Women's teams.
Dan Yarusso
Office: (631) 632-6454
Cell: (631) 872-6042
Email: coach@stonybrookrugby.org
Website: HowlandGrowl.Com
St. Bonaventure University - The rugby alumni at St. Bonaventure University have recently endowed the Robert Peraza Memorial Scholarship, in memory of a Bonaventure player who died in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. SBU rugby alumni are responsible for finding a worthy recipient for the Fall 2007 semester. As the endowment grows, additional scholarships with greater monetary values will be awarded. This is a needs-based scholarship; we want to find high school rugby players who normally would not have the opportunity to attend St. Bonaventure University due to financial need. The amount we award is based on how much we can raise but it will be renewable to the same student for 4 years. As the scholarship grows, we will have more flexibility to the amount we award and the number of students we award it to. St. Bonaventure is the first Catholic University in the U.S. to endow a scholarship for rugby players.
For more information:
Contact Paul Fordiani
www.sburfc.com
By phone at 410.837.0908.
West Chester University - The West Chester Rugby Foundation now offers rugby scholarship opportunities to play rugby at West Chester University.
Charl Welman, MSISeC, CNA
Assistant Coach: Arkansas State University
870-897-2863
The West Chester (PA) University Men’s Rugby Club has made the commitment to becoming an elite national level USA Rugby collegiate program. In support of that effort the West Chester Rugby Foundation, a newly formed non-profit 501 (c) 3 LLC corporation, is most pleased to announce that two $1,000.00 scholarships will be awarded to qualified incoming student rugby players at West Chester University for the fall of 2009. Eligible candidates can be either qualified incoming freshmen or transferring underclassmen.
The West Chester Rugby Foundation has as its mission to nurture and support the growth of high school and collegiate rugby in the greater Chester County (PA) area. In addition to scholarship opportunities the Foundation will run a series of player skill sessions for local high school ruggers as well as hosting a high school tournament in the spring of 2009.
For more information on the foundation and its scholarship opportunities and clinics please contact us at: westchesterrugby@aol.com
The West Chester Rugby Foundation
www.wcurugby.com
Additionally, there are ways to earn collegiate credits and play rugby at the same time. These opportunities include:
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Summer Sports Program at Macquarie University in Australia. Michigan State University, in partnership with Macquarie University, offers a unique educational opportunity for college student athletes. This program is arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA).
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Rugby Study Abroad (http://www.studyabroad-cis.com/rugby.html) - This program provides opportunities for American students to spend one or two semesters studying in Wellington, New Zealand and playing with a local club.
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Middle Tennessee State University - MTSU offers the following classes in Rugby: PHED 131001 Beginning Rugby; PHED 131002 Intermediate Rugby; For further information, please contact Anthony Neely, Adjunct Professor, PO Box 96, MTSU, Murfreesboro, TN 37132; phone 615-812-1754; aneely@mtsu.edu. University of Illinois at Chicago - The University of Illinois at Chicago offers a full credit course in Rugby union football.
