Rugby is one of the fastest-growing team sports in the United States.

Rugby as a club sport has come into its own as a recruitment tool for prospective students.

Walsh University has the opportunity to be the first in Stark County to offer rugby at the college level.

Ashland vs. Notre Dame College

GLIAC Rugby Clubs:

Ashland (Men and Women), Ferris State (Both), Findlay (Women), Grand Valley (Both), Hillsdale (Men), Michigan Tech (Both), Northern Michigan University (Both), Saginaw Valley State (Both), Tiffin (Both), Wayne State (Men)

Photo: Tiffin Rugby

Rugby is a burgeoning college sport that offers a unique opportunity of relatively quick success compared to more traditional US sports.

Because it isn't a traditional US sport with a long history of collegiate competition - - there is a lot more parity among clubs...and more opportunity to compete for championships immediately!

Photo: Notre Dame College Inaugural Match

Compared to its cousin football, rugby is very economical. Minimal equipment is required.

USA Rugby offers a complete "Starting a College Rugby Team" guide.

In our effort to promote the sport, Canton Rugby offers to assist local colleges in starting rugby clubs.

This help could come in the form of:

contacts and information on how to register a social or competitive club,

scrimmages,

educating collegiate players on the sport of rugby,

a home club before & after their college playing career!

Recruiting, coaching, and desire will go a long way in rugby.

Men's Team: In second year of existence went undefeated in 2013 regular season, won their conference, and made it to national playoff round of 16.

Women's Team: In FIRST year of existence went all the way to the national championship!

One of the most vital questions for any University: How are we reaching prospective students?

Rugby is going to be a bigger part of the answer going forward.

Back to Notre Dame College one last time...

High School Rugby Clubs in N.E. Ohio:

St Ignatius 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0
St Edward 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0
Amherst 0 0 0 0 0
Hudson 0 0 0 0 0
Lakewood 0 0 0 0 0
Parma 0 0 0 0 0
Saint Joseph
Brunswick 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0
Strongsville 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0
Avon 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0
Avon Lake 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0

Division 2AA - Region 1 (Cleveland North)
Team W L T Bonus PTS PTS Division
Rocky River 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0
Shaker Heights 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0
Lake Catholic 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0
Lakewood 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0

Division 2A - Region 2 (Cleveland South)
Team W L T Bonus PTS PTS Division
Highland 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0
Medina 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0
Mentor 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0

Division 2AA - Region 2 (Cleveland South)
Team W L T Bonus PTS PTS Division
Copley 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0
Coventry 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0
Revere 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0
Canton 0 0 0 0 0 0-0-0

Mayfield

There is currently an unclaimed level of rugby in Stark County.

This, ideally, is a "recycling" style circle with one section feeding into and helping the next.

Fill in the blank!

Most Universities wish they had more foreign students. A rugby club could be a nice way to attract them!

The 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will feature 7s Rugby. This could be an enormous popularity boost for the sport in the USA. It might be a nice goal to have a club by then to capitalize on the momentum!

http://workforit.org/

Carlin Isles, Jackson High School and Ashland University alumnus, aims to achieve his goal of competing for an Olympic gold medal in 2016 on the USA Rugby 7s team.

Who is the next Carlin Isles and where will he go to college?

Rugby doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing college sport. Several options present themselves....

photo: Ashland U.

7s style rugby could easily be adapted to either the spring or fall intramural season.

Options include: flag, touch, or contact.

Often, a club's first year is as a developmental side. It is the first level of competitive rugby. USA Rugby official title is: National Small College Rugby Organization. (NSCRO)

In divisions I and II of USA Rugby, teams compete during a set regular season schedule for conference supremecy, try to make the playoffs and eventually for a national championship.

As the names suggest, they are rugby teams of 7, 10, or 15 players per side. Most colleges play 15s. But 7s are popular for tournaments and will be the Olympic version.

Also incorporates skills similar to basketball, wrestling, track, and cross country.

Who's the closest men's club?

Oh, that's us!

Canton Rugby can help, especially with #4.