You will find so many drawn to the game because they want to try something different, something exciting and new, and something that others may be just a bit fearful of. Simply (and frequently) put, Rugby is not a game, it is a life style. Its essence is not drawn simply from the physical competition on the pitch, but also from camaraderie that develops from sharing such an uncommon--common bond.
Whereas Vince Lombardi spoke for most competitive sport when he said, "Winning isn't everything, it is the only thing"- the rugby player, who still wishes to win, values the test of competition and the spirit of the game even more. People play rugby because it is not football, and it is not soccer, and it is not any of the other sports you can think of.
It is different, it is unique, and it is rugby. More than a game, more than simple competition, flying in the face of what is expected of the American athlete.
Rugby has always been above the typical winning at all costs philosophy that is prevalent in other sports. It is about camaraderie and sportsmanship. Other sports often pay only lip service to those ideals; rugby exemplifies them.
Washington D.C. Youth Rugby
The Washington Warriors were founded by the Washington Rugby Football Club in 2004. We started with exactly seven kids our first match entering the Under-15 competition of the Potomac Rugby Union's (PRU) summer touch league. The team has grown to include Under-11, Under-13 and Under-15 age brackets. We had over 30 kids participating in the summer of 2006 ranging in age from six to 18 years old.
As the team grew, we were able to add an Under-19 team that first came together for a sevens match in the 2006 Ambassador's Shield match. We added a few more high school kids and entered the PRU's spring high school competition, competing for the first time in 15 a side tackle rugby in the spring of 2007. As of the spring of 2008, we have had over 60 kids in the program!
The team features kids from all over DC and a few kids from Prince Georges County in Maryland. We accept kids from all high schools, as we are not afiliated with any one school. We have kids from Hyde Leadership PCS, Coolidge, Cardoza, Wilson, The International School, MM Washington, Washington Math and Science and many more. We've even had kids whose parents work at the Australian and New Zealand Embassies.
We accept boys AND GIRLS of all ages and athletic ability. Our program is FREE for all kids. We provide uniforms for the kids as well as provide transportation to all away matches. We do encourage parents to participate and volunteer if possible.
Why Rugby?
Interested in registering your child for the Washington D.C. Youth Rugby Program?
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After submitting your information, one of our coaches will contact you with more information. Thank you!