Youth rugby set to grow in south Alabama

Rugby has been a staple in the Mobile area for over forty years. Rugby in our area was mostly played by college athletes, military servicemembers and recent graduates up to the early 1990's. Today,  rugby is one of the fastest growing youth sports in the U.S.  Thanks in large part to the introduction of non-contact versions of the game, such as Rookie Rugby, kids have a safe, active way to learn the intricacies of rugby. Mobile Area Rugby Foundation (MARF) was formed in 2010 to pave the way for youth rugby in southwest Alabama. 

Since 2010, MARF has trained over 60 physical educators in Mobile and Baldwin County public and private schools. Nearly 800 students have played rugby in their P.E. class with many more from area YMCA and Boys and Girls Clubs attending introductory camps. It has been a successful four years, and MARF is poised to take the next steps to insure rugby remains the fastest growing youth sport for years to come. While we have spent a lot of time and resources building the physical education program, we are well-positioned to move into club-building. The starting point is building awareness and skills by hosting knowledge and skill-building sessions open to the public.

In conjunction with Spring Hill College, we will host a free “get-to-know” rugby day on Saturday, February 21 from 10 am to 3 pm at Dorn Field on Spring Hill’s campus. Spring Hill College Men and Women Rugby will be hosting a high-school invitational tournament that day; so, it is a great opportunity for youth and high-schoolers to experience rugby from the sidelines and also participate in an a one hour introductory clinic. We will progress to skills sessions held each Sunday at Dorn Field on Spring Hill’s campus from 2 to 4 pm beginning February 22. The schedule of events and registration information will be published by February 1. Our ultimate goal is to enter at least two high school 7's (Olympic-style rugby) teams and four Rookie Rugby (flag) teams into the Alabama State Games in June. Please make plans to attend the introducing rugby event on February 21st and check back often for more updates. 


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Eligibility: 


High School: Must have not reached 19th birthday by September 1st with minimum age of 14. Team and player eligibility shall comply with USA Rugby's Membership Guidelines 


Youth (non-contact): Co-ed teams for ages 7 to 10 and 11 to 13