Rugby is an exciting and competitive close-contact team sport. It was invented at Rugby School, located in the same-named city in England.
Although this sport has been around for decades, it’s still the most popular in England and some other European countries. In the US, it’s not as widely played. However, the number of teams is growing now at a fairly rapid pace.
At this moment, there are over 900 college-level teams (both male and female) registered in the USA. The number of student-athletes engaged in it is over 32,000. According to statistics, varsity rugby is actually the largest section of the United States of America Rugby Football Union.
If you are among the fans of this sport, too, it makes pretty good sense to enroll at one of the universities that have a team for it. We have to warn you that combining rough training and studying will be uneasy. Luckily, there is always a chance to write paper with professional writing services to unload your schedule without harming your grades. So if you are up for the challenge, continue reading to learn about the best schools to choose if you want to play rugby!
This school is located in Marietta, Georgia. It was established in 1974 and had a fairly odd specialization - chiropractic. Nevertheless, now, this school is the largest college of chiropractic studies in the world.
One thing this university is best known for is taking care of students’ fitness. The school features a variety of sports, and its rugby program is considered one of its most successful branches. Life’s Running Eagles made it to the D1-A National Championships seven times and won the title four times. Being members and champions of such a well-respected conference, Running Eagles are definitely a team you want to join for a successful athletic career. Thus, it’s the number one choice to make in the US.
This university is the next top pick in the USA for Rugby fans. The school is located in Ellensburg, Washington. Compared to the previous option, this educational facility is a more traditional one. Founded in 1891, it features four divisions: the President’s Division, Operations, Business and Financial Affairs, and Academic and Student Life (ASL). The last division also features four different colleges for business, arts and humanities, education and professional studies, and sciences. So there are plenty of programs to choose from.
As for its sports programs, the school’s teams are called Wildcats. There is an opportunity to enter a male or a female team. Both are members of the Pacific Rugby Premiership. The program for this sport is pretty competitive. Both male and female divisions have many big wins behind their shoulders, including wins in the Varsity Cup Championships.
This is the next educational facility worth considering. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the school was founded in 1866. It offers a broad range of academic programs for associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree levels. Also, it offers post-grad certification programs, so each of you should find something suitable here.
In terms of athletics, Davenport University has always been a great place for young sportspeople. Five of its teams are national champs, including the rugby one. The school’s program for this sport is deservedly recognized as one of the most competitive and thorough ones in the country. It’s a member of the Midwest Rugby Conference and holder of multiple titles.
The next option you have is a private Catholic college located in Moraga, California. It was founded in 1863 and has been affiliated with the Catholic Church since its establishment. Compared to the previous schools, this one is rather small. Though it offers both undergraduate and graduate programs, its student count is under 4,000. Moreover, its admission committee is also quite selective, which is why the acceptance rate is just slightly over 70%. That is, studying here might be quite difficult, so you will want to use all available opportunities to make your student life easier here.
Getting back to athletics, this college boasts one of the oldest rugby teams in the country - it was established in 1888. It is also recognized as one of the most elite varsity programs in the US. Saint Mary’s Gaels are members of the Pacific Rugby Premiership. Last year they even made it to the finals in the D1A National Championship but lost to the United States Military Academy.
Finally, the last (but not worst) on our list is the United States Military Academy. This academy is also known as West Point or just the Army. It is a national service academy founded in 1802 and located in West Point, New York. Being the oldest of the five US service academies, USMA has a very low acceptance rate - only 10.7%. Getting into this school is hard. And it’s also known for its high academic standards, so studying here without the help of the best paper writing services is hard as well. Thus, if you pick this option, you will have to work hard and leverage the help of professionals.
As you can easily guess, this service academy is widely known for its powerful athletic programs. It’s home to a number of historic athletic facilities, as well as modern complexes, including the Anderson Rugby Complex. The school’s team is recognized as one of the best ones in the country. It holds multiple titles and the best win-loss percentage. And, as you already know, last year, Army also became the D1A National champs.
If you are an inspired young athlete, now you have a list of the best options available in the US. The schools on this list are just a few examples of universities with excellent rugby programs. Of course, there are many other options too. So, when choosing a school for yourself, be sure to consider all important factors, including the location, academic programs, and overall campus culture, to ensure that the chosen option is a good fit for you.
