This is an exciting time in Western Washington University (WWU) Men’s Rugby program, and we want you to be a part of it… Are you up for the challenge of taking the WWU Rugby program to the next level? Do you want to be a champion? Are you willing to put in the work to become a champion?
Read the following and if you’re interested in what WWU has to offer then click on the ‘Recruiting Contact Form’ tab on the ‘Recruiting’ drop down menu, complete the form, then click ‘Submit’, and one of the coaches will contact you shortly.
As with most rugby programs across the nation, Western’s program is a club sport. But a club sport that is more than a club sport. Rugby at WWU hovers between club status and varsity status, in that we compete for National Championships in both 7′s and 15′s, and we have a paid coach. WWU competes in the Northwest Collegiate Rugby Conference (NCRC), in both 15′s and 7′s, and competes for National Championships which are administered by the US Rugby Union. Last year WWU’s 7′s team finished 13th in the Nationals that were held at Texas A & M University. The 15′s team didn’t make it out of the NCRC playoffs as that honor and a seeding in the ‘sweet 16′ bracket of the National Tournament went to Oregon State University.
Rugby is back in the Olympics beginning with the 2016 games in Rio and we will do everything in our power to help you in any way we can to earn a spot on the USA 7′s team, if that is one of your goals.
We are committed to helping you become the best rugby player you can be.
In June, 2012, the Western Washington University Men’s Rugby Alumni Association was formed to help take the program to the next level. The immediate goals set as follows:
- Make the WWU program an attractive option for high school rugby players throughout the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia, and, as an elite option and a pathway to the Olympics.
- Secure excellent coaching for all levels of the program
- Bring aboard people who have strong organization and management skills to help with the running of the program.
- Secure enough financial backing to fund the program and exhibit fiscal responsibility.
All four of the above goals are at or near completion.
With the hiring of Paul Horne as Director of Rugby and Head 15′s coach and the retaining of Adam Roberts as 7′s coach and backs coach of the 15′s, and Colin Campbell as forwards coach of the 15′s, item number 2 on the goals list has been completed. Click on the ‘Staff’ tab to get full profiles of each of the coaches.
Number 3 on the goals list has been taken care of with the bringing on board of Jeff Lombard (US Eagle) as Team Manager. (See Jeff’s profile on the ‘Staff’ tab)
And the WWU Men’s Rugby Alumni Association is in the process of accomplishing Number 4 on the goals list. We have had a tremendous response from alumni and friends of WWU Rugby and will continue to get people involved. At the fund raising kick-off event Don Burgess, one of the people who helped establish the program in the mid-1950′s was present, and Gus Fumano spoke about what the involvement in WWU Rugby meant to him. Both men were Canada Internationals.
Item number 1 on the goals list should be one of the easiest to accomplish given the resources provided by fulfilling goals 2, 3, and 4. Consider these factors when thinking about your choice of schools:
- You will get a quality education – WWU ranked 3rd in the US News Regional Public Universities (West) category, a region that stretches from Texas to the Pacific. The many degree programs offered by WWU will satisfy the needs of almost every student who chooses WWU.
- WWU is located on a stunning 215 acre campus in one of the most beautiful areas of the United States, Bellingham, Washington. Bellingham is the gateway to the San Juan Islands (all 192 of them) and is 90 miles north of Seattle. WWU is also only 55 miles south of one of the great cities in North America, Vancouver, British Columbia. Home of the 2010 Winter Olympics, and the recreational opportunities in this corner of the world are unlimited. Click on this link for a photo tour of the WWU Campus: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwu/sets/72157600402648802/show/
- WWU is located in one of the hotbeds for rugby in North America. The best rugby in Canada (and maybe on the Pacific Coast) is played in British Columbia so coming to WWU will give you the opportunity to play and learn from the best. The Washington State High School 2012 Rugby Champions are part of the Chuckanut Bay Rugby Club of Bellingham.
- And we haven’t even mentioned the new stadium which is due to be completed during the 2013/2014 school year.
We invite you to go to WWU’s website and explore further what this great school and fabulous region have to offer. Click on this link: http://www.wwu.edu/
Northwest Collegiate Rugby Conference (NCRC) Teams:
- Western Washington University – Bellingham, WA
- University of Washington – Seattle, WA
- Washington State University – Pullman, WA
- Eastern Washington University – Cheney, WA
- University of Idaho – Moscow, ID
- Boise State University – Boise, ID
- Western Oregon University – Monmouth, OR
- University of Oregon – Eugene, OR