Vikings Come Together for Best Alumni Weekend Turnout in Program History

Western Washington University Men’s Rugby rolled out the red carpet for its alumni community on May 29–30 and the turnout made history. Over 100 people descended on Bellingham for a weekend that blended celebration, competition, camaraderie, and a little friendly revenge from the alumni side of the ball.

‍Friday, May 29: Alumni Round-Up at El Capitan’s Taproom

The weekend kicked off Friday evening at El Capitan’s Taproom in Bellingham, with alumni making the trip for the annual pre-match round-up, presented by Joyco Digital. Old teammates reconnected over pints, swapped stories from seasons gone by, and got their first look at this year’s squad before Saturday’s main events. The energy was high from the start, a fitting preview of what was to come.

Saturday, May 30: Chuckanut 10s Tournament & Annual General Meeting

Game Day opened at 9:00 AM with the Chuckanut 10s Tournament at deWilde Polo & Rugby Fields. One of the highlights of the morning was the debut of a special entry team, WWU: Past, Present, and Future, a squad made up of alumni, current players, and incoming recruits representing the full arc of the program in a single jersey. It was a powerful image on a weekend built around exactly that kind of continuity.

At 10:00 AM, during the tournament, the Western Rugby Alumni held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Club House. The AGM gave alumni a direct line into how the WRA supports the club, its scholarship programs, and the strategic direction of the program going forward.

1:00 PM: The Fanfare Alumni Game: Alumni Claim Victory in a Classic Finish

Then came the main event, and it delivered.

With a packed crowd, and 100-plus in attendance spread across the pitch on a beautiful Bellingham afternoon, the alumni side came out with something to prove. Coached by a familiar staff and featuring some fun cameos from early-2000s era Vikings, the current team team set the tone early, jumping out to a three-try lead that had the crowd buzzing. 100 plus alumni dating back to the mis 60's

The alumni squad answered, scoring a number of well executed scores to take the lead by three trys. The WWU boys, playing over 40 players on the day, came roaring back and again took the lead playing some very enterprising rugby. As one alumni said "Champagne rugby!" In the closing minutes, they put the match to bed with a final score that sent the sidelines into celebration. Alumni won. The program’s past generation had come back and, for one afternoon, got the better of its present-day heirs.

4:30 PM: Post-Match Function at Kulshan Brewing Co.

The celebration carried over to Kulshan Brewing Co.’s K2 location, presented by Praxis PT and Madak, where the rugby community, alumni and current players alike, gathered to close out an exceptional day. Win or lose, the post-match function is always a cornerstone of alumni weekend, and this year’s gathering lived up to that tradition.

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"There’s something special about the alumni game that is hard to explain, and especially if you have never been part of it. Looking across the field and seeing players who have been through the program still show up to support and compete is a reminder for the kind of team we are building. This year’s alumni game was the best one we’ve had, from the game itself to the pre and post match socials, being able to reconnect with guys I have shared the field with and celebrate a national championship together made it something truly unforgettable. We are extremely grateful to everyone who came out this year and it is always an honor and privilege to contribute to a program far greater than myself, and these events remind me why."

-Club President, Gabe Galvez

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That was the word from the program after the final whistle, and the numbers back it up: best participation, best alumni turnout, and 15 new WRA memberships to show for it. Alumni Game Weekend 2026 set a new standard for what this community is capable of when it comes together, and with a National Championship as the backdrop, there couldn’t have been a better year for it.

See you next year, Vikings.