UTD Rugby Club - Road to Nationals

So, What Is Rugby?

Rugby is one of the fastest-growing U.S. collegiate sports for both men and women, and even more popular in countries around the world. American football is similar to rugby except there is no forward pass and game play never stops after a tackle. There is a significantly smaller concussion rate in rugby as compared to football, but the sport requires more mental and physical stamina.

There are a few variations on the rules of rugby. The UTD men's team plays rugby union, with two teams of 15 players each. The UTD women play 10s in the fall and 7s in the spring, featuring 10 and seven players respectively on each side. There is a position on the pitch (the official name of a rugby playing field) for everyone, regardless of body shape and size.

This summer in Rio de Janeiro, rugby will be reintroduced to the Olympic Games. Qualifying teams will compete in rugby 7s, which the UTD men also began playing after the 15s season ended.

Our Success

We have seen much on-the-field success since the creation of the UTD Rugby Club five years ago, with two state championships and one state runner-up title under our belt. Both teams have also moved up to Division II and play in the top tier of our conference. The men's team this year included seven freshman starters, and we advanced to the playoffs. Sadly, though, we lost to the state champions. The women's team was undefeated in the fall 2015 season until the final game before playoffs, with the loss knocking us down from first place to third. The women finished fifth in the fall and wrapped up their first 7s season with two wins and eight losses over the course of three spring tournaments.

Check out Coach Wagner's blog to read about our season and see more pictures. 

A New Hope

This coming season, the entire starting 15 will return for the men’s team. In conjunction with a strong recruiting class, we expect this will push our team forward into a successful season. However, our conference will also be tougher because of other teams moving between tier 1 and tier 2. The women, on the other hand, will have five graduating seniors, which means it's time for the younger team members to take charge and carry on our tradition. This is where we need your help.

Our Goal

At UT Dallas, rugby is considered a club sport. Because of this designation, we receive limited funds from the school, and the remaining expenses are the responsibilities of the individual players. Your donation will help us with: 

Priority 1:  Purchasing a Scrum Sled. Acquiring enough money to purchase the club's first sled will improve our techniques and keep us safe.

Priority 2:  Practice Gear and Dues. Our club is open to players of all skill levels. Your donation can help eliminate a student's financial burden of purchasing practice gear and paying rugby dues. 

Priority 3: Travel Expenses. Help us get to away games on our road to nationals!

Your Donation Matters; Make a Gift Today

Any amount you wish to give in support of rugby at UT Dallas is appreciated. All gifts are considered charitable contributions to The University of Texas at Dallas and tax-deductible as allowed by law. Click the Give Now button to make a secure online credit-card donation.

Thank You for Supporting UTD Rugby 

The strength of crowdfunding is sharing the message through social media. Even if you cannot donate please share!

#ImpactUTDRugby      #ImpactUTD

https://impact.utdallas.edu/rugby

Like Us On Facebook   Follow Us @UTDRugby   Follow Us @UTDwRugby

Other Ways to Give

CHECK: See a member of the UTD Rugby Club or send by mail a personal check, cashier’s check or money order payable to UT Dallas and indicate your gift is for the Impact UTD Rugby Project. Mail to: Office of Development and Alumni Relations, SPN10, 800 W. Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080

PLEDGE: You can make a pledge commitment and set up a payment schedule that works best for you. Contact Marcus Baker (marcus.baker@utdallas.edu) to arrange this option.