🔑 Key Takeaways:

Nearly 40% of D1A college rugby games were decided by 9 points or fewer, showing rising parity.

St. Ignatius (Cleveland) and Charlotte Cardinals are strong favorites heading into nationals, but several contenders could shake up the field.

Playing tougher schedules, attending camps/tours, and focusing on long-term player development are critical for teams seeking national recognition.

1. College Rugby Season Recap

Cal vs. Life: Cal wins D1A National Championship

No team went undefeated in D1A

Nearly half of top matchups were close contests

Notable program improvements: UCSB, Cal State Long Beach, Mount St. Mary’s

Emphasis on growing domestic talent alongside international athletes

2. High School Rugby Landscape

St. Francis (NorCal), Torrey Pines & Cathedral Catholic (SoCal) maintained rankings despite early season end

St. Ignatius (Cleveland) showed dominance across top-tier matchups

Surprise risers

NorCal Premier League: Over one-third of games decided by close margins

3. How Teams Can Level Up

Play tougher opponents—even at the risk of losing

Encourage players to join select sides and off-season camps

Create player exchange/tour opportunities (e.g. Oliver Kirk’s NZ tour)

Develop players across all age groups, not just high school varsity

4. Nationals Preview

Club Tier 1: Charlotte Cardinals are the team to beat

Single School: St. Ignatius (Cleveland) enters as favorite, with Herriman in close pursuit

Tier 2 Dark Horse: Fort Hunt (VA) highlighted for their explosive and unpredictable style

5. Next Steps for Coaches & Programs

Review schedules to include out-of-region matches for national exposure

Promote player participation in camps, academies, and tours

Support ongoing growth of competitive rugby across all U.S. regions

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Key Takeaways:

• UW Rugby offers partial scholarships and tagged applications that provide recruits an admissions advantage.

• Daily training, academic support, and rehab services reflect a high-performance environment.

• Character, academics, and work ethic are the cornerstones of Wheaton’s recruiting philosophy.

• Strong informal ties to the Seattle Seawolves (MLR), including coaching support and player development opportunities.

Topics Covered:

• Will Wheaton’s rugby journey: From Shawnigan Lake to head coach at just 22

• The rise of UW Rugby: Post-COVID growth, alumni backing, and climbing the conference ranks

• A look at the UW player schedule: Field sessions, gym, film, medical, and study tables

• MLR connections: Support from Seawolves players and coaching staff

• Recruiting the right players: Focus on character, academics, and team-first mentality

• Scholarships and support: Alumni-funded aid and tagged applications

Get Involved:

Players interested in learning more or beginning the recruitment process should email coach@huskyrugby.com or visit HuskyRugby.com

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Recruitment Form CLICK HERE

Topics

Matt Sherman's Rugby Background

Started playing rugby in high school at Piedmont, California

Played at Cal, winning 4 national championships

Continued rugby career at Oxford while getting master's degree

Began coaching early, including high school team while at Cal

Army West Point Rugby Program

Typical cadet schedule: classes, formations, team meals, afternoon training

Practice schedule: Mon (weights/film), Tue-Wed (intense field work), Thu (gym/mental), Fri (team run)

Program values: trust, commitment, love - doing the right thing, giving best effort, putting team first

2022 National Championship factors: strong leadership, culture improvements post-COVID, depth, few injuries

Recruiting for Army Rugby

Look for character first - attitude, effort, living team values

Physical ability is secondary to character traits

Recruitment process:

Junior year: Winter webinar, start application in February

Senior year: Summer Leadership Experience (SLE) week, July 7-10 summer camp

Encourage talking to Army officers/West Point grads in community

Next Steps

Check show notes for Matt Sherman's contact info and recruitment questionnaire

Consider attending Army's Summer Leadership Experience (SLE) for rising seniors

Look into Army's summer rugby camp July 7-10 (details coming soon)

Watch for Army vs Cal Berkeley match on March 15th

Continue efforts to grow rugby at all levels to positively influence more lives

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Topics

Troy Hall's Rugby Journey

Started playing rugby at age 5 in New Zealand

Moved to the USA, played for various clubs including White Plains and Old Blue

Selected for USA Eagles in both 7s (2008) and 15s, playing until 2015

Transitioned to coaching, including roles with Rugby Oregon and Oregon State

Clemson Rugby Program Development

Troy took over as Director of Rugby in 2020 during COVID-19

Focused on building relationships, engaging players, and establishing a strong culture

Introduced "Mahi" concept (meaning "to work hard") as a cornerstone of team culture

Developed a professional-like environment with dedicated facilities and support systems

Player Development and Recruitment

Looks for players with resilience, fitness, and willingness to learn

Offers individualized skill development and video analysis

Runs a remote high-performance academy (Mahi) for holistic athlete development

Actively recruits through website and direct communication with Troy

Clemson Rugby Foundation and Alumni Network

Foundation supports operational needs, coaching, and field maintenance

Recently improved engagement through live streaming of games

Working on building a sustainable program with long-term staff and resources

Rugby Schedule and Structure

Fall season focuses on 15s, typically 8-9 games

Spring season dedicated to 7s, with 7-8 tournaments scheduled

Next Steps

Check Clemson Rugby website (clemsonrugby.com) for updated recruitment information

Consider applying to Troy's Mahi high-performance program at hallconsultants.com

Reach out directly to Troy at troy@clemsonrugby.com for recruitment inquiries

Look out for potential Clemson Rugby visit to NorCal for recruitment and networking

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Key Takeaways

USA Youth and High School Rugby, formed in 2021, has significantly improved youth rugby's positioning and representation

Key initiatives include high-performance partnerships, coaching education (Six Degrees), and developing a comprehensive player pathway

Current focus is on building foundations for scalable growth, aiming for 1 million youth players in the future

Challenges include geographic spread and competition with established U.S. sports, but rugby community engagement is a key strength

Topics

Giovanni Valetti's Rugby Background

Born in South Africa to Italian grandparents

First rugby experience: 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa

Moved to U.S., studied sports management

Became Executive Director of SoCal Rugby in 2018 before joining USA Youth and High School Rugby

Formation and Structure of USA Youth and High School Rugby

Created in 2021 following USA Rugby's restructuring

501(c)(3) organization focused on youth and high school rugby

Board structure with regional representation

Aims to insulate youth game from potential issues at higher levels

Provides more direct representation for youth rugby interests

Current Initiatives and Programs

High Performance Partnership with U.S. national teams

Six Degrees coaching education platform

Imagine Rugby (non-contact introductory program)

Working on integrated strategic plan for player pathway

Focus on mass participation and skill development

Challenges and Opportunities

Geographic spread makes competition and travel difficult

Need to compete with established U.S. sports for participants

Current player base is substantial compared to some rugby nations

Opportunity to leverage upcoming World Cups (2031, 2033) for growth

Building sustainable structures for post-World Cup growth

Community Engagement and Retention

Rugby community provides networking, job opportunities, and lifelong connections

Focus on retaining players as coaches, referees, and administrators

Working to improve communication and engagement with clubs and players

Encouraging content sharing from clubs and state organizations for social media

Next Steps

Continue developing and promoting Six Degrees coaching platform

Expand high-performance initiatives and player pathways

Improve marketing and communication to showcase YHS Rugby's work

Encourage more content sharing from clubs and state organizations

Focus on building sustainable structures for long-term growth beyond 2033 World Cups

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agoff@goffrugbyreport.com

Key Takeaways

Girls youth rugby is experiencing significant growth

Increased number of single-school rugby teams emerging across the US

USA Rugby's "Moonshot" goal aims for World Cup quarterfinals in 2031, with improved talent identification and development pathways

College rugby programs are adapting to demographic changes and exploring new recruitment strategies

Topics

Growth in High School Rugby

Girls youth and high school rugby seeing explosive growth

Boys high school rugby continuing steady growth

Increase in single-school teams, including public schools in Northern California, Southern California, Louisiana, Texas, and Florida

Positive impact of on-campus rugby programs for recruitment and sustainability

Player Development and National Team Pathways

USA Rugby implementing virtual academy and talent ID camps across the country

Improved tracking and follow-up systems for identified players

Virtual academy provides specific feedback on skills and areas for improvement

Emphasis on proactive communication from players to coaches and selectors

Women's rugby allows for later entry into high-level play compared to men's

College Rugby Landscape

Enrollment cliff affecting college admissions, particularly for young men

Two-year programs like American River College and Iowa Central providing alternative pathways

D1A programs investing in high-level coaches to improve competitiveness

Importance of building depth and developing B-side players for program sustainability

Notable Players and Programs

Players to watch: Max Colson (Charlotte Cardinals), Spencer Huntley, Mark French (St. Ignatius), Jack Patek (Jesuit Sacramento)

College programs of interest: American River College, Iowa Central, UNC Chapel Hill, Cal Poly, UCLA

High School Rankings and Nationals

Goff Rugby Report releases preseason top 50 boys high school rankings

Rankings based on previous year's performance, returning players, and program trajectory

National championships in Elkhart, Indiana provide excellent playing conditions and affordable accommodations

Next Steps

Submit applications for high school national championships by February 1st

Watch for emerging single-school programs and their impact on local rugby scenes

Monitor the progress of USA Rugby's talent identification and development initiatives

Keep an eye on college programs adapting to demographic changes and new coaching hires

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Chris O'Brien's Rugby Background

Grew up in a rugby family, father played at Stanford in the 1950s

Started playing at 14-15 years old with the Old Blues club

Played multiple sports (football, water skiing) which contributed to his rugby development

Represented the USA Eagles national team

Transitioned into coaching after playing, including youth, high school, college, and international levels

Cal Poly Rugby Program Development

O'Brien is in his 4th year as head coach

Focused on building team culture and skill development

Scheduling tougher opponents (BYU, Central Washington, Army) to challenge players

Balancing academics and rugby, with high GPA requirements for admission (3.6-4.2 depending on major)

Training and Player Development

Emphasis on basic skill development and repetition

Incorporates video analysis sessions to improve player understanding

Pushes players in training to simulate game fatigue and decision-making

Utilizes men's club matches to expose players to higher-level competition

Recruitment and Admissions

Program is attracting more interest from potential players

Admissions are highly competitive (1 in 10 applicants accepted)

Cannot tag or influence admissions as a club sport

Many players come from the Bay Area

Future Plans and Opportunities

Considering organizing summer camps to develop youth rugby in the area

Building relationships with the Cal Poly football program for potential crossover athletes

Exploring ways to improve fundraising to support team travel and experiences

Next Steps

Prepare for upcoming tough stretch of games (Central Washington, St. Mary's, Santa Barbara, Army, UCLA)

Continue to develop relationships with Cal Poly football program for potential player crossover

Investigate possibilities for organizing summer rugby camps in San Luis Obispo

Maintain focus on academics and encourage prospective players to prioritize grades for admission

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USA Rugby has launched a Virtual Academy to connect with and develop players nationwide

Players should focus on building good habits and creating a positive learning environment for themselves

The talent ID process looks at athletic testing, rugby skills, and intangibles like communication and body language

There's a clear pathway from U18 to U20 to senior national teams, but players can enter at various points

Topics

USA Rugby Pathway Overview

Goal is to reach World Cup quarterfinals by 2031 ("moonshot" program)

Pathway extends from U15 to U23 age groups

Virtual Academy launched to engage players year-round

In-person talent ID camps and assemblies for U18 and U20 teams

Players given feedback and development plans after camp

Player Development Focus

Emphasis on building good habits and routines from a young age

Players encouraged to create positive learning environments for themselves

Importance of being coachable and honest about areas for improvement

Technical skills, athleticism, and intangibles like communication all evaluated

Talent Identification Process

Talent ID camps test 10m/40m sprints and standing broad jump

Rugby skills assessed through drills and small-sided games

Coaches evaluate decision-making, spatial awareness, and execution under pressure

Player body language and communication also factored in

Long-Term Vision

Establish permanent regional training centers across the U.S.

Increase number of assemblies and staff to compete at top international level

Use 2031 World Cup as launching point for further growth of rugby in America

Connect more directly with players/coaches to provide resources and answer questions

Next Steps

Players should engage with Virtual Academy if interested in pathway

Prepare for upcoming NorCal talent ID camps on Jan 25 and March 23

Coaches/players encouraged to reach out directly to USA Rugby staff with questions

Continue building towards 2031 World Cup "moonshot" goal

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