The 4th Annual Urban Rugby Championship (URC) is heading to New Orleans on March 20-22, marking another milestone in the growth of urban rugby. Striving for equity on the field aligns with the mission of Urban Rugby America (URA) — to transform the lives of young athletes in under-resourced communities through the power of rugby. This year’s championship represents another step toward that vision, bringing together teams from across the country for high-level competition and life-changing experiences.
Urban Rugby America can trace its roots to the 2015 Las Vegas Invitational, where the founders of LA-based Inner-City Education Foundation (ICEF) Rugby and Memphis Inner-City Rugby (MICR) – Stuart Krohn and Shane Young, respectively – crossed paths.
“Urban Rugby America began as a shared vision — how do we ensure that rugby not only takes off in our communities, but flourishes,” said ICEF Director Lisa Finegan, who joined ICEF in 2015. “What are we doing collectively to grow the game in under-resourced areas? How do we ensure our programs don’t get left behind, and the kids we serve gain access to unique, life-changing opportunities through rugby? From those early discussions, Urban Rugby America has expanded into a nationwide movement, providing pathways for youth to develop as athletes, leaders, and global ambassadors for the sport.”
2023 Urban Rugby Championship
The Urban Rugby Championships were part of that answer, and that first URA tournament occurred in Memphis in 2022. Programs flew into Tennessee, enjoyed a welcome dinner, and then took the pitch for a day of 7s. This was the event in American rugby history exclusively dedicated to serving youth from a low-income and urban demographic. A stake in the ground.
“Urban Rugby America is about breaking barriers and expanding horizons,” said Finegan. “At its core, our mission is to provide black and brown youth from under-resourced communities with access to opportunities they might never have imagined — whether it’s traveling cross-country, experiencing new cultures, or competing against high-level teams that look like them. This initiative isn’t just about rugby; it’s about equity, representation, and ensuring that young athletes from our communities have the same transformational experiences as anyone else in the sport.”
2023 Urban Rugby Championship
In 2023, ICEF hosted the tournament, and it coincided with the nearby LA 7s, a stop on the HSBC SVNS Series. Finegan rang USA Women’s 7s head coach Emilie Bydwell.
“I don’t know what your training schedule is like, but do you have the time to bring the [USA 7s] girls out to meet with all these urban rugby teens from around the country,” Finegan recited the ask. “We had Naya Tapper, Ilona Maher, Kris Thomas – a bunch came out.”
The 2023 URC occurred in a torrential downpour, but Finegan negotiated use of the gymnasium, allowing not only for shelter but also an excellent opportunity for everyone – kids and Eagles – to mingle and pass the ball and chat away all day.
USA 7s player Naya Tapper
In 2024, the URC went to Washington, D.C., and the gathering’s cultural element built out. ICEF visited the Capitol and White House, teams took university visits, and there was an Urban Rugby College Fair as well. The field as a whole let their creative spirits show during the welcome dinner, as every team was tasked with performing a skit or song for their peers. It’s a fun kickoff to the tournament.
And now the URC heads to New Orleans, and Major League Rugby’s NOLA Gold will host the tournament inside its rugby stadium. Expect to see ICEF, MICR, Chicago Youth Rugby, Washington, D.C., Youth Rugby, Innercity Rugby of Nashville (ICRON) and Play Rugby USA, as well as URA members Cincinnati, North Philly, New Orleans and Patterson (N.J.), among others.
2023 Urban Rugby Championship
“From an equitable standpoint, it’s pretty exciting to have numbers,” Finegan said. “We all think that this is probably the most exciting initiative happening in youth rugby in America right now. All of the challenges we faced from recruitment to retention – trying to change lives through rugby is something we take huge pride in. We’re working really hard to make this one the best yet.”
Learn more at www.urbanrugby.org/urc25
Urban Rugby America is more than its championships – a showpiece for the good work that the organization and its members are doing. URA founding member Kevin Battle is based in Southern California, and he hosts the URA Summer College Experience at Univ. California, Santa Barbara. Anywhere from 4-8 high school students – ideally juniors – spend six weeks on campus, take a college course, and participate in organized activities. ICEF’s View Park High School students have taken advantage of the opportunity, and last year, two rugby players from MICR made the cross-country trek to participate.
2023 Urban Rugby Championship
“The idea is that they start thinking about college living and being a college student outside of their immediate area,” Finegan said. “You take that college course, but it’s much more than that. You start developing responsibility, you’re making all the lectures for that one class, you’re doing all the work. And we’ll have a resident advisor, an [ICEF] alum, who will support the students with their experience in Santa Barbara. Last summer, they did surfing, bike rides and community projects.”
Location makes ICEF’s participation in the college summer experiences a more convenient one relative to the rest of URA’s membership, but Finegan and Krohn have positioned their students for these opportunities. Stay tuned for Part II, which looks at ICEF’s rugby model, the lives impacted, and the upcoming trip to Tanzania and the URC.