PRESS RELEASE – USA Youth & High School Rugby (USA Y&HSR) and the US Rugby Foundation (USRF) announced a joint agreement which will see USRF providing funding to support USA Y&HSR’s efforts to introduce, develop and grow 20 new high school rugby programs across the country.
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David Pool, President of USA Youth & High School Rugby, commented “A critical step in the development of rugby and the growth of the game is through our schools. Once rugby is established as part of the athletic programming on high school campuses, we will see new levels of growth in grassroots rugby. This new funding arrangement with
USRF will make this a reality for aspiring programs across the country.”
The overall vision of where to take rugby in the United States, when matched with the already instrumental work being done on the ground by both organizations, has made this partnership a natural fit. This funding arrangement also serves as the initiation of an important relationship that will see the two organizations working closely together moving forward.
“We are happy to support the efforts of USA Youth and High School Rugby in creating 20 or more new high school teams around the country,” said US Rugby Foundation President, Brian Vizard. “Youth and high school rugby is the cornerstone of the US Rugby Foundation and always will be. We have an opportunity and the funding available to help grow the sport at the grassroots level and we are going to do it. It is one of the largest grants we have ever awarded and we think it is money well invested.”
USA Y&HSR Executive Director Giovanna Vaglietti added, “We know through the [State Youth Rugby Organizations] where there is potential for new programs to come online. Those programs will apply to us and we will get them through the process. The idea is to help them get off the ground in the first year by having a complete strategy and plan around the program so they are self-sufficient and sustainable for the long term.”
About The US Rugby Foundation
Our mission is to grow the game of rugby in America by providing grants to support youth rugby, safety, coaching, refereeing, and pathways to future excellence and by honoring those who exemplify the best of American rugby. The Foundation provides resources to those working to grow the game of rugby in the United States that would not otherwise be available. Rugby is now played by over 4,700 men’s, women’s, masters, girls and boys teams in the United States, with the greatest growth coming from new youth and high school rugby programs. The US Rugby Foundation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit corporation organized in Delaware.
About USA Youth and High School Rugby
USA Youth and High School Rugby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organized in Washington, D.C., and an affiliate of USA Rugby. USAR has named USAY&HS as the Sanctioned Governing Body for all youth rugby in the United States, including community and school-based programs for players ages 5 – 18. The mission of USAY&HS is to provide a fun and safe environment for the development of youth rugby in the United States; develop well rounded rugby community members both on and off the pitch; and be the conduit to connect the game at all levels to promote a lifelong love of the sport of rugby.
For more info visit usrugbyfoundation.org and usayhsrugby.org.