Since I played rugby over 20 years ago I have hoped that youth rugby would have been more prevalent. Bishop Hendricken has had a program for several years, and any high school-aged program in Rhode Island would typically compete in the Massachusetts League. Due to my career and starting a family, I quietly left rugby to focus on other things. But it still nagged at me.

It is a great sport. The adage of it is a combination of American Football and Soccer…it’s fairly true – but still, it is a lot more.

To play offense AND defense. Pass with your hands, laterally or behind, and kick with your feet! If you have the ball, there is no one to block for you. The line-outs are where you lift a teammate about ten feet into the air to catch an in-bounding throw.

The rucks…the MAULS…SCRUMDOWNS! Then there is the tackling.

I grew up with and loved playing soccer, but I did want to try football. By the time I really considered it I was too invested in soccer and I did not want to give it up.

Fast forward to the winter of 2022. There was a promotion for a free rugby camp during winter break and my oldest son Lincoln, then 10 years old, wanted to try it out. From there we did several practice sessions with Coach Daniel Mejia-Onat of Providence Pirates Rugby. During that time I spoke with Coach Daniel and he mentioned the need for more of a rugby presence in Southern Rhode Island. His charismatic force planted a seed in my mind.

The fall of 2022 had me finishing my graduate work and I knew I would have more time to do something else…then I saw a post about several North Kingstown High School students who wanted to start a rugby team and there was already a coach and a plan….it felt like perfect timing! Southern Rhode Island is a ready for its youth to have the sport of rugby to play and compete in.

I am easy to excite and motivate – so here we are with Ocean State Rugby! This year, the organization will do what is possible to quickly establish the legal aspect and gain experience supporting those willing and motivating older kids to play, as well as formulate opportunities for any middle school or younger-aged child to learn and compete.

Concerned about tackling? No worries, it starts with touch/flag for those in 6th grade and younger.

Tackling is too dangerous, and rugby does not have protective gear…my child will not play that barbaric sport! -While rugby is a contact sport, there is a proper rugby tackling technique in which, when there is good coaching, good officiating, and proper sportsmanship, it does not entail any more significant risk of injury than other contact sports.