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Photo by Aspen Media Works via Westlake Thunder Rugby Youth rugby program available in S. Springs, Eagle Mtn. November 20, 2016, 5:32 amFor those interested in rugby, there will be a parent and player information session held at Westlake High School on Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. For any questions, call 801-518-3395 or send an email to sheridan21@comcast.net. The Westlake Thunder Rugby Club can also be found on Facebook. Rugby is the fastest-growing team sport in the U.S. With all the worries of concussions in football, parents and players see rugby as a safer alternative. Rugby has long been thought a more dangerous game than football as it is a full-contact sport with no pads. Rugby, as in any sport, carries a risk of injury but sees far fewer injuries than football and injuries that are less severe. Football pads and helmets are the cause of many football-related injuries, while rugby has specific rules around tackling that keep players safe. Rugby tackling techniques, being safer and more accurate, are being adopted by many football teams including the Seattle Seahawks, one of the best defensive teams in the NFL. Rugby was first played in America in 1874. The U.S. won back-to-back gold medals in the 1920 and 1924 Olympics and are still by default the reigning Olympic Champions for Rugby union (rugby fifteens). Rugby sevens made its debut at the Rio Olympics, where the U.S. was well represented by both their men's and women's teams. According to U.S.A. Rugby, there are more than 115,000 registered rugby players in America. Of those, 32,000 are on college teams with the rest in high school and club teams across the country. Interestingly, 25 percent are women, and the opportunities for collegiate scholarships for rugby are much greater for girls than they are for boys. The Sports Fitness Industry Association in the U.S. says participation numbers in rugby are at 1.2 million; either way, rugby is growing at a fast pace. U.S.A. Rugby has invested heavily in both rugby sevens and rugby fifteens, with full-time programs for both men and women. With this investment, both the men's and women's sevens teams are ranked in the top 10 in the world. In rugby fifteens, the Eagles have qualified for all but one Rugby World Cup. The goal is to have all teams ranked in the top five in the world in the next five years. Professional rugby just had its first full season in the U.S. and will help fuel top level athletes choosing rugby over other sports in the U.S. The community news source for Eagle Mountain Utah, Saratoga Springs Utah, Lehi Utah, American Fork Utah, Highland Utah, Alpine Utah, and The Cedar Valley, including Cedar Fort Utah and Fairfield Utah. Copyright 2025 The Crossroads Journal LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Photo by: Aspen Media Works via Westlake Thunder Rugby ©
Source: USA Rugby, Will the U.S. learn to love rugby |
