RUGBY
Rugby originated as a variation of football in Rugby, England, in 1823. In the United States, the first rugby game was played on May 14, 1874, when Harvard University beat McGill University (Montreal) 3-0.
In Maryland, rugby has a strong following. Played by all age groups, youth through seniors, men and women, most rugby matches are organized through clubs affiliated with the Capital Rugby Union.
Founded in 1975, USA Rugby is the national organization responsible for overseeing amateur rugby teams in the United States. USA Rugby also assembles and trains the USA Eagles, the U.S. National Rugby Team. Organized into eleven divisions known as territorial and geographical club rugby unions, USA Rugby places Maryland within the Capital Rugby Union.
CAPITAL RUGBY UNION
The Capital Rugby Union schedules competitions between Union teams, and serves to organize matches with other unions. Adult, college, high school, and youth teams comprise the Union, which consists of more than 100 rugby football clubs (RFC) within different gender and age groups.
(Bel Air)
Patuxent River Rugby (Leonardtown)
Potomac Exiles (Hyattsville)
Rocky Gorge Rugby (Laurel)
Severn River RFC (Severna Park)
WOMEN’S SENIOR
YOUTH (boys & girls)*
Andover Apaches (U15, Linthicum)
Arden Youth Rugby (ages 7-17, Crownsville)
Bethesda Roosters Youth Rugby (U13, U15)
Cape St. Claire Youth Rugby (ages 6-17, Annapolis)
Ellicott City Express (U9, U11, U13, U15)
Frederick Youth Rugby (U11, U13, U15)
Freedom Fighters Youth Rugby (ages 7-14, Sykesville)
Green Hornets Youth Rugby (U9, U11, U13, U15, Severna Park & Millersville)
Howard County Hurricanes (ages 6-16, Columbia)
Maryland Exiles (U15, Silver Spring)
North Bay Youth Rugby (ages 8-17, Bel Air)
Potomac Athletic Club Youth Rugby (ages 5-17, Silver Spring)
South River Youth Rugby ( ages 5-14, Edgewater)
West Carroll Youth Rugby (U11, U15, Union Bridge)
*U9 = under age 9; U11 = under age 11; U13 = under age 13; U15 = under age 15; U19 = under age 19.
© Copyright Maryland State Archives