FAQs
- Who is eligible to play for Royal Irish Rugby? We field teams at the high school, middle, and grade school levels. For high school, as long as your school does NOT have a rugby program, you are eligible to play for Royal Irish. Boys and girls from 4th grade to 8th grade can join one of our youth teams. Rugby Indiana allows 3rd graders to 'play up'. Please visit www.RugbyIndiana.com for more details.
- Are you a traveling team? Yes. In 2021, the high school team played around the Indianapolis area and also attended tournaments and matches in Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio, and played at the National Tournament in Salt Lake City, UT. The Midwest tournament and the state championship are played in Elkhart, IN. Youth teams play in the Indianapolis area but might travel to Elkhart for the state tournament.
- How much does it cost to play rugby? Compared to other sports, Rugby is affordable. Payment options and needs-based assistance is available. Also, Rugby Indiana, our governing body, has a separate fee to cover insurance, referee, and other costs.
- Are there additional costs? Some players might be invited to play at the National Championship. There is an additional fee for lodging and meals if you attend one of these matches. Thanks to our generous sponsors, we keep those fees as low as possible. The 2022 Nationals will be held in Elkhart, IN and we expect the additional fee to be around $150.
- Do you hire buses for travel? No. All players must travel with one of our parent volunteers.
- What equipment is required to play rugby? New high school players must purchase uniforms or 'warmups' (polo, pants, jacket) to be worm during travel. High school players must purchase two pairs of Canterbury Advantage shorts (navy and white). These are available through Amazon using the links in the registration page. Youth players must purchase a pair of Canterbury navy rugby shorts and navy socks. The club provides match game jerseys. Each player must purchase and wear a mouthguard. Cleats are required for high school players. Scrum caps are optional and can be purchased by the player. Spirit wear items are also available by contacting Julie Wood at jjragw5@gmail.com.
- How is the club organized? We are a 100% volunteer-run organization. Our governing body is the parent board, consisting of parents, our head coach and the club's administrator.