FAQs
- Who is eligible to play for Royal Irish Rugby? Although the majority of players attend either Bishop Chatard or Cathedral high schools, the program is open to high school age students who attend a school without a rugby program.
- Are you a traveling team? Yes. In 2018, Royal Irish only played two home matches (Riverwood Park). The rest are around the city or out of town. The Midwest tournament and the state championship are played in Elkhart. In 2019, we will attend a new tournament hosted by the University of Kentucky rugby program. We also play matches at [The] Ohio State, Wheeling, WV and Georgetown, IL. Finally, the 2019 National Championship will be held in Salt Lake City, UT.
- How much does it cost to play rugby? Compared to other sports, Rugby is at the low in terms of cost. See our page for this year's fees. Payment options and needs-based assistance is available.
- Are there additional costs? Some players will be invited to play the Gonzaga match and/or 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. They range from $75 to $150-175. However, since the 2019 Nationals will be held in Utah, we are in the process of raising funds to offset these costs.
- 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 players must purchase a player pack (polo, pants, jacket, socks, shorts, canvas bag). The club owns all the jerseys worn during matches. We also provide rugby balls and training equipment. Each player must purchase and wear a mouth guard. Scrum caps are optional and purchased by the player. Spirit wear items are also available.
- How's the club organized? What's the governance? 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.