Rugby's more than a sport at WOU
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Rugby at Western Oregon University isn't just a sport; it's a vibrant community, an avenue for growth, and a catalyst for inclusivity.
Over the years, Western has evolved into a central hub for rugby in Oregon, embracing the sport across various levels and fostering an environment that champions diversity and achievement.
The success story of Western’s club sports rugby program goes beyond the field. Established in 2001 for men and in 2004 for women, the teams quickly made their mark.
The university's club sports rugby program stands as a testament to inclusivity, with the women's program officially named Women's+ to welcome individuals identifying as transgendered or nonbinary. This practice, prevalent in the rugby world, echoes Western’s commitment to fostering an inclusive sporting environment.
The men's team qualified for the national championship in 2008 and has won numerous conference and regional championships since. As a result of some very successful seasons in the last few years, they are consistently ranked in their division as one of the top National Collegiate Rugby teams.
The Women's+ team has experienced its share of achievements, securing a spot in nationals during their first year of competing. Since then, they’ve had numerous conference championships.
Rugby offers two distinct forms of gameplay. The fall season typically consists of traditional 15s rugby (15 players), while the spring season introduces the dynamic and fast-paced rugby 7s (7 players), which is also an Olympic sport that has significantly contributed to rugby's popularity.
Western participates in both, fielding teams for men and women, marking their presence in both formats and championed recently over Oregon State University and the University of Oregon rugby club sport teams.
Associate Director of Campus Recreation Andy Main said that Western has become a well-known and appreciated institution among youth, high school, and adult club rugby in Oregon. He adds this is partly due to the Western rugby team’s successes, but also because many of Western’s alumni coach, officiate, play, or otherwise support rugby in the state.
Main adds that Western is appreciated as a reliable partner for state and regional rugby competitions as they’ve hosted national qualifiers for collegiate rugby 7s, the high school state rugby championship, adult club rugby playoffs, and training courses for rugby officials and coaches.
"It has been amazing to have had the opportunity to directly observe the WOU rugby program's growth and success over the last six years,” said Main. “The WOU rugby players, coaches, supporters, and alumni have all helped make this level of sustained success possible, so it's an absolute thrill to see that hard work pay off, and to see the community embrace and take pride in WOU rugby."
Looking ahead, Western is gearing up for an action-packed spring season. The men's team is hosting the National Collegiate Rugby qualifying tournament on March 23, 2024, with teams from across the region vying for a spot in the nationals.
Plans are also underway to finalize the date for hosting the Women's + qualifying tournament, with eyes set on the nationals in Washington, D.C., in April, should Western’s team qualify.
(Publisher’s note: This is a press release from Western Oregon University.)
