"Growing North American Youth Rugby"

Imagine Rugby

Imagine Rugby strives to make rugby available to the youth of North America by working in partnership with schools, recreation departments, nonprofits and MLR teams. Youth players learn leadership development, mentorship and healthylifestyles through the power of sport.

Imagine Rugby is the 501c3 arm of MRL, working in partnership with USA Rugby and USA Youth & High School Rugby with support from World Rugby.

Imagine Rugby's goal is to increase Youth Rugby participation in North America to 1 million active youth by 2030 in support of the 2031 and 2033 World Cups in the U.S.

Imagine Rugby's Offering Includes

Imagine Rugby encompasses all youth rugby, from children in Elementary school just learning what sports are, to advanced level skills leading in to professional play and Internatinoal Competion with the US Team. Imagine Rugby’ s offering includes:

Rookie Rugby

Introducing Rugby to Youth with a focus on Fun & Games

Free to Schools, PE and Recess!

Afterschool Programs

Flag League Partnerships

YHS Club & High School

Providing leagues with focus on skills and competition

Next step in pathway

Beginners / intermediates / advanced

Expanding Club & High School Presence

Collegiate

Providing a pathway beyond High School, toward elite play

Focus on Community Colleges

Critical link between high school and university play

Coaching / Refereeing curriculum

MLR Academies

Honing in elite level skills on pathway to international play

High performance player development

Elite Professional farm teams

Gateway into National Team play & World Cup

Imagine Rugby Stakeholders

Y&HS RUGBY

Governing body of youth and high school rugby in the United States

MLR

The highest level of rugby competition in North America

USA RUGBY

Governing body of rugby in the United States

WORLD RUGBY

Governing body for the sport of rugby union

Why Rugby?

Rugby has a proven track record in helping enhance the lives of those who play from a young age, studies show that:

88%

of students report their physical fitness improved as a result of playing rugby

82%

of students report their academic performance improved as a result of playing rugby

86%

of students report that rugby is helping them develop into a person with more good qualities

81%

of students are further along a pathway to happy, healthy lives and made significant gains in their positive youth development score

rookie rugby kids play