Rugby
Rugby at WMA
Wilbraham & Monson Academy is proud to be part of the growing sport of rugby in the United States. With its global school mission and its international student body, WMA is perfectly positioned to create a strong, enduring rugby program. Rugby is the second largest team sport in the world, with more than three million players in 115 different countries, and it is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States.
Rugby is played at nearly every college and university in the U.S. and almost every major city across the globe. WMA Rugby prepares players well for future athletic involvement in college and provides entry into a global community of players and enthusiasts.
Played in the spring, rugby is a varsity sport at WMA. WMA Rugby is part of the newly established Massachusetts Youth Rugby Organization (MYRO), the state-based arm of USA Rugby. Opponents include public and private schools in addition to club teams. The Academy also plays outside its conference against traditional prep rivals and participates in regional tournaments.
WMA has offered varsity and junior varsity teams for boys, and our varsity girls program was introduced in 2018 after students took the initiative and, with help from the administration, formed a roster and competitive schedule.
All home matches are played on an official and dedicated rugby pitch at Hugh Harrell field.
Our Boys and Girls teams
Learn more about our Boys' Rugby team.
Learn more about our Girls' Rugby team.
Why Rugby?
Rugby is a continual game where all players can run, kick, tackle, and score. WMA is fortunate to have a large number of players with rugby experience from a wide range of rugby-playing countries including Australia, Argentina, Japan, and the US. Yet many of our players are new to the game. We welcome players of all abilities, sizes, and experience.
WMA Rugby is a teaching program that strives to find the best fit and position for each player. The WMA philosophy emphasizes player development and enjoyment of the game
Rugby is part of the fabric of WMA
The following story was written by our Boys' Rugby coaches - Wally Swanson and Tim Harrington '73 - for the Academy World Spring 2020 issue.
Five students and one faculty member from Wilbraham & Monson Academy had the opportunity to travel to Morocco in June. I was fortunate enough to be one of the students to experience the sights, sounds and smells of a country forged throughout history by European, African and Arab cultures. Although we might seem like a small group, we actually met up with 15 other students and five additional chaperones from schools in Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Georgia. What started out as a nerve-wracking experience with complete strangers turned into an unforgettable trip with new friends.