The sport of rugby continues to blossom in North Raleigh. After starting with just twenty five kids a few years ago, the Raleigh Redhawks Youth
Rugby program is launching the first-ever High School Rugby team’s. The addition of the High School teams now gives the Raleigh Redhawks a complete sweep of all age group, something that not many rugby programs in the country can boast. 

This coming season, the Raleigh Redhawks will have teams in seven different age brackets. The North Carolina Youth Rugby Union has switched from the traditional “age groups” to classifying teams based on what grade the players are in as a way to align with other school sports. The Raleigh Redhawks now offer teams at the following grade levels: K-2nd (non-contact Coed), 3rd-4th (non-contact Coed), 5th-6th (non contact Coed/contact), Middle School (7th-8th), and High School Boys (JV and Varsity) and High School Girls.

The Raleigh Redhawks president, John  Adams will oversee the program and Andy Thomas serving as Head Coach of the new team.

As a club team, the High School teams are open to all High School players in the area regardless of what High School they attend. The club is pulling the majority of players from North Raleigh and Leesville area but will include players from Athens Drive, Apex and Cardinal Gibbons.  The Raleigh Redhawks High School teams will begin practice this weekend and their opening match is on February 14th, 2015. The squad jumps into the very tough NCYRU Multi-High
School Division with teams from Charlotte, Chapel Hill, Triad and Pinehurst to name a few.  The Clayton Copperheads are also new to the High School ranks, but are no stranger to the Raleigh Redhawks as the two clubs have battled it out at the youth level for years.

With the addition of the High School teams in Raleigh, along with the launch of Middle school 15s team this year, the
area now has rugby opportunities for players of all ages. There are players in  the area ages 5 through 18+ actively enjoying and participating in this wonderful sport. Rugby is a sport for life and Raleigh Redhawks are proudly
turning our corner of Wake County into a rugby hotbed.

If you would like to learn more about the Raleigh RedHawks High School team, please visit their website. The team is actively recruiting High School Boys and Girls in Wake County to join the team. No experience is necessary and everyone plays. If you know or know of someone who might be interested in playing, please forward them to the team’s website or have them email the president at jadams@nryra.org and we will put them in touch with our
coaches.

Youth Rugby is exploding in the area! With the news today that rugby is the fastest growing sport in the US (see bloomberg article below).  In addition, rugby returning to the Olympics in 2016, the growth in exposure for the sport in America, so many kids are getting the opportunity to play the sport and reap the many positive benefits of rugby. Founded in 2010, the Raleigh Redhawks are one of the largest youth rugby programs in the entire state of North Carolina. The Raleigh Redhawks offer playing opportunities for players  age 4-18. The Raleigh Redhawks compete in a youth league against programs from Clayton, Chapel Hill, Fayetteville, Cary and Greensboro. Entering the 2015 season, the Raleigh Redhawks are adding a High School team this year.

The Raleigh Redhawks are currently taking registrations for the 2015 season. Boys and girls are welcome to join and give  rugby a try!  To learn more about the Raleigh Redhawks or register to play, please visit www.redhawksrugby.com

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-10/football-participation-fell-21-from-2008-13-rugby-lacrosse-up.html