<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Utah Rugby News]]></title><description><![CDATA[Breaking news, analysis and features about rugby in the great state of Utah, specifically along the Wasatch Front. Spreading the Good News of the gentleman's game played by hooligans in Utah.]]></description><link>https://www.utahrugbynews.com</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!u8fP!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4239dd4f-fd97-41cc-aebf-4e0619278497_500x500.png</url><title>Utah Rugby News</title><link>https://www.utahrugbynews.com</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:27:27 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.utahrugbynews.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[DSW Media]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[rugby801@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[rugby801@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Sean Walker]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Sean Walker]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[rugby801@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[rugby801@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Sean Walker]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[Girls Rugby Nationals Headed to Salt Lake City — The Stage Is Set for a Landmark Weekend ]]></title><description><![CDATA[This spring, the future of American rugby takes center stage as the Girls Rugby Nationals arrive in Salt Lake City on May 15&#8211;16, 2026. With more than 30 teams from across the country set to compete, this year&#8217;s tournament promises to be one of the most exciting and impactful showcases of girls&#8217; rugby in the United States.]]></description><link>https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/girls-rugby-nationals-headed-to-salt</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/girls-rugby-nationals-headed-to-salt</guid><pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:13:29 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/7aa07ef1-f398-43f5-b334-c5c3e985b63c_1920x1080.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uaqP!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4175bf4a-8638-4387-b43a-8097514c9c04_1024x1024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uaqP!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4175bf4a-8638-4387-b43a-8097514c9c04_1024x1024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uaqP!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4175bf4a-8638-4387-b43a-8097514c9c04_1024x1024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uaqP!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4175bf4a-8638-4387-b43a-8097514c9c04_1024x1024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uaqP!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4175bf4a-8638-4387-b43a-8097514c9c04_1024x1024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uaqP!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4175bf4a-8638-4387-b43a-8097514c9c04_1024x1024.jpeg" width="1024" height="1024" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/4175bf4a-8638-4387-b43a-8097514c9c04_1024x1024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1024,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uaqP!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4175bf4a-8638-4387-b43a-8097514c9c04_1024x1024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uaqP!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4175bf4a-8638-4387-b43a-8097514c9c04_1024x1024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uaqP!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4175bf4a-8638-4387-b43a-8097514c9c04_1024x1024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uaqP!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4175bf4a-8638-4387-b43a-8097514c9c04_1024x1024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>This spring, the future of American rugby takes center stage as the Girls Rugby Nationals arrive in Salt Lake City on <strong>May 15&#8211;16, 2026</strong>. With more than <strong>30 teams</strong> from across the country set to compete, this year&#8217;s tournament promises to be one of the most exciting and impactful showcases of girls&#8217; rugby in the United States.</p><p>Bringing together elite talent from coast to coast, the event will feature competition across three divisions:</p><ul><li><p><strong>High School Division</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>Club Division</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>Middle School Division</strong></p></li></ul><p>From rising young athletes to established high school standouts, Girls Rugby Nationals is more than a tournament &#8212; it&#8217;s a celebration of the growth, energy, and unstoppable momentum behind the girls&#8217; game.</p><h3><strong>A National Stage for the Game&#8217;s Rising Stars</strong></h3><p>Every team arriving in Salt Lake City carries a story of commitment, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence. Over two days of high-level competition, players will test themselves against the best, representing their schools, clubs, and communities on a national stage.</p><p>Chris Kovac, Chair of the Girls Nationals Organizing Committee remarked &#8220;This event is grounded in the core values of rugby &#8212; respect, integrity, and opportunity &#8212; and that is reflected in how it continues to evolve. This year, through the work of the Girls Nationals Committee, we are seeing real growth in bringing together both club programs and single-school teams into one unified, high-level competition. That alignment is critical to strengthening the pathway and continuing to elevate the girls game nationwide.&#8221;</p><p>David Pool, President of USA Youth and High School Rugby, commented &#8220;The momentum behind girls rugby right now is undeniable. What we&#8217;re seeing across the country &#8212; in participation, performance, and passion &#8212; is being brought to life through events like this. The excitement being generated by the Girls Committee and our hosts in Utah Youth Rugby is building something truly special, and Girls Rugby Nationals is a reflection of that growth in action.&#8221;</p><p>USA Rugby CEO, Bill Goren said of the upcoming championships, &#8220;The Girls Rugby Nationals have grown to be a great showcase for our young stars, along with the coaches and administrators who dedicate their time to the experience of each player. Seeing over 30 teams across multiple categories compete together on a national stage is a testament to the growing interest of rugby participation and hard work done behind the scenes. I want to thank Utah Youth Rugby and their partners, USA Youth &amp; High School Rugby and the participating teams for their commitment and support of this event. We&#8217;re very much looking forward to watching teams come together in Salt Lake City.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Participating Teams:</strong></p><p>With a few more spots being finalized, here are the participating teams</p><p><strong>Club Bracket</strong></p><ul><li><p>Woodlands Rugby Club</p></li><li><p>Sacramento Harlequins</p></li><li><p>Belmont Shore</p></li><li><p>Layton Christian</p></li><li><p>Amazons</p></li><li><p>Majestics</p></li><li><p>United Girls Rugby</p></li><li><p>Herriman</p></li><li><p>Wolverines</p></li><li><p>Provo Steelers</p></li><li><p>Hydra Rugby</p></li><li><p>Yellowstone Mavericks</p></li><li><p>Westlake Drua</p></li></ul><p><strong>Single School</strong></p><ul><li><p>Rocky Mountain RFC</p></li><li><p>City Honors</p></li><li><p>Divine Savior Holy Angels</p></li><li><p>Eagle High School</p></li><li><p>Meridian Warrior Rugby</p></li><li><p>Summit</p></li><li><p>Kahuku</p></li></ul><p><strong>Middle School Division</strong></p><ul><li><p>Belmont Shore</p></li><li><p>LCA</p></li><li><p>Amazons</p></li><li><p>Majestics</p></li><li><p>United Girls Rugby</p></li><li><p>Wolverines Rugby</p></li><li><p>EPA Razorhawks</p></li><li><p>Westlake Drua</p></li></ul><h3><strong>More Than a Tournament &#8212; A Movement</strong></h3><p>Girls Rugby Nationals reflects the rapid rise of the sport across the country. With participation growing at every level, this event highlights not just competition, but opportunity &#8212; creating pathways for athletes, building community, and inspiring the next generation to get into the game.</p><p>This year&#8217;s event proudly carries the message: <strong>&#8220;Choose Brave. Choose Her.&#8221;</strong> &#8212; a call to action that celebrates the courage of every athlete who steps onto the field and the continued investment in girls&#8217; rugby across the nation.</p><p>At its core, the mission of Girls Rugby Nationals is clear and impactful:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Recognize and celebrate the top girls rugby athletes</strong> from across the United States</p></li><li><p><strong>Provide meaningful exposure to college recruiters and national team scouts</strong>, creating real pathways to the next level</p></li><li><p><strong>Develop well-rounded student-athletes</strong> through a blend of elite competition, education, and mentorship opportunities</p></li><li><p><strong>Strengthen the future of women&#8217;s rugby</strong> by building a true, visible high-performance pathway</p></li></ul><p>From first kickoff to championship final, every match will showcase the core of rugby: physicality, teamwork, respect, and heart.</p><h3><strong>Built for Championship Rugby</strong></h3><p>Hosted at the Salt Lake Regional Athletic Complex, the tournament will take place at one of the region&#8217;s premier multi-field venues &#8212; built for high-level competition and a true championship atmosphere.</p><p>Set within a <strong>bustling and passionate rugby community</strong>, Utah has become a hub for the sport&#8217;s growth in the United States. From youth development to senior-level success, the energy around rugby in the state makes it the perfect home for a national event of this scale.</p><h3><strong>Be There. Watch. Be Inspired.</strong></h3><p>The event will feature <strong>full broadcast coverage of the tournament</strong>, bringing every match, every moment, and every championship run directly to audiences everywhere. <strong>Livestream details will be shared closer to the event</strong>, making it easier than ever to follow the action and support your team.</p><p>Girls Nationals</p><p><strong>May 15&#8211;16, 2026 &#8212; Salt Lake City, Utah<br></strong> The countdown is on.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!X3Om!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3c164103-02ea-42c0-9d17-94b4b1cb5f0f_1000x902.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!X3Om!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3c164103-02ea-42c0-9d17-94b4b1cb5f0f_1000x902.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!X3Om!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3c164103-02ea-42c0-9d17-94b4b1cb5f0f_1000x902.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!X3Om!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3c164103-02ea-42c0-9d17-94b4b1cb5f0f_1000x902.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!X3Om!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3c164103-02ea-42c0-9d17-94b4b1cb5f0f_1000x902.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!X3Om!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3c164103-02ea-42c0-9d17-94b4b1cb5f0f_1000x902.png" width="1000" height="902" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/3c164103-02ea-42c0-9d17-94b4b1cb5f0f_1000x902.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:902,&quot;width&quot;:1000,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!X3Om!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3c164103-02ea-42c0-9d17-94b4b1cb5f0f_1000x902.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!X3Om!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3c164103-02ea-42c0-9d17-94b4b1cb5f0f_1000x902.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!X3Om!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3c164103-02ea-42c0-9d17-94b4b1cb5f0f_1000x902.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!X3Om!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3c164103-02ea-42c0-9d17-94b4b1cb5f0f_1000x902.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Utah Rugby Holds the Line and Builds Momentum Despite Travel Challenges]]></title><description><![CDATA[Local teams step up as travel challenges highlight the need for funding, support, and the future of rugby in Utah]]></description><link>https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/utah-rugby-holds-the-line-and-builds</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/utah-rugby-holds-the-line-and-builds</guid><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 22:18:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FezW!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fffc9d4aa-0e9e-4932-8244-53367f578fa1_1536x2048.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Herriman, UT</p><p>What was scheduled to be an interstate matchup between Idaho and the Gladiators Rugby Club turned into something just as meaningful this weekend; a showcase of resilience, community, and the growing heartbeat of rugby in Utah.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.utahrugbynews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading Utah Rugby News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>Due to financial and travel constraints, Idaho was unable to make the trip. A challenge many developing rugby programs across the country are currently facing. With strict compliance requirements through USA Rugby, teams are held to structured payment schedules and operational standards that can make travel difficult without additional funding or sponsorship support.</p><p>But rugby doesn&#8217;t stop, it adapts.</p><p>Instead, local powerhouses stepped up.</p><p><strong>The Provo Steelers and Gladiators Rugby Club took the field at Monument Park in Herriman, </strong>standing among a tight-knit group of Utah clubs &#8212; including the Saints and Haggis &#8212; that have played a critical role in keeping rugby alive and thriving in the region.</p><p>And they delivered.</p><p><strong>Big hits.<br>Fast breaks.<br>Loud laughs.<br>Even louder sideline energy.</strong></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FezW!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fffc9d4aa-0e9e-4932-8244-53367f578fa1_1536x2048.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FezW!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fffc9d4aa-0e9e-4932-8244-53367f578fa1_1536x2048.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FezW!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fffc9d4aa-0e9e-4932-8244-53367f578fa1_1536x2048.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FezW!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fffc9d4aa-0e9e-4932-8244-53367f578fa1_1536x2048.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FezW!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fffc9d4aa-0e9e-4932-8244-53367f578fa1_1536x2048.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FezW!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fffc9d4aa-0e9e-4932-8244-53367f578fa1_1536x2048.jpeg" width="1456" height="1941" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ffc9d4aa-0e9e-4932-8244-53367f578fa1_1536x2048.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1941,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1415227,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.utahrugbynews.com/i/192901648?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fffc9d4aa-0e9e-4932-8244-53367f578fa1_1536x2048.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FezW!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fffc9d4aa-0e9e-4932-8244-53367f578fa1_1536x2048.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FezW!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fffc9d4aa-0e9e-4932-8244-53367f578fa1_1536x2048.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FezW!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fffc9d4aa-0e9e-4932-8244-53367f578fa1_1536x2048.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!FezW!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fffc9d4aa-0e9e-4932-8244-53367f578fa1_1536x2048.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><p>And yes&#8230; one unforgettable moment &#8212; a Provo player hitting the goal post so hard it broke the internal support rod.</p><p>(We&#8217;re calling that: <em>proof rugby players are built differently.</em>)</p><p><strong>More Than A Game</strong></p><p>Rugby is more than competition, it&#8217;s an outlet.</p><p>For many athletes, it&#8217;s a mental health release, a space where stress, pressure, and life off the field get left behind with every tackle, sprint, and play.</p><p>In a world where conversations around mental health can still feel difficult, especially for men, rugby provides a powerful, physical way to process, connect, and reset.</p><p><strong>Community Showed Up</strong></p><p>This weekend wasn&#8217;t just about rugby, it was about community support in action.</p><ul><li><p>Officers from Herriman Police Department were on-site ensuring safety</p></li><li><p>What started as two scheduled officers turned into multiple units showing up to support</p></li><li><p>Families, fans, and locals filled the park with energy and encouragement</p></li></ul><p>And a huge thank you goes to the City of Herriman and parks department for providing a space where sport, connection, and community can thrive.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XM7A!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ed84478-29a2-4df6-81cf-11cacadec541_2048x1536.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XM7A!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ed84478-29a2-4df6-81cf-11cacadec541_2048x1536.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XM7A!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ed84478-29a2-4df6-81cf-11cacadec541_2048x1536.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XM7A!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ed84478-29a2-4df6-81cf-11cacadec541_2048x1536.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XM7A!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ed84478-29a2-4df6-81cf-11cacadec541_2048x1536.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XM7A!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ed84478-29a2-4df6-81cf-11cacadec541_2048x1536.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/7ed84478-29a2-4df6-81cf-11cacadec541_2048x1536.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1492858,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.utahrugbynews.com/i/192901648?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ed84478-29a2-4df6-81cf-11cacadec541_2048x1536.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XM7A!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ed84478-29a2-4df6-81cf-11cacadec541_2048x1536.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XM7A!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ed84478-29a2-4df6-81cf-11cacadec541_2048x1536.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XM7A!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ed84478-29a2-4df6-81cf-11cacadec541_2048x1536.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XM7A!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7ed84478-29a2-4df6-81cf-11cacadec541_2048x1536.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><p><strong>The Reality and The Opportunity</strong></p><p>The challenge is real:</p><p>Out-of-state teams want to come.<br>Programs want to grow.<br>But funding is the gap.</p><p>If we&#8217;re serious about growing rugby especially with the global spotlight of future Olympic cycles, we need:</p><ul><li><p>Sponsors</p></li><li><p>Travel support</p></li><li><p>Equipment funding</p></li><li><p>Community partnerships</p></li></ul><p><strong>Because this sport isn&#8217;t just growing &#8212; it&#8217;s ready to explode.</strong></p><p>Want your brand seen <em>on impact</em>?</p><ul><li><p>Goal post pads (yes&#8230; the ones that just took a hit)</p></li><li><p>Field equipment</p></li><li><p>Travel support for teams</p></li><li><p>Community activations</p></li></ul><p><strong>This is visibility, connection, and purpose &#8212; all in one.</strong></p><p>Utah rugby didn&#8217;t lose a game this weekend. It gained momentum.</p><p>And if this is what local play looks like&#8230;Imagine what&#8217;s coming next.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1uSH!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3e6be924-013f-4939-980e-19d162de113a_2048x1536.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1uSH!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3e6be924-013f-4939-980e-19d162de113a_2048x1536.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1uSH!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3e6be924-013f-4939-980e-19d162de113a_2048x1536.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1uSH!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3e6be924-013f-4939-980e-19d162de113a_2048x1536.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1uSH!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3e6be924-013f-4939-980e-19d162de113a_2048x1536.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1uSH!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3e6be924-013f-4939-980e-19d162de113a_2048x1536.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/3e6be924-013f-4939-980e-19d162de113a_2048x1536.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1618485,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.utahrugbynews.com/i/192901648?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3e6be924-013f-4939-980e-19d162de113a_2048x1536.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1uSH!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3e6be924-013f-4939-980e-19d162de113a_2048x1536.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1uSH!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3e6be924-013f-4939-980e-19d162de113a_2048x1536.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1uSH!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3e6be924-013f-4939-980e-19d162de113a_2048x1536.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1uSH!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3e6be924-013f-4939-980e-19d162de113a_2048x1536.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.utahrugbynews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading Utah Rugby News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[USA Rugby Announces Men’s National Talent ID Day in Salt Lake City to Scout Future Eagles]]></title><description><![CDATA[USA Rugby has officially announced that its 2026 Talent Identification tour will stop in Salt Lake City on April 4, 2026]]></description><link>https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/usa-rugby-announces-mens-national</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/usa-rugby-announces-mens-national</guid><pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:16:59 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3s2l!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5dc7e585-d200-4fbb-823a-035000004331_1024x1024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>SALT LAKE CITY, UT &#8211; <a href="https://eagles.rugby/">USA Rugby</a> has officially announced that its 2026 Talent Identification tour will stop in Salt Lake City on April 4, 2026. This event serves as a primary scouting gateway for the USA Pathways program, aiming to discover the next generation of athletes for the Men&#8217;s National Teams.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3s2l!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5dc7e585-d200-4fbb-823a-035000004331_1024x1024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3s2l!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5dc7e585-d200-4fbb-823a-035000004331_1024x1024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3s2l!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5dc7e585-d200-4fbb-823a-035000004331_1024x1024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3s2l!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5dc7e585-d200-4fbb-823a-035000004331_1024x1024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3s2l!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5dc7e585-d200-4fbb-823a-035000004331_1024x1024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3s2l!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5dc7e585-d200-4fbb-823a-035000004331_1024x1024.jpeg" width="1024" height="1024" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/5dc7e585-d200-4fbb-823a-035000004331_1024x1024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1024,&quot;width&quot;:1024,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:185936,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.utahrugbynews.com/i/192111142?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5dc7e585-d200-4fbb-823a-035000004331_1024x1024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3s2l!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5dc7e585-d200-4fbb-823a-035000004331_1024x1024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3s2l!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5dc7e585-d200-4fbb-823a-035000004331_1024x1024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3s2l!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5dc7e585-d200-4fbb-823a-035000004331_1024x1024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3s2l!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5dc7e585-d200-4fbb-823a-035000004331_1024x1024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>The Salt Lake City session is specifically tailored for male athletes across two critical development tiers: U18 prospects (born between 2008&#8211;2010) and U23 players transitioning into the senior international level. As Utah continues to cement itself as a premier American rugby hotbed, this ID Day provides local talent a direct line to national team selectors without leaving the state.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.utahrugbynews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading Utah Rugby News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>The day will feature an open-entry Talent ID (TID) session in the morning, focusing on core skills, fitness, and game awareness. Elite performers from the morning session may be invited to remain for the Regional Development Day (RDD) in the afternoon, an invite-only intensive where scouts evaluate players against National Team standards.</p><p>&#8220;Our goal is to ensure no talent goes unnoticed,&#8221; said the USA Pathways staff. A Utah Rugby board member said &#8220;Utah has a rich rugby tradition, and we expect to see high caliber athletes ready to compete for a spot on the national team.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Registration Details</strong>: All aspiring Eagles must pre-register to participate. Athletes can secure their spot by completing the <em><a href="https://forms.gle/ixe1jCjm1DSMWiPw6">Men&#8217;s Talent ID Sign up Form</a>.</em></p><p>For more information on the 2026 scouting schedule, visit the <a href="https://eagles.rugby/news/2026-talent-id-opportunities-set-for-aspiring-eagles-202621">official USA Rugby news page</a>.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.utahrugbynews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading Utah Rugby News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rugby Delivers Intensity and Growth in Utah Men’s Union Play]]></title><description><![CDATA[Four clubs took the field Saturday, delivering a day of power, strategy, and a match that came down to the final whistle.]]></description><link>https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/rugby-delivers-intensity-and-growth</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/rugby-delivers-intensity-and-growth</guid><pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:43:47 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!utSk!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F90ee2564-4f61-4f32-b62e-c7c4acb6fcda_2048x1536.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Salt Lake City, UT</strong></p><p>Rugby in Utah delivered everything fans love about the sport this weekend: speed, power, grit, and a match that came down to the very last moment.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.utahrugbynews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading Utah Rugby News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>One player described the feeling of being back on a home pitch after years of traveling for matches.</p><p>&#8220;Man, let me tell you, the feeling I had last weekend was something special. It felt good having men&#8217;s rugby back at our own home ground and not having to travel to different states just to play an 80-minute game.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!utSk!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F90ee2564-4f61-4f32-b62e-c7c4acb6fcda_2048x1536.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!utSk!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F90ee2564-4f61-4f32-b62e-c7c4acb6fcda_2048x1536.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!utSk!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F90ee2564-4f61-4f32-b62e-c7c4acb6fcda_2048x1536.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!utSk!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F90ee2564-4f61-4f32-b62e-c7c4acb6fcda_2048x1536.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!utSk!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F90ee2564-4f61-4f32-b62e-c7c4acb6fcda_2048x1536.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!utSk!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F90ee2564-4f61-4f32-b62e-c7c4acb6fcda_2048x1536.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/90ee2564-4f61-4f32-b62e-c7c4acb6fcda_2048x1536.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1603470,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.utahrugbynews.com/i/191272589?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F90ee2564-4f61-4f32-b62e-c7c4acb6fcda_2048x1536.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!utSk!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F90ee2564-4f61-4f32-b62e-c7c4acb6fcda_2048x1536.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!utSk!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F90ee2564-4f61-4f32-b62e-c7c4acb6fcda_2048x1536.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!utSk!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F90ee2564-4f61-4f32-b62e-c7c4acb6fcda_2048x1536.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!utSk!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F90ee2564-4f61-4f32-b62e-c7c4acb6fcda_2048x1536.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Four men&#8217;s clubs, Haggis, Gladiators, Saints, and Steelers, took the field Saturday in a day that highlighted both the excitement of rugby and the growing structure around the sport as it continues to expand across the state.</p><p>For those unfamiliar with rugby, the atmosphere can feel electric. Unlike many sports, players rarely stop moving. The ball changes hands rapidly, tackles are constant, and momentum can shift in seconds. Players describe the game as a mix of strategy, endurance, and controlled chaos.</p><p>And on Saturday, fans saw exactly that.</p><h2><strong>A Friendly Match With Real Energy</strong></h2><p>The day began with the Gladiators and Haggis, but because registration requirements had not been fully completed by one side, the match was officially recorded as a forfeit under competition rules.</p><p>Even so, both teams chose to play a friendly match for the love of the game and the opportunity to get on the field.</p><p>While the result officially credited Haggis with the win, the friendly match still delivered the fast-paced physical play rugby fans expect and the chatter of &#8220;we won&#8221;.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6kh7!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F39188730-faef-4725-988c-2b0c0d2b6729_2048x1536.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6kh7!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F39188730-faef-4725-988c-2b0c0d2b6729_2048x1536.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6kh7!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F39188730-faef-4725-988c-2b0c0d2b6729_2048x1536.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6kh7!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F39188730-faef-4725-988c-2b0c0d2b6729_2048x1536.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6kh7!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F39188730-faef-4725-988c-2b0c0d2b6729_2048x1536.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6kh7!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F39188730-faef-4725-988c-2b0c0d2b6729_2048x1536.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/39188730-faef-4725-988c-2b0c0d2b6729_2048x1536.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1717808,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.utahrugbynews.com/i/191272589?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F39188730-faef-4725-988c-2b0c0d2b6729_2048x1536.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6kh7!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F39188730-faef-4725-988c-2b0c0d2b6729_2048x1536.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6kh7!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F39188730-faef-4725-988c-2b0c0d2b6729_2048x1536.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6kh7!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F39188730-faef-4725-988c-2b0c0d2b6729_2048x1536.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6kh7!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F39188730-faef-4725-988c-2b0c0d2b6729_2048x1536.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><h2><strong>Saints vs Steelers: A Match to Remember</strong></h2><p>If the first match showed rugby&#8217;s community spirit, the second delivered pure competition.</p><p>With both clubs fully registered and eligible for official play, the Saints and Steelers battled in what quickly became the highlight of the day.</p><p>Back and forth scoring, relentless tackling, and momentum swings kept players and spectators on edge from kickoff to the final whistle.</p><p>When it was all said and done, neither team gave an inch.</p><p>The match ended in a 24&#8211;24 draw, one of the most tightly contested games of the early season.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xyOd!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a24c337-5edd-448c-8ed9-ad2e6ee810f2_2048x1536.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xyOd!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a24c337-5edd-448c-8ed9-ad2e6ee810f2_2048x1536.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xyOd!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a24c337-5edd-448c-8ed9-ad2e6ee810f2_2048x1536.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xyOd!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a24c337-5edd-448c-8ed9-ad2e6ee810f2_2048x1536.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xyOd!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a24c337-5edd-448c-8ed9-ad2e6ee810f2_2048x1536.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xyOd!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a24c337-5edd-448c-8ed9-ad2e6ee810f2_2048x1536.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/3a24c337-5edd-448c-8ed9-ad2e6ee810f2_2048x1536.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:2091696,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.utahrugbynews.com/i/191272589?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a24c337-5edd-448c-8ed9-ad2e6ee810f2_2048x1536.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xyOd!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a24c337-5edd-448c-8ed9-ad2e6ee810f2_2048x1536.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xyOd!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a24c337-5edd-448c-8ed9-ad2e6ee810f2_2048x1536.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xyOd!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a24c337-5edd-448c-8ed9-ad2e6ee810f2_2048x1536.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xyOd!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3a24c337-5edd-448c-8ed9-ad2e6ee810f2_2048x1536.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><h2><strong>Why Registration Matters</strong></h2><p>As rugby continues to grow across Utah, player registration through USA Rugby is a key part of the sport&#8217;s development.</p><p>Players across the union are encouraging patience as the league structure continues to develop.</p><p>&#8220;This is all still fairly new, and our union is just getting started and trying to get everything running the way it should,&#8221; one player shared. &#8220;The biggest thing right now is getting our boys registered.&#8221;</p><p>Registration ensures:</p><ul><li><p>player safety coverage and insurance</p></li><li><p>official recognition of matches</p></li><li><p>eligibility for sanctioned competition</p></li></ul><p>For players, it&#8217;s the step that allows a game to count.</p><p>For the sport, it&#8217;s part of building a stronger rugby union in Utah.</p><h2><strong>A Sport That&#8217;s Growing Fast</strong></h2><p>Across Utah, rugby participation has been steadily increasing from youth programs to collegiate and adult clubs.</p><p>Events like Saturday&#8217;s matches show why.</p><p>Rugby offers something unique:</p><p>The community aspect is something players say makes the sport special.</p><p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s all help out Wade, Kilifi, and Saia by doing our part to make this work,&#8221; one player said. &#8220;Getting everyone registered and supporting each other is how we build something strong here.&#8221;</p><p>It&#8217;s a sport where players of all shapes and sizes compete together, teamwork is everything, and respect for the game runs deep.</p><p>For many who experience it for the first time, the reaction is the same.</p><p>They come to watch.</p><p>And they leave wanting to know more.</p><div class="image-gallery-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;gallery&quot;:{&quot;images&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/eb151990-4668-4cd6-9175-fc03567d392f_2048x1152.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/386898bd-9c83-43b7-8803-3e2d51398aeb_2048x1536.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/e2d74a27-7fa8-473c-b73d-fa0c31f03354_2048x1152.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/3098ba26-b43d-4183-a2f7-ddc8fb0781c4_2048x1152.jpeg&quot;}],&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;staticGalleryImage&quot;:{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/0d33a624-0bbc-4c3b-bee9-ad77f1e20504_1456x1456.png&quot;}},&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}"></div><p>Images from Wade B Photography</p><p>Find More Images from the games at: </p><p>Zenfolio | Dchandlerphotography | Haggis Rugby v Gladiators Rugby-Provo Steelers v Utah Saints</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.utahrugbynews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading Utah Rugby News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Utah Rugby Kicks Off 2026 Season at Highland High ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Opening match of the newly formed Utah Rugby Union signals renewed structure and momentum for the sport across the state.]]></description><link>https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/utah-rugby-kicks-off-2026-season</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/utah-rugby-kicks-off-2026-season</guid><pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 17:56:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!66dV!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fefb9d870-740c-45ce-8ba0-11d7e99d29e4_1220x915.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Salt Lake Valley, Utah</strong></p><p>The Utah rugby community officially welcomed the start of the 2026 season this weekend as the Southern Utah Raptors traveled north to face the Utah Saints at Highland High School, marking the first scheduled match of the newly formed Utah Rugby Championship.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!66dV!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fefb9d870-740c-45ce-8ba0-11d7e99d29e4_1220x915.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!66dV!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fefb9d870-740c-45ce-8ba0-11d7e99d29e4_1220x915.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!66dV!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fefb9d870-740c-45ce-8ba0-11d7e99d29e4_1220x915.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!66dV!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fefb9d870-740c-45ce-8ba0-11d7e99d29e4_1220x915.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!66dV!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fefb9d870-740c-45ce-8ba0-11d7e99d29e4_1220x915.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!66dV!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fefb9d870-740c-45ce-8ba0-11d7e99d29e4_1220x915.jpeg" width="1220" height="915" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!66dV!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fefb9d870-740c-45ce-8ba0-11d7e99d29e4_1220x915.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!66dV!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fefb9d870-740c-45ce-8ba0-11d7e99d29e4_1220x915.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!66dV!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fefb9d870-740c-45ce-8ba0-11d7e99d29e4_1220x915.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!66dV!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fefb9d870-740c-45ce-8ba0-11d7e99d29e4_1220x915.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.utahrugbynews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading Utah Rugby News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>Fans, players, referees, and community members gathered to celebrate the return of competitive rugby and the continued growth of the sport across the state.</p><p>The match featured strong physical play, disciplined scrums, and exciting open field runs as both teams worked to establish momentum early in the season. The Utah Saints ultimately controlled the pace of the match, securing a decisive 94-14 victory over the Raptors.</p><p>Beyond the scoreboard, the game also served as an opportunity to trial several competition adjustments designed to support player development and game flow. Teams utilized a 23 player match day roster with 12 substitutions, allowing for greater player rotation and strategic depth throughout the match.</p><p>Officials from the Utah Rugby Referee Society oversaw the match, helping ensure the game was played safely and in accordance with World Rugby laws.</p><p><strong>Quotes</strong></p><p>&#8220;<em>Seeing a scheduled union match back on the calendar again is exciting for the rugby community,&#8221;</em> said a representative involved in the match organization. &#8220;<em>For a few years clubs were left figuring out games on their own. This is a big step toward bringing structure and stability back to rugby in Utah.&#8221;</em></p><p>&#8220;<em>You could feel the energy on the sidelines</em>,&#8221; they added. &#8220;<em>Players, referees, and supporters are all excited to see rugby growing again across the state.</em>&#8221;</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b9gW!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3718b470-94f0-4bfd-bb17-335881c8acb4_1220x915.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b9gW!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3718b470-94f0-4bfd-bb17-335881c8acb4_1220x915.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b9gW!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3718b470-94f0-4bfd-bb17-335881c8acb4_1220x915.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b9gW!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3718b470-94f0-4bfd-bb17-335881c8acb4_1220x915.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b9gW!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3718b470-94f0-4bfd-bb17-335881c8acb4_1220x915.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b9gW!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3718b470-94f0-4bfd-bb17-335881c8acb4_1220x915.jpeg" width="1220" height="915" 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stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p><p><strong>Looking Ahead</strong></p><p>With preseason now underway, clubs across Utah will continue preparing for the upcoming season as organizers, referees, and volunteers work together to rebuild a structured competition environment.</p><p>For many involved, the match was more than just a game, it was a sign that Utah rugby is moving forward again.</p><div class="image-gallery-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;gallery&quot;:{&quot;images&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/0f164497-8694-4541-8444-d7927ee3a841_1505x847.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/7a429b23-b3ab-430d-a60e-ec5bf15e4547_686x915.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/0c42dfc2-904f-4cd3-98b7-c853357fc26f_1220x915.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/bf9df866-779e-447b-948b-9fde75f62a44_1220x915.jpeg&quot;},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/84966cfa-0d53-497e-a429-ee263f03641a_1220x915.jpeg&quot;}],&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Game 1 photos by WadeB Photos&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;staticGalleryImage&quot;:{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/4cf1adfb-8156-4a20-bea1-ed2e9f95db1e_1456x1210.png&quot;}},&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true}"></div><p></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.utahrugbynews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading Utah Rugby News! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Utah Rugby Announces 2026 Season Kickoff as Community Clubs Rebuild the Game]]></title><description><![CDATA[Adult rugby clubs across Utah are kicking off the 2026 season this weekend, marking a new chapter for the sport as teams rebuild and strengthen the community foundation]]></description><link>https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/utah-adult-rugby-announces-2026-season</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/utah-adult-rugby-announces-2026-season</guid><pubDate>Sun, 08 Mar 2026 21:16:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-oke!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F79059aae-c4cf-4f60-8a83-89ff07cdd7c3_3210x1605.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-oke!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F79059aae-c4cf-4f60-8a83-89ff07cdd7c3_3210x1605.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-oke!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F79059aae-c4cf-4f60-8a83-89ff07cdd7c3_3210x1605.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-oke!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F79059aae-c4cf-4f60-8a83-89ff07cdd7c3_3210x1605.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-oke!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F79059aae-c4cf-4f60-8a83-89ff07cdd7c3_3210x1605.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-oke!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F79059aae-c4cf-4f60-8a83-89ff07cdd7c3_3210x1605.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-oke!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F79059aae-c4cf-4f60-8a83-89ff07cdd7c3_3210x1605.jpeg" width="3210" height="1605" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-oke!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F79059aae-c4cf-4f60-8a83-89ff07cdd7c3_3210x1605.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-oke!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F79059aae-c4cf-4f60-8a83-89ff07cdd7c3_3210x1605.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-oke!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F79059aae-c4cf-4f60-8a83-89ff07cdd7c3_3210x1605.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-oke!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F79059aae-c4cf-4f60-8a83-89ff07cdd7c3_3210x1605.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Utah Rugby Announces 2026 Season Kickoff as Community Clubs Rebuild the Game</p><p>Salt Lake Valley, Utah March 2026</p><p>Adult rugby clubs across Utah are kicking off the 2026 season this weekend, marking a new chapter for the sport as teams rebuild and strengthen the community foundation that has supported rugby in the state for decades. Utah Rugby is the latest and newest geographic union created by USA Rugby under their senior club council, allowing rugby to be once again sanctioned and officially recognized in Utah by USA Rugby. </p><p>The preseason begins Saturday, March 7 at 3:00 PM at Highland High School, where the St. George Raptors will face the Utah Saints in the opening match of the spring season.</p><p>Games will take place every Saturday through early May, bringing clubs from across the state together for competition and community engagement.</p><p>Fans can follow the season and updates at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/utah.rugby">@Utah.Rugby</a> on Instagram.</p><p><strong>A Sport Built by Community</strong></p><p>Rugby in Utah has never just been a sport, it has been a community.</p><p>Long before professional rugby arrived or national championships were televised, the backbone of rugby in Utah was built by adult clubs: players showing up after work, parents balancing family life, and young adults searching for purpose and connection.</p><p>Those clubs built something lasting.</p><p>Today rugby is recognized as one of the fastest growing sports in the United States, with youth participation surpassing 73,000 players nationwide and continued expansion across schools and communities.</p><p>But long before that growth was widely recognized, Utah clubs were already laying the foundation.</p><p><strong>The Backbone of Utah Rugby</strong></p><p>Adult rugby in Utah has a long and proud tradition.</p><p>Clubs like Haggis Rugby Club and Viper/Slugs Rugby are among the state&#8217;s longest running teams and have helped shape the sport within the Rocky Mountain Union.</p><p>Other clubs that have carried the game forward include:</p><ul><li><p>Provo Steelers</p></li><li><p>Utah Saints</p></li><li><p>Salt Lake Gladiators Rugby Club</p></li><li><p>Partnerships with Portneuf Rugby in Idaho</p></li><li><p>Newer programs like the Southern Utah Raptors</p></li></ul><p>These teams are more than sports organizations, they are mentorship pipelines, leadership incubators, and lifelong communities.</p><p>Just as minor league baseball supports Major League Baseball, like the Salt Lake Bees developing players for the Los Angeles Angels, adult club rugby forms the infrastructure that allows elite rugby to thrive.</p><p>Professional leagues depend on strong grassroots communities.</p><p>Utah has quietly been building that infrastructure for years. Hence working at building a pathway for rugby players in Utah to look at going professional where opportunities provide through partnerships with US Academy of Rugby and UR Pathways. </p><p>&#8220;We want to give the next generation a platform from which they get to showcase their talents on a higher level to professional and international clubs and National teams&#8221; says Olive Kilifi </p><p><strong>Challenges and Resilience</strong></p><p>Adult rugby has never been easy to sustain.</p><p>Players often navigate the most complex years of life, balancing work, family responsibilities, and financial pressures while volunteering their time to keep clubs running.</p><p>Then came 2020.</p><p>Like many community sports organizations across the country, adult rugby programs in Utah faced significant disruption. Some clubs struggled to survive while others paused operations entirely.</p><p>At the same time, communities across the Salt Lake Valley faced broader challenges, including a 21% rise in violent crime in Salt Lake City since 2020.</p><p>For many players, rugby remained a place of stability and connection.</p><p>A place to belong.</p><p>A place to build discipline and brotherhood.</p><p>A place where people from every background could find purpose and community.</p><p>Even through difficult seasons, clubs kept showing up.</p><p>They trained.</p><p>They mentored younger players.</p><p>They kept the spirit of the game alive.</p><p><strong>Rebuilding Adult Rugby in Utah</strong></p><p>Over the past several years, leaders across Utah rugby have worked behind the scenes with USA Rugby to strengthen the sport&#8217;s adult infrastructure.</p><p>Rather than replacing the past, organizers focused on honoring the legacy of the clubs that built rugby in Utah while creating a stronger framework for the future.</p><p>That work reached a milestone in 2026 with the formation of a new Geographical Union for adult rugby in Utah, officially endorsed and recognized by USA Rugby and designed to support scheduling, competition structure, development pathways, and long-term sustainability.</p><p>The announcement was made February 28 at All Star Bowling Alley in West Valley, where players and organizers gathered to celebrate the upcoming season.</p><p>Why Rugby Matters</p><p>Rugby is built on values:</p><ol><li><p>Integrity</p></li><li><p>Respect</p></li><li><p>Solidarity</p></li><li><p>Passion</p></li><li><p>Discipline</p></li><li><p>Teamwork</p></li><li><p>Accountability</p></li></ol><p>But in Utah it represents something deeper: community.</p><p>From youth programs to college teams, referees, and club veterans, rugby continues to grow because people believe in the opportunities the sport creates.</p><p>With the United States set to host the Rugby World Cups in 2031 and 2033, the importance of strong local rugby communities has never been greater.</p><p>Youth may be the future of the game, but adult clubs are the foundation that sustain it, building the culture, mentorship, and community that allow rugby to thrive.</p><p>Follow the Season</p><p>Games every Saturday through early May</p><p>Updates and highlights: <a href="https://open.substack.com/users/223716895-utah-rugby-news?utm_source=mentions">Utah Rugby News</a> &amp; Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/utah.rugby">@utah.rugby</a> </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!bx-w!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa941630b-7d8f-46e9-9bfb-97006ba89934_4990x3742.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!bx-w!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa941630b-7d8f-46e9-9bfb-97006ba89934_4990x3742.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!bx-w!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa941630b-7d8f-46e9-9bfb-97006ba89934_4990x3742.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!bx-w!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa941630b-7d8f-46e9-9bfb-97006ba89934_4990x3742.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!bx-w!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa941630b-7d8f-46e9-9bfb-97006ba89934_4990x3742.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Utah Warriors shut down club operations, effectively immediately]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Utah Warriors have announced the shutdown of club operations, with season ticket refunds already being initiated.]]></description><link>https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/utah-warriors-shut-down-club-operations</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/utah-warriors-shut-down-club-operations</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Utah Rugby News]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 07 Mar 2026 18:06:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b9d3!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F65dd8f98-0005-489a-bd2e-458503ec2ab5_1080x1350.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><strong><a href="https://www.warriorsrugby.com/">From the Utah Warriors</a>, Tuesday, Nov. 4 @ 9 a.m. MST</strong></em></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b9d3!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F65dd8f98-0005-489a-bd2e-458503ec2ab5_1080x1350.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b9d3!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F65dd8f98-0005-489a-bd2e-458503ec2ab5_1080x1350.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b9d3!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F65dd8f98-0005-489a-bd2e-458503ec2ab5_1080x1350.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b9d3!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F65dd8f98-0005-489a-bd2e-458503ec2ab5_1080x1350.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b9d3!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F65dd8f98-0005-489a-bd2e-458503ec2ab5_1080x1350.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b9d3!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F65dd8f98-0005-489a-bd2e-458503ec2ab5_1080x1350.jpeg" width="1080" height="1350" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/65dd8f98-0005-489a-bd2e-458503ec2ab5_1080x1350.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1350,&quot;width&quot;:1080,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b9d3!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F65dd8f98-0005-489a-bd2e-458503ec2ab5_1080x1350.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b9d3!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F65dd8f98-0005-489a-bd2e-458503ec2ab5_1080x1350.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b9d3!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F65dd8f98-0005-489a-bd2e-458503ec2ab5_1080x1350.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!b9d3!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F65dd8f98-0005-489a-bd2e-458503ec2ab5_1080x1350.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p><strong>Warriors Nation,</strong></p><p>Thank you!</p><p>We set out to build something special in 2018, and for eight incredible seasons, you and thousands of others from around the world have come to Zions Bank Stadium, rain or shine, to support this team and these players.</p><p>Little did we realize the impact this team would have on kids, families, and our community. But little did we realize the impact you would have on us as well.</p><p>Your smiles, your cheers, your laughter, and above all, your love for this team and this sport have left an indelible impression on everyone who has worn the Four Stripes.</p><p>And for all of that, we thank you, despite those words not conveying the true sense of gratitude that we have for each and every one of you.</p><p>Up until just days ago, the Utah Warriors were committed and on track to participate in the 2026 Major League Rugby season. Unfortunately, things changed quickly in the past week.</p><p>As of this morning, we have informed Major League Rugby that we will not participate in 2026 and are suspending club operations.</p><p>For our season ticket holders, your tickets will be refunded in the coming days. We are actively working with SeatGeek to have this completed within a week back to your card. If you don&#8217;t see that, please don&#8217;t hesitate to reach out to us on our box office line: 801-477.7652 or via email at ticketing@warriorsrugby.com.</p><p>To our sponsors, thank you for supporting this vision of building Utah into North America&#8217;s epicenter of rugby. This vision remains and will be carried on by our amazing local rugby community at the youth, high school, collegiate, and club levels, especially Utah Little Rugby and Utah Youth Rugby.</p><p>In that vein, in the coming days, we will share how our support for the game will continue and how you can support the incredible rugby community that will carry on the rich and storied legacy of rugby in Utah.</p><p>Although this might feel like goodbye, it&#8217;s really just a shift in our focus.</p><p>That&#8217;s the thing about Warriors &#8212; they never give up.</p><p>They keep moving forward.</p><p>This isn&#8217;t the end of rugby in Utah, and when that time comes to welcome professional rugby back to our great state, I look forward to standing next to our entire Warriors Nation family to cheer our team, our warriors.</p><p>I close where I started: Thank you, sincerely and genuinely. Those two words don&#8217;t suffice to express our gratitude to every player, coach, and fan who joined us on this journey. Together, we left this state in a better place than we found it eight years ago.</p><p>One last time: &#8220;Up the Wahs!&#8221; </p><p>Once a Warrior, always a Warrior!</p><p><em>-Kimball Kjar, co-founder and CEO</em></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QBFv!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3d507780-c0f7-4f77-8a15-aa54b8cbddf6_1080x1350.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!QBFv!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3d507780-c0f7-4f77-8a15-aa54b8cbddf6_1080x1350.jpeg 424w, 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y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Utah Warriors are moving — to a new broadcast home]]></title><description><![CDATA[In conjunction with Major League Rugby's move from FOX Sports to ESPN, the Warriors will broadcast every home match of the 2025 season on KJZZ-TV in Utah.]]></description><link>https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/the-utah-warriors-are-moving-to-a</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/the-utah-warriors-are-moving-to-a</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Utah Rugby News]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 10 Feb 2025 22:50:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!E8eJ!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F50972a0b-cbcc-479b-987d-8a32573ab858_800x450.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div 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stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>The Utah Warriors are moving.</p><p>There&#8217;s no relocation planned for Utah&#8217;s professional rugby outfit in 2025, and the team still plans to play the majority of its home matches at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.</p><p>But those match broadcasts may look a little bit different.</p><p>In conjunction with Major League Rugby's move from FOX Sports to ESPN, the Warriors will broadcast every home match of the 2025 season on KJZZ-TV in Utah.</p><p>The team calls the move an &#8220;upgrade&#8221; from its previous broadcast relationship with KMYU, the other Sinclair Broadcasting-owned station that is available over-the-air across the Wasatch Front that has aired most home matches since 2019.</p><p>&#8220;The move from KMYU to KJZZ is a game-changer for your access to Utah Warriors home games,&#8221; the club said in an email, noting that the Warriors were the &#8220;second-highest sports viewership in Utah, right behind the Utah Jazz.&#8221;</p><p>In addition to KJZZ, Warriors matches will be streamed online through ESPN+ as part of Major League Rugby&#8217;s new multiyear media rights deal, replacing a previous broadcast agreement with FOX Sports.</p><p>Every match of the 2025 season across the league, including in Utah, will be streamed on ESPN+ &#8212; with select matches being picked up to air on ESPN2. All matches will be available on-demand at The Rugby Network after a 72-hour delay, according to a league release.</p><p>&#8220;During our 2024 campaign we grew our viewership by more than 25 percent year over year. We are hyperfocused on increasing our audience and introducing rugby to more American sports fans every year. This relationship with ESPN will give us an opportunity to supercharge that growth,&#8221; said Nic Benson, the commissioner of Major League Rugby. &#8220;Given the depth of talent across the league, I&#8217;m confident we&#8217;re headed toward our most exciting season yet. This strategic agreement will enable more of our fans to tune-in for some best-in-class rugby action.&#8221;</p><p>MLR kicks off over President&#8217;s Day weekend and runs through the league&#8217;s championship match June 28. Utah opens the season Feb. 23 on the road against the Chicago Hounds, followed by the home opener March 1 against NOLA Gold at Zions Bank Stadium (2 p.m. MT, KJZZ).</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_wOL!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2f58e65-6053-423b-b1c8-4c25fa9d1dda_1728x2304.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!_wOL!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2f58e65-6053-423b-b1c8-4c25fa9d1dda_1728x2304.jpeg 424w, 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stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.utahrugbynews.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.utahrugbynews.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[BYU's Wyatt Parry wins Scholz Award, college rugby's version of Heisman]]></title><description><![CDATA[The 5-foot-10 scrum half won the 2024 Rudy Scholz Award, given to the best male collegiate rugby player in the United States by the Washington Athletic Club of Seattle.]]></description><link>https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/byus-wyatt-parry-wins-scholz-award</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/byus-wyatt-parry-wins-scholz-award</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Utah Rugby News]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 29 Apr 2024 23:41:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f2549841-2584-4d0a-893b-266c76bffef3_1382x898.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="instagram" data-attrs="{&quot;instagram_id&quot;:&quot;C6W4OREP8ph&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;A post shared by @byurugbyofficial&quot;,&quot;author_name&quot;:&quot;byurugbyofficial&quot;,&quot;thumbnail_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/__ss-rehost__IG-meta-C6W4OREP8ph.webp&quot;,&quot;timestamp&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false}" data-component-name="InstagramToDOM"><div class="instagram-top-bar"><a class="instagram-author-name" href="https://instagram.com/byurugbyofficial" target="_blank">byurugbyofficial</a></div><a class="instagram-image" href="https://instagram.com/p/C6W4OREP8ph" target="_blank"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9uJn!,w_640,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F__ss-rehost__IG-meta-C6W4OREP8ph.webp"></a><div class="instagram-bottom-bar"><div class="instagram-title">A post shared by <a href="https://instagram.com/byurugbyofficial" target="_blank">@byurugbyofficial</a></div></div></div><p>Another &#8220;Heisman&#8221; is coming to BYU.</p><p>More than 30 years after Ty Detmer won the Heisman Trophy with the BYU football team, BYU&#8217;s Wyatt Parry earned a similar honor in his own sport.</p><p>The 5-foot-10 scrum half won the 2024 Rudy Scholz Award, given to the best male collegiate rugby player in the United States by the Washington Athletic Club of Seattle.</p><p>Perry, who prepped at Snow Canyon High School and served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Arequipa, Peru, was a key back in the Cougars&#8217; high-flying attack that averaged 35 points per game in the spring season en route to an appearance in the D1A rugby national semifinals.</p><p>The marketing major beat out a finalist grouping that included Dom Besag of Saint Mary&#8217;s, Evan Roode of Arkansas State and Eduan van Heerden of Lindenwood.</p><p>The Rudy Scholz Award is named for the former Santa Clara halfback and USA Rugby legend who helped pace the United States to Olympic gold medals in men&#8217;s rugby in 1920 and 1924. After serving in both World Wars and volunteering for WWII in his 40s, Scholz went on to become a decorated lawyer and lifelong steward of the game of rugby, playing in his final match at the age of 83.</p><p>The award is presented at a gala event by the Washing Athletic Club in Seattle, currently scheduled for June 8.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Past Rudy Scholz Award Winners, <a href="https://www.goffrugbyreport.com/news/wyatt-parry-wins-2024-scholz-award">per Goff Rugby</a>:</strong><br>2016: Dylan Audsley, Saint Mary's<br>2017: Bryce Campbell, Indiana<br>2018: Connor McNerney, Navy<br>2019: Harley Wheeler, Life University<br>2020: Payton Telea-Ilalio, Saint Mary's<br>2021: Emmanuel Albert, Lindenwood<br>2022: Larry Williams, West Point<br>2023: Lewis Gray, Navy</p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Utah Warriors release 2024 schedule for Major League Rugby competition]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Utah Warriors released a 16-game, 18-week schedule that includes eight home games and eight road games with two bye weeks.]]></description><link>https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/utah-warriors-release-2024-schedule</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/utah-warriors-release-2024-schedule</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Utah Rugby News]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 18 Dec 2023 21:16:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/ZihbIDg92c8" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="youtube2-ZihbIDg92c8" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;ZihbIDg92c8&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/ZihbIDg92c8?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><p>After losing the Toronto Arrows and New York Ironworkers to contraction, Rugby ATL&#8217;s relocation to Los Angeles, and the addition of the Miami Sharks, Major League Rugby is back for its seventh season of competition in 2024.</p><p>The Utah Warriors released a 16-game, 18-week schedule that includes eight home games and eight road games with two bye weeks.</p><p>The side guided by second-year head coach Greg Cooper will open March 3 at the yet-unnamed Los Angeles franchise, followed by a road trip March 9 to the Seattle Seawolves, before the Warriors&#8217; home opener March 16 against the Chicago Hounds at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman.</p><p>Utah will face Los Angeles, Seattle, New Orleans, Chicago, Dallas and Houston home-and-away, while facing D.C., San Diego, Miami and New England just once.</p><p>&#8220;Our 2024 schedule is set, another step forward as we prepare for the exciting challenges ahead of us,&#8221; said Cooper. &#8220;As a team, we assemble on the 22nd of January. We must be very accurate in our preparation to be ready to face LA and Seattle away in rounds 1 &amp; 2. Then it&#8217;s Chicago for the first game at home and our first opportunity to play in front of our amazing Warriors crowd and ensure Zions Bank Stadium is a true fortress.</p><p>A lot of quality work has already gone into the Utah Warriors 2024 campaign. We are all excited about the challenges and the opportunities ahead of us and we look forward to a highly successful season.&#8221;</p><p>Here&#8217;s the full schedule, as announced by the league.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!OFAl!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5a56c57f-77a0-4d6d-a3d2-233d0ab3d8a1_518x647.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!OFAl!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5a56c57f-77a0-4d6d-a3d2-233d0ab3d8a1_518x647.png 424w, 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y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Utah Warriors CEO: Losing 2 teams hurts, but Major League Rugby's growth continues]]></title><description><![CDATA[Utah Warriors co-founder and CEO Kimball Kjar wrote a letter to fans of the club, and Major League Rugby, following the withdrawal of league members Toronto and New York from the competition.]]></description><link>https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/utah-warriors-ceo-losing-2-teams</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/utah-warriors-ceo-losing-2-teams</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Utah Rugby News]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 07 Dec 2023 20:02:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/youtube/w_728,c_limit/Y9N-9ZNoE4g" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="youtube2-Y9N-9ZNoE4g" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;Y9N-9ZNoE4g&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Y9N-9ZNoE4g?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><p>Losing two teams ahead of Major League Rugby&#8217;s seventh season of competition isn&#8217;t ideal. But the decision of the New York Ironworkers and Toronto Arrows to depart &#8212; coming on the heels of Rugby ATL&#8217;s relocation to Los Angeles &#8212; does not mean the end of the league, either.</p><p>Utah Warriors co-founder and CEO Kimball Kjar wrote a letter to fans of the club, and Major League Rugby, acknowledging the disheartening conclusion but pointing toward better days in the young league&#8217;s future. The letter has been republished here with permission from the club.</p><div><hr></div><p><em>Warriors Nation,</em></p><p><em>My professional background is and has always been in startup companies. While they are exciting, they are also hard.</em></p><p><em>With Major League Rugby&#8217;s recent news regarding New York dissolving, and in context of Toronto&#8217;s unfortunate and saddening situation with Bill Webb&#8217;s passing, I can&#8217;t underscore enough that this is one of those &#8220;hard&#8221; moments that all startups face.</em></p><p><em>Despite the two teams&#8217; reasons for withdrawal from the MLR being wholly separate and unique, we acknowledge that this puts a lot of lives in some very rough spots and we hope to support any and all players and staff from Toronto and New York where and however we can. We also know these teams built and were a part of two amazing rugby communities and we feel for you at this time.</em></p><p><em>All professional sports leagues face these &#8220;early days&#8221; startup challenges. The MLS, the NBA and even the juggernaut of the NFL saw growth, contraction, dissolution of teams and everything in between during their respective formative years. To think that the MLR would be any different would be foolish.</em></p><p><em>The Utah Warriors, along with the other ten amazing ownership groups and teams in the MLR, are committed to growing this amazing professional sports league in the world&#8217;s most exciting and competitive sports and entertainment market of North America.</em></p><p><em>Although today is a hard day for everyone within the New York organization as well as in Toronto, we owe it to those players and the many who have carried the standards for both these teams for these many years to remain focused on the MLR&#8217;s path ahead.</em></p><p><em>The MLR has seen so much growth and success since our inception in 2018 and we, as one of the league&#8217;s founding members, look forward to continuing to build on this growth and success for many years to come.</em></p><p><em>Go Warriors! Go MLR!</em></p><p><em>Kimball Kjar </em></p><p><em>Utah Warriors Co-Founder &amp; CEO</em></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Coming soon]]></title><description><![CDATA[The newsletter you always wanted, but didn't always know you needed]]></description><link>https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/coming-soon</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.utahrugbynews.com/p/coming-soon</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Utah Rugby News]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 08 Nov 2022 10:03:43 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1517340650606-17091f8e86ed?crop=entropy&amp;cs=tinysrgb&amp;fit=max&amp;fm=jpg&amp;ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw0fHxydWdieXxlbnwwfHx8fDE2OTk3ODUyMzl8MA&amp;ixlib=rb-4.0.3&amp;q=80&amp;w=1080" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" 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class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" 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