Achieve Your Dreams on and off the Field
Rugby Scholarships
​While rugby scholarships for men are currently limited in the U.S., talented female players have opportunities to earn scholarships through NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 programs. Rugby's popularity has grown significantly across American universities, leading to improved coaching, upgraded facilities, and more competitive play. Increasingly, elite-level players from around the world are choosing to attend American universities, attracted by the opportunity to balance competitive rugby with higher education. Prominent programs like Dartmouth, Lindenwood, and Penn State actively recruit internationally, contributing to a growing trend of foreign athletes joining collegiate rugby teams. By 2015, international players made up a notable portion of college rugby rosters—a trend that shows no signs of slowing down.a
Key Facts About College Rugby and Scholarships
Number of NCAA Division 1 Teams: 78
Scholarship Limits per Team:
Division 1: 12 scholarships
​Total College Field Rugby (All Divisions): 120
Total College Rugby Players: Approximately 4,000
Number of NCAA Division 2 Teams: 31
Scholarship Limits per Team:
Division 2: 6.3 scholarships
Eligibility for Rugby Scholarships
Strong academic performance is crucial for student-athletes aspiring to secure a field hockey scholarship. Without the required GPA or SAT/ACT scores, even top athletic achievements won’t suffice. Scholar Sport Link provides personalized guidance to help you through this process, assessing your academic and athletic profiles to match you with the right university program. For students needing to improve their grades, we also assist in identifying suitable pathways to qualify for NCAA eligibility.
Scholarship Opportunities
High-caliber rugby players have access to both full and partial scholarships in the U.S. collegiate system. Rugby is an “equivalency sport,” allowing coaches to distribute a pool of scholarships (up to 12 full scholarships in NCAA Division 1) across multiple athletes as needed. This structure provides flexibility, enabling coaches to offer partial scholarships to a larger number of players, creating more opportunities for talented athletes across NCAA Division 1 and Division 2 teams.
If you're passionate about combining rugby with academics, the U.S. college system offers the perfect environment to pursue both your athletic and educational goals. With expanding opportunities and an increasingly competitive landscape, college rugby in the U.S. offers a dynamic pathway for athletes to succeed in high-level rugby while earning a world-class education.
