Rugby

Fordham Prep Rugby requires that all players MUST be registered with USARugby, the governing body of Rugby in the United States.

With this in mind, we ask all student rugby players take the time to register with BOTH of the following:

1. Fordham Prep Rugby Registration Form - link below.
    
2. USARugby - see instructions below.

 

FORDHAM PREP RUGBY Registration Form 

 

 

REGISTERING WITH USARugby

Here are the registration instructions:

A.     Go to https://RugbyXplorer.com.au

B.     Top right – Log In

C.     Setting up a profile if you are new to the sport. 

D.    If you have previously played rugby in the US – the system should find you using email and password.

E.     Registering your profile under Fordham Prep Rugby Club and pay a fee.

See YouTube guide on how to create profile if you do not yet have a USA Rugby profile – if you played rugby previously, your profile should be in the system – link below.

Video guide: https://youtu.be/aZjB1uoHm20

 

USA Rugby

B.     Once you have created a new profile (or logged into your existing profile if played rugby previously) please register with Fordham Prep Rugby Club – select High School Varsity Initiative from the drop-down list even if you are JV. 
Video Guide: https://youtu.be/3bzRqKJA0ao

 

How To Register on Rugby Xplorer for Season 2023-24
Login to your Member Profile

1.       Select Register in the upper left-hand corner

2.      Click on Find-a-Club

3.      Select the person you are planning to register (you may have children as linked accounts – look for your name in the search feature)

4.      Enter the Club name, select your club, and select next (Fordham Prep Rugby Club)

5.      Choose the registration options applicable to you “Player” (you can only register to one role at a time)

6.      View the personal information of the person you are registering (you can edit this information later, this step ensures this is the correct person)

7.      Upload a profile photo (or skip depending on whether this is required by your competition)

8.     Update your emergency contact information and answer any other questions

9.      Review your Registration Summary 

10.    Agree to the Terms and Conditions 

11.     Enter your Payment information to complete your registration

 

 

Each year Fordham Prep Rugby Club holds its annual Alumni Dinner with current players, families and an array of alumni.

In 2024 - our dinner was on Friday January 19th and resulted in a giant success.

If you have interest in helping out with next year's 2025 dinner, please email us - the more the merrier.

For all program related information or if you are interested in joining the coaching staff, please contact Jerry Wolf.

2023 - First XV tour to Argentina

Fordham Prep Rugby consists of 3 teams for the 2024 season. Varsity 1st XV, Varsity 2nd XV and J.V (Soph/Fresh).

Each team players roughly 8-12 matches during the spring starting mid-March through to early June. The season consists of preseason friendly fixtures and a regular season commencing after the Easter Break.  Strength and Conditioning begin in early February.

The Varsity squad tours internationally every 2 years and tours domestically every other year. Previous trips include England (2017), Texas (2018), Ireland (2019), France & Spain (2022) & Argentina (2023) & California which is planned for Easter week of this year 2024. More information on tour location and details coming soon.

 

Program Highlights

Varsity 2023 Season - Northeast Jesuit Cup tournament, Tour to Argentina.

Varsity 2022 Season - Northeast Jesuit Cup tournament, Tour to France & Spain

Varsity 2021 Season - Team member Seb Hickey selected to All American High School Squad.

JV 2021 Season - Largest registration pool in program history. First ever win over Xavier HS in the program

Varsity & JV 2020 Season - Cancelled due to COVID-19

Varsity 2019 Season - Northeast Jesuit Cup Runners-Up, Tour to Ireland, New York State Varsity Tier 2 Champions

Varsity 2018 Season -Northeast Jesuit Cup Champions, Tour to Dallas & Houston TX (Varsity went 2-1 with victories over Arrow Schoolboys Select Side & Cy Fair plus boys rebuilt houses decimated by Hurricane Harvey through Rugby Relief / AmeriCorps)

Varsity 2017 Season - New York State Varsity Tier 1 Runner-up, 2nd Place Northeast Jesuit Cup, Inaugural Tour to England

Varsity 2016 Season - New York State Varsity Tier 2 Champions

JV 2016 Season - New York State Champions - Undefeated Season

Varsity 2014 Season - 3rd Place finish in NY State, 1st Place finish Jersey Cup Tournament, 3rd Place finish Jesuit Cup Tournament

JV 2014 Season - 1st Place finish Jersey Cup Tournament, 3rd Place finish Jesuit Cup Tournament

Click to HERE view article on the History of FP Rugby by Rugby Alum Carlo DiNota ’85.

Rugby History at Fordham Prep

After a long hiatus, rugby has returned to the Prep!  During the 2010-11 school year, a dedicated group of students, Anthony Bronzo '11, Alan Bronzo '11 & Mike Mahon '12, successfully petitioned the administration to re-establish a rugby team, and in the Spring 2011 season FP Rugby was reborn.  With strong support from Fr. Boller, PlayRugbyUSA's Christian Mayo, Head Coach Ed Tweedy, Assistant Coaches Ciaran O'Hara, Jerry Wolf and Joe Costelloe, and the behind the scenes support of Team Parents Geraldine Stapleton and Linda Costelloe, the team enjoyed a successful first season back.  We'd be remiss if we didn't mention the support of FP Rugby Alumni, friends and family of FP Rugby, and the local school teams in the area that helped us get started.  The revamped program is now into its 10th season & getting stronger every year. From international tours & hosting overseas schools, to competing at Division 1 State Championships & our players reaching representative honors! The focus moving forward is building on the foundations left from those instrumental in getting the program to where it is today. 

Click here for Carlo DiNota's article on the revival of the Fordham Prep Rugby program, published in Rugby Magazine April 2013.

FP Rugby Alumni, we would love to include your memories of the "early years" in this history section.  Please forward your stories, photos, memories and musings to Kimberly Breen & Lisa Hickey

For a "less than academic" history on field positions, we offer the following:

It is largely unknown to players and followers of the modern game of rugby, that in the very early days it started off purely as a contest for forwards in opposition in line-outs, scrums, rucks and mauls. This pitted eight men of statuesque physique, of supreme fitness and superior intelligence in packs against one another. In those days, the winner was the pack that had gained most set pieces.
 
The debasement of the game began when backs were introduced. This occurred because a major problem was where to locate the next scrum or line-out. Selecting positions on the ground for these had become a constant source of friction and even violence. The problem was resolved through a stratagem of employing forward rejects, men of small stature and limited intelligence, to select positions on the field from where, when in receipt of the ball they could be guaranteed to drop it in a random pattern but usually, as far from the last set piece as possible.
 
Initially these additional players were entirely unorganized but with the passing of time they adopted positions. For instance, the half-back. He was usually generally the smallest and least intelligent of the backs whose role was simply to accept the ball and pass it on. He could easily (given his general size) have been called a quarter forward or a ball monkey but then tolerance and compassion are the keys to forward play and the present inoffensive description was decided upon. The five-eighth plays next to the half-back and his role is essentially the same except that, when pressured he usually panics and kicks the ball. Normally, he is somewhat taller and slightly better built than the half-back and hence his name. One-eighth less and he would have been a half-back, three-eighths more and he might well have qualified to become a forward.

The centres were opportunists who had no specific role to play but who were attracted to the game by the glamour associated with forward packs. After repeated supplication to the forwards for a role in the game they would be told to get out in the middle and wait for the ball. Thus, when asked where they played, they would reply "in the centre". And they remain to this day, opportunists and scroungers, men so accustomed to making excuses for bad hands and errant play that  most become solicitors or real estate agents.
 
You may ask, why wingers? The answer is simple. Originally these were players who had very little ability and were the lowest in the backline pecking order. They were placed far from the ball and given the generally poor handling by the inside backs, were rarely given the opportunity to even touch the ball. This is basically why, through a process of natural selection, they became very fast runners and developed the ability to evade tackles. But to get back to the name. The fact that they got so little ball led to the incessant flow of complaints from them and the eventual apt description "whingers". Naturally, in the modern game, the name has been adapted to become more acceptable.

Lastly, the full-back. This was the position given to the worst handler, the person least able to accept or pass the ball, someone who was always in the way.. the name arose because, infuriated by the poor play invariably demonstrated by that person, the call would come "send that fool back" and he would be relegated to the rear of the field.
 
So there you have it. The fact is that if a side does not have eight men of statuesque physique, of supreme fitness and superior intelligence then they might as well play soccer.

Photos

Shared Google Drive of Photos....and there are thousands!!  Click here

Former FP Rugby photosharing site:  www.dropshots.com/fprugby
     Password:  fprugby

Fundraising Dinner 2015 click here
      Photos thanks to Dr. David Gelpi
Fundraising Dinner 2013, Jesuit Cup and other games click here
      Fundraising Dinner photos thanks to Christopher Lauber '79
      High-quality game photos thanks to Tim Teran (parent of Hank '12).
More game photos, including State Championships click here --  Password:  RugbyFP  (case sensitive)
      Many thanks to Theresa Gray for taking the photos and setting up the Shutterfly account!!

Game Footage

Spring 2018 Season

TEXAS TOUR - Fordham vs Arrow Schoolboys, Houston TX - 4/2/18

Varsity A  click here

Fordham vs Oakdale Australia - 4-17-18

Varsity A   click here
Varsity B  click here

Fordham vs. Play Rugby - 4-21-18

Varsity A  click here

Fordham vs. Harvey-  5-9-18

Varsity A  click here

Spring 2016 Season

Fordham vs St. Joe's - 3/21/16

Varsity A  click here
Varsity B  click here

Fordham vs Harvey - 4/21/16

Varsity A   click here

Spring 2015 Season

Fordham vs St. Anthony's - 5/3/15

Varsity A    click here

Fordham vs. New Rochelle  -  4/29/15

Varsity A     click here 

Fordham vs Pelham - 4/13/15

Varsity A    click here

Spring 2014 Season

Fordham Prep vs. Harvey -  5/13/14

• Varsity A    click here
• JV    click here

Fordham Prep vs. St. Anthony's -- 5/3/14

• Varsity A    click here

Fordham Prep vs. New Rochelle -- 4/28/14

• Varsity A    click here
• JV    click here

Fordham Prep vs. Wimbledon -- 4/18/14

• Varsity A    click here
• JV    click here

Fordham Prep vs. Smith Point -- 4/6/14

• Varsity A    click here

Fordham Prep vs. Long Island Colts -- 3/16/14

• Varsity A    click here
• JV    click here

Fordham Prep vs. Fairfield Prep -- 3/22/14

• Varsity A    click here
• Varsity B    click here
• JV    click here

Media Coverage
Front Cover of Alexandria Times 3/22/12 following Jesuit Cup 2012 click here

MSG Varsity Photos FP vs. Xavier 5/9/12 click here

MSG Varsity Video Coverage and Interview click here

Helpful Links

USA Rugby Spectator's Guide to Rugby  click here
Great starting point for newbies!

Rules of Rugby click here
From the rules, to the positions to the equipment and the history, Rugby Union Rules will help you understand the game. 

World Rugby Shop click here
For all your rugby needs.  Great selection and quick delivery.

Soccer & Rugby Imports click here
Need something fast? Great selection right in Greenwich.....or shop online.

FP Rugby apparel store for 2024 is now OPEN.

Please place your order sooner than later, as it will be shipped directly to your home address in the coming weeks.  The LINK is below.

These are required items.  Players are provided with jerseys on game day.

Players need:

• BOTH sets of WHITE as well as MAROON Shorts
• Maroon Rugby Socks

Deadline is March 10th, 2024 

FP Rugby Apparel Store

As always - No student will be excluded from owning clothing due to apparel pricing or financial constraints; if you require assistance with clothing item purchases, contact Adrian Newell - Newella@fordhamprep.org