Tempe Rugby Club, through its nationally acclaimed coaching staff and strategic planning initiative, has created a life-long player pathway.  

Members may follow an age appropriate rugby career through Tempe’s Youth (U8-U14), High School (U16, U19), and adult (Sr. Men’s, Sr. Women’s, Master’s) teams. Many of our members continue on to play representative rugby at the state, regional, national, and international level including, but not limited to the Eagle Impact Rugby Academy (EIRA), the United States Rugby Football Union (USARFU) national team system, the Major League Rugby (MLR) professional system, and world championships (Olympics, World Cup).

Tempe further recognizes the immeasurable and positive impact that higher education and university-level rugby development has  in developing a well-rounded person and athlete.  As such, Tempe is proud to partner with institutions that share many of our core principals, our winning legacy, and most of all our desire to help develop young individuals on- and off-the-pitch.  The Universities and their respective men’s and women’s rugby programs listed below were handpicked to represent Tempe high school graduates.  As a high school age athlete affiliated with the Tempe Rugby Club, we strongly encourage each of you to consider pursuing a college education, playing college rugby, and contacting any of these institutions for additional information (including funding options).

The Arizona State University Men’s rugby team originated in 1975. We are currently playing in the D1A Pac 12 conference. Our mission is to promote the sport of rugby through representing our university at the highest competitive level and achieve excellence through hard work and commitment to our team culture. Arizona State seeks to build upon its past success on the field, while continuing to provide one of the country’s premier college rugby experiences to its student athletes.

The Arizona State University Women’s Rugby Club formed in 1994, playing hard ever since. We are an elite organization established and operated exclusively to create a respectful, competitive environment that allows for a successful collaboration of community, legacy, tradition and professionalism. Each season, we have a number of both National Merit Scholars and ASU Honor College students on the squad. In 2010, one of our athletes was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship. No student who has competed in her senior year has failed to graduate.

Interested in being a student athlete at Life University? Watch our video on what it takes to be a Life University Running Eagle athlete at Life U Athletics. To check out all of Life University’s Athletic programs, visit LIFE U Athletics. We hope to see you at Lupo Field!