DALLAS RUGBY
About Us
The Dallas Rugby Football Club was established in 1968 and is the premier USA Rugby Club in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.
We currently field FOUR Men’s sides and a Women’s side. Our teams compete in USA Rugby’s Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, and Division 4. We also help manage the Dallas Youth Rugby Club.
175+
Registered Club Members (as of 2019-2020 season)
5
Adult Sides
52
Years of Dallas Rugby
15+
Countries Represented
Quick Facts
- Founded in 1968
- 175+ registered players in 2019-2020 season
- Compete in Divisions I, II, III, and IV of the USA Rugby Men’s club national competition
- Compete in Division II of the USA Rugby Women’s club national competition
- 501(c)(3)
- Average Player Age: 28 years
- Player Age Range: 21-61
- Geographic Area of Conference (Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas)
- 2017 Gold Cup Champions (regional cross-over competition).
- Countries represented: Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, Fiji, France, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, U.S.
Our Staff
Executive Committee
President: David Dodge
Vice President: John McAuliffe
Treasurer: **
Secretary: Alex Campbell
Directors Emeritus: Fil Keuppens, Jeff Kolberg
Coaching
Director of Rugby: John McAuliffe
Men’s Head Coach: Dale Russ
Women’s Head Coach: Dirk Laurence
Sevens Coach: Chris & Lynn Howard
Youth / HS Head Coach: Basilio Torres
Our Story
Over the Years
1968
Founded
The Dallas Rugby Football Club was conceived by Dr. Bill Woodfin in 1968, and officially christened on January 18, 1969. The Club is a charter member of the Texas Rugby Football Union, and a member of the USA Rugby Football Union. Dallas Rugby was the third rugby club established in Texas, and the first in the North Texas area. Three of the seven clubs in the Dallas area are direct descendants of the Club.
1978
First Overseas Tour
Dallas Rugby was the first Texas team to tour overseas, taking a tour of England and Wales in 1978. The Club again toured England and Wales in 1982, toured Canada in 1986, Australia in 1988, and Ireland in 1999.
1980
Inaugural Lone Star 7s
Tournament
Dallas Rugby hosts the Annual TOLA Lone Star 7s Tournament in Dallas, TX. Every year, teams from far and wide come to play in the tournament. Today, the tournament hosts various men’s brackets, women’s brackets, and high school brackets.
2017
USA Rugby 7s
Bowl Champions
In 2017, Dallas Rugby traveled to Minnesota, MN to compete in the USA Rugby National 7s Tournament and won the Bowl Championship. Our 7s team has placed in the top 10 in the nation every year since then.
Outstanding Players and Culture
Success On the Pitch
Dallas Rugby has a long history of success. Most recently, our Division I team has consistently placed in the top of their conference for the past several years, and is the only Dallas rugby team to do so.
As the country’s largest rugby club, we have over 170 active players– both men and women. We continue to support the efforts of Dallas Youth Rugby- a club aimed at bringing rugby to underprivileged youth in Dallas.
Success Off the Pitch
As the country’s largest rugby club, we have over 170 active players– both men and women.
We also continue to support the efforts of Dallas Youth Rugby- a club we started aimed at bringing rugby to underprivileged youth in Dallas.
MLR Success
Several of our players have played with Major League Rugby teams such as the Houston Sabercats and NOLA Gold. Pitcured here are a few of our players: Chris Saint, Chris Slater, Kelly “Spike” Kolberg, Chad Joseph, and Connor Murphy.
Dallas Rugby looks forward to developing a partnership with the Dallas Jackals organization in an effort to promote rugby in the DFW area and develop quality players who can compete at the professional level.
Local & Global Connections
Several of our players have played with Major League Rugby teams such as the Houston Sabercats and NOLA Gold. Pitcured here are a few of our players: Chris Saint, Chris Slater, Kelly “Spike” Kolberg, Chad Joseph, and Connor Murphy.
Dallas Rugby looks forward to developing a partnership with the Dallas Jackals organization in an effort to promote rugby in the DFW area and develop quality players who can compete at the professional level.
Dallas Rugby Women
Several of our players have played with Major League Rugby teams such as the Houston Sabercats and NOLA Gold. Pitcured here are a few of our players: Chris Saint, Chris Slater, Kelly “Spike” Kolberg, Chad Joseph, and Connor Murphy.
Dallas Rugby looks forward to developing a partnership with the Dallas Jackals organization in an effort to promote rugby in the DFW area and develop quality players who can compete at the professional level.
Join Today
If you’re interested in playing rugby or would like to know more about us, please click the button below and one of our Club members will be in contact with you as soon as possible.
Don’t be shy, no experience necessary!
Become Part of Our HISTORY
Club Accomplishments
Dallas Rugby has a long history of success. Below is a list of the club’s recent success.
- 2022 USA Club Rugby Division 1 National Champions
- 2022 Lonestar Conference Division 1 Champions
- 2019 USA Rugby 7s National Tournament – Bowl Champions (Kansas City, MO)
- 2019 TOLA (TX, OK, LA, AR) 7s Series Runners-Up
- 2018 USA Rugby 7s National Tournament- Plate Champions (New York City, NY)
- 2018 TOLA (TX, OK, LA, AR) 7s Series Champions
- 2017 USA Rugby 7s National Tournament – Bowl Champions (Minneapolis, MN)
- 2017 TOLA (TX, OK, LA, AR) 7s Series Champions
- 2017 Red River Rugby Conference 7s Champions
- 2017 USA XV’s Rugby Gold Cup Champions – Division 1
- 2016 USA XV’s Rugby Gold Cup Runners Up – Division 1
- 2016 USA XV’s Rugby Championship Series National Quarterfinalist – Division 1
- 2016 XV’s Red River Rugby Conference Champions – Division 1
- 2016 TOLA (TX, OK, LA, AR) 7s Series Champions
- 2015 7s USA Rugby National Tournament Qualifier (Des Moines, IA)
- 2015 TOLA (TX, OK, LA, AR) Sevens Tournament Series Runner-Up
- 2015 USA XV’s Rugby Championship Series National Semifinalist – Division 1
- 2015 XV’s Red River Rugby Conference Runner-Up – Division 1
- 2015 USA XV’s Rugby Championship Series National Quarterfinalist – Division 2
- 2015 XV’s Red River Rugby Conference Champions – Division 2
- 2014 TOLA Sevens Tournament Series Champions
- 2014 USA XV’s Rugby Championship Series National Semifinalist – Division 1
- 2014 XV’s Red River Conference Runner Up- Division 1
- 2014 XV’s Red River Conference Wild Card- Division 2, USA Rugby Play-Offs
- 2013 TOLA Sevens Tournament Series Champions
- 2013 Men’s Division 1 and Division 3 Round of 32
- 2012 Men’s Division 1 Round of 16
- 2011 Men’s Division 1 Round of 16
- 2010 Men’s Division 1 Round of 32
- 2008 TOLA Sevens Series Champions
- 2007 Texas Rugby Union Runner Up – B side
- 2005 Texas Rugby Union Champs – A Side
- 2005 Texas Rugby Union Champs – B Side
- 2005 Western Rugby Union Champs
- 2004 Heart of America Premier Division – 3rd Place
- 2003 Texas Rugby Union Champs
- 2003 Western Rugby Union Champs
- 2001 Major League Rugby Cup Finalist
- 1998 Major League Rugby Plate Champions