Our Club

The Plymouth Rugby Club is a Minnesota 501(c)3 non-profit corporation.  Our original clubs began sponsoring boys and girls high school rugby in the Plymouth Minnesota area in 1992.  In 2011 the Wayzata Girls Rugby Club and the Plymouth Panthers Rugby Club (boys) merged to form the Wayzata Rugby Club, in 2014 we changed our name to be more inclusive of the demographics we serve.  We are now called Plymouth Rugby Club. Our current Directors are Megan Zweber  (Chmn/Club Manager), Ken Guenthner (Treasurer), Joe Scheitlin, Jill Carter, Dean Barkley, Al Starkey (emeritus), and are taking applications for additional members/volunteers.  Club Membership is open to all high school aged players living or attending school in the Northwest suburbs of Minneapolis. The Club's mailing address is 6315 Butterworth Lane, Corcoran, Minnesota, 55340.

Our History

The first Plymouth boys’ rugby team began playing in the spring of 1992 and the first girls’ team was organized the following year.  The boys were reorganized as the Plymouth Panthers in 2001.  Both groups have had many successes over the years.  The Wayzata girls won Minnesota state high school championships each year from 1999 to 2003 and again from 2006 to 2009.  The Panthers won the state championship in 2009.  The girls won the Midwest championship tournament every year from 2000 to 2004 and in 2004 were ranked 3rd in the nation.  Numerous Wayzata/Plymouth players have represented Minnesota on the state select teams and play at universities, colleges, and senior men’s and women’s teams across the country.

The Wayzata School District recently added rugby (the Rookie Rugby program, developed by USA Rugby) to its middle school physical education curriculum and in the Fall of 2011, nearly 2,400 6^th through 8^th graders were introduced to the game.  The City of Plymouth now offers Rookie Rugby camps for grade school aged boys and girls and the camps are run by our players and club coaches.

Our League

Plymouth Rugby Club is a member of and governed by Minnesota Youth Rugby.  We are also a registered club with USA Rugby.  All rugby, rugby clubs and players are regulated by the international governing body, the International Rugby Board (the “IRB”).  Among its many functions, the IRB establishes the rules that apply to every age group and level of play.  In rugby, the rules are called the Laws of the Game.

Minnesota Youth Rugby (“MYR”) manages all scheduling, tournaments, coaching certification, local rules, safety standards and disciplinary matters.  All games are refereed by members of an independent organization, the Minnesota Referees Society, and all referees are certified by USA Rugby and the IRB.  MYR rules require that a qualified EMT or athletic trainer be present at every game.

There are currently 20 high school boys and 16 high school girls teams playing rugby in Minnesota, primarily in and around the Twin Cities.  Approximately a dozen middle school teams have been formed to play in a new MYR Rookie Rugby League.  Follow the Links tab at left to the Minnesota Youth Rugby web site for a complete listing of all 2013 high school teams, conferences, game schedules and results.

Our Game of Rugby

According to the IRB, rugby is played by more than three million men and women, girls and boys worldwide, from people aged below 6 to above 60.  The wide variety of skills and physical requirements needed for the Game mean that there is an opportunity for individuals of every shape, size and ability to participate at all levels.

The object of the game of rugby is that two teams, each of fifteen players, observing fair play according to the Laws and in a sporting spirit should, by carrying, passing, kicking and grounding the ball, score as many points as possible.  The team in possession of the ball tries to advance the ball in the direction of the opposing team’s goal line by carrying, kicking or passing the ball.  The defending team seeks to stop the attacking team and regain possession of the ball. Possession may be regained by tackling an attacking player, who is obligated to release the ball upon tackle.  Possession may also be regained upon a restart of play following an opposing team minor infraction or play into “touch” (out of bounds).  Touching the ball down in the opponent’s goal (a “Try”) earns the attacking team 5 points and a successful kick through the uprights earns two points following a try, or three points following a penalty or a drop kick during play.

Rugby owes much of its appeal to the fact that it is played both to the letter and within the spirit of the Laws.  It is through discipline, control and mutual respect that the spirit of the game flourishes and, in the context of a game as physically challenging as rugby, these are the qualities which forge the fellowship and sense of fair play so essential to the game’s ongoing success.

The Documents page contains a pamphlet prepared by USA Rugby introducing the game of rugby.  The Videos page contains a You Tube video introducing rugby's rules.