Fighting Irish

Rugby Football Club

 

Introduction

 

The Mission of the Fighting Irish Rugby Football Club

is to foster, through a guided teaching environment, knowledge and appreciation of Rugby Football and the lessons of camaraderie, competition

and the highest levels of sportsmanship.

 

            Rugby Union Football is the father of our American Gridiron Football. It is the fastest growing sport in colleges and high schools in America today. The Fighting Irish were the first high school level club to form in the Middle Tennessee area.

All high school-age students from the Nashville Community who are willing to make the necessary commitment to our Club and its Rules and Mission are welcome. Membership is not limited to individuals who play in the matches; there are many important roles through which non-players can give indispensable support to the Club. Our Club is in the Middle Tennessee Conference, and we are under the administrative authority of the Tennessee High School Rugby League of the USA Rugby Football Union. Now beginning its third season, the League is still in its formative stages with expansion continuing. This past season marked the addition of a new 6-team Smoky Mountain Conference in east Tennessee that will expand this season. The League match season begins in March and concludes near the end of May. 

The Fighting Irish Rugby Football Club is not affiliated with Father Ryan High School. There is no legal or insurance liability of any kind assumed by Father Ryan High School for the Fighting Irish Rugby Football Club.

Parents and Club members must be aware that rugby is a contact sport and there is a degree of risk when playing. There is no blocking in rugby and therefore injuries are reduced. All participants are required to wear mouthpieces at all times while on the playing field. Statistics from the Medical Committee of the USA Rugby Football Union have shown that rugby causes significantly fewer injuries than American football. The #1 priority of coaches and officials is the safety of all participants. There are teams for men and women around the world, and the league hopes to field a girls’ division in the near future. Due to numbers and logistics, women do often practice with men’s teams, but this is strictly limited to non-contact drills and conditioning. As of 2001, girls are not allowed to play in boys' division matches.

Before any participation is allowed, each member must turn in the following completed forms: Participation Permission, Waiver of Liability, Emergency Treatment Consent, Emergency Information, Release of Medical Records Information and Tennessee Medical Association Pre-participation Medical Evaluation Form or appropriate substitute from his/her physician.

We intend to schedule pre-season scrimmage matches as often as possible and have the traditional rugby “social” after each contest. At these socials, both teams and all fans come together for lively conversation, wholesome singing, hot dogs, burgers, and soft drinks. Parents and all other supporters are invited to attend all practices and scrimmages as well as the regular season matches.