- September 1st officially marks the beginning of the 2021-22 USA Rugby competitive season with membership now open for registration.
- The new season looks ahead to the return of Youth, High School, College and Club Championships, an all-new Training & Education Learning Management System and continued practice of safe play amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 2021-22 USA Rugby Member registration is now open at usarugby.sportlomo.com
USA Rugby is excited to welcome the first official day of the 2021-22 competitive season as September 1st marks the beginning of a new membership cycle. With renewed competitions, championships and content in-line for the upcoming year, USA Rugby Members have a lot to look forward to in what hopes to be a notable season of rugby. 2021-22 USA Rugby Memberships are now open for registration at usarugby.sportlomo.com.
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“There is so much anticipation from us and the rugby community as we head off into this new membership cycle,” said USA Rugby CEO, Ross Young, “As many clubs, coaches, administrators and referees look to reorganize match play and competitions after a rare year, we’ve received a lot of enthusiasm from stakeholders around returning to busy schedules this fall.”
As Members may be renewing or registering for the first time through new membership portal, SportLomo, USA Rugby has developed a video series of walkthrough guides on how to register, renew, transfer and upload certifications with the new system. A useful tool for multiple member scenarios, where Members are also encouraged to contact the National Office by email with questions and inquiries. USA Rugby headquarters can be reached at membership@usa.rugby.
With the National 7s Championship in the immediate rearview, along with NIRA and Fall College Championships slated for end of year, championship rugby is making its welcomed return. The College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) announced dates and location for the 2021 Fall College Championships along with a newly featured Men’s D1A Bowl Series, December 4-5 at the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex in Charlotte, NC. The tournament will mark the first championship competition for Women’s D1 and Women’s D2 (ACRA), and Men’s D1AA since 2019. Adding to the excitement is the announcement of the Men’s D1A Bowl Series, new for 2021, which will match schools with cross-conference competitors to create new and unique postseason clashes.
2021-22 USA Rugby Memberships continue to provide the same required benefits and sanctions from the National Governing Body (NGB), most notably Accident and Liability Insurance covered under the World Rugby Laws of the Game. World Rugby rules and regulations require all rugby to be sanctioned by their recognized NGB, where being a member in good standing of USA Rugby validates the protections and standards of the sport and allows the game to be played under the appropriate laws, safety protocols and certifications. Unsanctioned rugby competition and activities therefore do not benefit from the overarching protections, and in essence, are not supported by National and International regulations and protocols. USA Rugby registered Coaches, Administrators and Referees are additionally compliant with mandatory background checks and SafeSport certification, all through the same USA Rugby membership. With game development, training, education and player welfare at the forefront of governance focus, USA Rugby looks forward to expanding its reach through the coaching and referee community with sanctioned curriculum and compliance.
The 2021-22 season will see the launch of an updated and reformed Training & Education Learning Management System (LMS), dubbed the ‘USA Rugby Learning Center’. Hyper focused on robust and expansive digital content and education, the new LMS will offer opportunities for current certified members to grow through the ranks and even provide introductory content for new members to explore a future in coaching, refereeing, medical, administration and officiating. All exclusively available to USA Rugby registered members.
USA Rugby Director of Training & Education, Jamie McGregor noted, “The USA Rugby Learning Center will provide a mechanism for members to take control of their own World Rugby certifications and provide a better platform for online learning. Something the past year has made us as a community a lot more familiar with. We are excited to work with the LMS provider at Docebo to make this robust, effective and useful for USA Rugby members.”
Announced in April 2021, the new season will additionally continue to feature Temporary Memberships. Similar to one-day license programs offered by other National Governing Bodies, the new USA Rugby Temporary Membership provides players with a lower-cost option for sanctioned participation without compromising on protection. The temporary membership will be priced at $10 for players who provided proof of primary medical insurance and $15 for those who do not. Membership will be active for a specified 72-hour period and will provide players will full liability and secondary medical insurance coverage during that time.
As the COVID-19 virus remains a pandemic, USA Rugby Members are encouraged to continue following the Return To Play Guidelines, that have been updated to reflect certain. While the vaccine continues to support an end to the pandemic, it does not prevent the carrying or spread of the virus. Therefore, individuals who are fully vaccinated are still suggested to continue following all rules and precautions – particularly if members of their club, facility, friends and family are not fully vaccinated. Members are otherwise encouraged to follow local health guidelines around mask wearing and social distancing for indoor and outdoor sports activities in their area, particularly in regard to vaccination status.
Despite the trials of the last 17 months, rugby is on the rise and hopeful seasons lie ahead of every player and club across the country. As we continue to reestablish the game and work on strengthening foundations, USA Rugby would again like to thank all registered members, volunteers, supporters and fans for their continued dedication to the game. USA Rugby is at its core a member organization, where the 2021-22 season is another opportunity for the organization to work on giving back to its supporters.
