Grand Canyon University Athletics
Men's Rugby Joins Growing List of Club Sports at GCU
11/26/2013 4:55:00 PM | General
Grand Canyon University recently announced that it will launch a men's club rugby program, beginning this year.
Commencing play in the 2014-2015 season, the program will join a growing group of club sports at the school, including men's and women's lacrosse, bowling and tennis.
The team will compete in both 15s and 7s versions of rugby.
Ryan Kelly, the first player from Arizona to earn All-America honors, will be the team's head coach. Merrick Firestone has been named the associate head coach. Firestone played on the men's junior national team (15s and 7s) and the U.S. Maccabiah national team. Both have coached with the Phoenix Rugby Club.
"We feel strongly that the new GCU club rugby program will offer student-athletes the opportunity to compete at the highest level and prepare them for rugby beyond college if that is a goal," said Kelly. "We intend to train and compete as hard as the national rugby power schools and welcome interest from any serious athlete."
The university will not offer rugby scholarships, but the program will receive university financial support.
For more information on GCU rugby, please contact coach Kelly at 602.670.9063.
Commencing play in the 2014-2015 season, the program will join a growing group of club sports at the school, including men's and women's lacrosse, bowling and tennis.
The team will compete in both 15s and 7s versions of rugby.
Ryan Kelly, the first player from Arizona to earn All-America honors, will be the team's head coach. Merrick Firestone has been named the associate head coach. Firestone played on the men's junior national team (15s and 7s) and the U.S. Maccabiah national team. Both have coached with the Phoenix Rugby Club.
"We feel strongly that the new GCU club rugby program will offer student-athletes the opportunity to compete at the highest level and prepare them for rugby beyond college if that is a goal," said Kelly. "We intend to train and compete as hard as the national rugby power schools and welcome interest from any serious athlete."
The university will not offer rugby scholarships, but the program will receive university financial support.
For more information on GCU rugby, please contact coach Kelly at 602.670.9063.
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