Yale Rugby’s Commitment to Your Student, and to you

We offer an athletic experience less time-intensive than varsity sports, allowing our players the opportunity to seriously pursue academics and other campus interests.

At the same time, we provide every opportunity for serious athletic competition and character development in a sport renown for developing teamwork, leadership, toughness, strength, decision-making under stress, and selflessness.

Our coaches have over 100 years combined coaching experience. We teach safe tackling techniques, and follow the most up-to-date concussion protocols. We have sideline trainers at every match. Our strength and conditioning program is top tier. Rugby is a physical sport, and we take seriously your student’s safety.

Our program’s financial support comes almost entirely from our alumni and parents, and our alumni also offer mentoring and employment opportunities to our players.

Interested in learning more? Please watch our Welcome to Yale Rugby video, and feel free to contact the Chair of our alumni group, Greg Robbins, at gregrobbins@yalerugby.com.

Support Yale Rugby
A young male rugby player running on a grassy field holding a rugby ball with a focused expression, wearing a blue jersey with logos and number 12.

Our Teams

A female rugby player with red hair in a striped navy and white uniform running with a rugby ball during a match on a grassy field.
Women's Team Website Link
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Men's Team Website Link

Our Staff

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A smiling young woman wearing sunglasses, a white cap, and a navy blue sports shirt with 'Y' on it. She has medals around her neck and is holding up one finger, outdoors on a grassy field, with other people in the background.

Craig Wilson, Director of Rugby &
Head Coach, Men’s Team

Nikki Campbell
Co-Head Coach, Women’s Team

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Coach holding a rugby ball while team practices on field

Matja Saarenheimo-VanderHorst
Co-Head Coach, Women’s Team

Marc Downes, Forwards Coach

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A man wearing a blue Yale rugby shirt and a blue cap, standing outdoors in front of a chain-link fence, with an American flag and houses in the background.

Nikita Guryakov, Backs Coach

Matt “Sparkles” Callan, Scrum Coach

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Bob Huscher, Forwards Coach

Our alumni Board

That temporary funding strategy is expiring, and FYR’s current focus is on raising a $5 million endowment to fund the rugby program at a level that is sustainable.

At the same time, the Board continues to provide support, guidance, and feedback to the rugby staff and players, and the club sports office at Yale.

You can find our current Board Members here. To learn more about you how can help, please e-mail Board Chair Greg Robbins at gregrobbins@yalerugby.com.

Friends of Yale Rugby was founded in the 2000s to support rugby at Yale.

As the need for professional coaching became apparent, FYR recruited head coaches for the men’s and women’s programs, and put in place a temporary funding strategy to finance those positions and the rest of the program (position-specific coaches, trainers, strength & conditioning programs, busses and hotels to away matches, international tours, etc.).