The University of Michigan Rugby Football Club (UMRFC) is a

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University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

Ann Arbor Ann Arbor is a city in Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. The 2020 United States census, 2020 census recorded its population to be 123,851, making it the List of municipalities in Michigan, fifth-most populous cit ...

. The UMRFC currently plays in the Big Ten conference at the D1A level, the highest level of collegiate play under National Collegiate Rugby. The Wolverines largely rely on talent drawn from within the United States; however, foreign students will often add valuable contributions while studying abroad in Ann Arbor. Many players join with little or no previous experience in rugby. Despite this, the UMRFC has won a number of championships and produced several athletes that have gone on to play rugby at a professional level. According to their Player Handbook, UMRFC's mission is "to develop upstanding student athletes and men through the sport of Rugby. To play the game with inspiration, cultivate a close knit family within the club, and promote commitment, discipline, and respect on and off of the field." Reinforcing these values, the Wolverine's work a variety of community service and charity events.

History

The team began as the Michigan Rugby Football Club, founded in 1959. The club was composed of U of M undergraduate students, graduate students, staff, and alumni as well as Ann Arbor community members, maintaining this composition for 40 years. In January 2000, the University of Michigan Rugby Football Club was formed and restricted to current undergraduate (and in some cases, graduate) students at U of M.

Club honors

* Collegiate Rugby Championship Quarterfinalists: 2014, 2015 * Big Ten Champions: 2013 * Midwest championship and National Quarter-Finalist: 2007-2008 * Midwest Championship and National Semi-Finalist: 2004-2005 * Senior Men National Championship: 1995 * National Third Place: 1980

Results

''Full results since 1959''
See the current schedule at the team's official website.

Past and current captains and presidents

Notable alumni

* Sequoyah Burke-Combs -

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Major League Rugby Major League Rugby (MLR) is a professional rugby union competition in the United States. The league comprises 11 teams. While operating outside of the governance and oversight of the national governing body, the league is officially sanctioned ...

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) * Peter Donnelly - professor of statistical science * Harvey Schiller - sports executive *

Bob Woodruff Robert Warren Woodruff (born August 18, 1961) is an American television journalist. Since 1996, he has served as a reporter for ABC News (United States), ABC News. Woodruff co-anchored ''ABC World News Tonight'' in 2006 with journalist Elizabeth ...

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Bert Sugar Herbert Randolph Sugar (June 7, 1936 – March 25, 2012) was an American sportswriter known for his work covering boxing and baseball. As the author of over 80 books, ''The New York Times'' called Sugar an "accomplished raconteur with a bottom ...

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References

External links

* {{University of Michigan Rugby, men's Rugby union in Michigan