Mustangs Rugby holding 3rd annual free Rugby Day

The San Diego Mustangs youth rugby club begins its 13th season in North County this month. The highly successful club plays youth rugby — the fastest growing team sport in America — and has teams for girls and boys aged 6 to 18. The Mustangs are conducting a free rugby demonstration day at Ocean Air Park, 4770 Fairport Way, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Sunday, Nov.13.

New players are welcome to come out and get instruction from leading coaches including Matt Hawkins, former Captain and Coach of the USA 7’s. Activities will include all the fundamental skills such as passing, evasive running and tackling drills.

Throughout the day, touch rugby will be played for each age group with the U8s starting at 9.20 a.m. A demonstration touch game will be held at 11.30 a.m. with the U18 team taking on their coaches. Rugby is expanding rapidly across Southern California with over 50 high schools now having rugby as an ASB club sport and around 20 having girls rugby.

The Mustangs runs one of the largest youth programs in SoCal and has garnered a national reputation for producing high-caliber rugby players and teams. Success on the field for the U18 team has led to college opportunities for a number of Mustangs alumni with players from the last few years going to college rugby programs at West Point, Cal Berkeley, Saint Mary’s and University of Arizona, to name a few.

All of the Mustang coaches are nationally trained and certified, and pass stringent safety and background checks. The Mustangs has a rigorous “Coaches Coach” program run by Matt Hawkins, former coach and captain of the USA 7’s national team. Hawkins who founded and runs a youth rugby academy — The Institute of Rugby has both his sons playing with the U8 and U10 Mustangs.

“The Mustangs Club has a philosophy of teaching the basic skills in a fun and safe environment. It is these core skills learnt from a young age that provide the platform for young ruggers to reach their potential and take advantage of the many college opportunities that exist in rugby today.”

Rugby 7’s, which the Mustangs have as a summer program, was recently played at the Rio Olympics with the USA finishing 5th and 9th for the women and men respectively. President David Pool commented “Rugby has grown rapidly as a youth sport – the exposure at the Olympics along with having a PRO Rugby team in San Diego has provides the opportunity to see rugby played at a high level as well as enjoy this fast, fun game on a Saturday with your friends.”

Torrey Pines, Canyon Crest and Cathedral Catholic, and many other local high schools now play rugby as an ASB club sport. Do not miss the opportunity to expose your young athletes to this fun, exciting sport right here in your own neighborhood.

For more information go to www.sandiegoyouthrugby.com or call Club President David Pool at (858) 405-9271.