Are you a talented young rugby player with a burning ambition to combine your passion for the game with a world-class education? Then attending a FirstPoint USA Rugby Trial could be your most important step yet towards a life-changing opportunity in the USA!
At FirstPoint USA, we're dedicated to helping student-athletes like you secure scholarships at universities across the USA, and our rugby trials are a crucial part of that journey. We take a look at what you can expect on the day, designed to help you prepare and make the most of this incredible chance.
The Day Kicks Off: Understanding Your Opportunity
Your trial experience begins before you even step onto the pitch. We start with a pre-event presentation designed to give you and your parents a complete overview of the US college rugby landscape and the scholarship process. This session is invaluable for understanding:
- The Student-Athlete Journey: What it truly means to balance demanding academics with high-level athletic commitments.
- The Scholarship Process: How scholarships work, the wide network of men’s and women’s collegiate rugby programs, and the steps involved in securing your place.
- Student Athlete Life in the USA: Insights into a day in the life of a student athlete, academic expectations, and the incredible facilities available.
Our experienced team, including former student-athletes who have walked the same path, will be on hand to share their personal stories and answer all your questions. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend, as this is a collaborative journey, and their understanding and support are vital.
Showcasing Your Prowess: On-Field Assessments
After the presentation, it's time to lace up your boots and demonstrate your rugby abilities. Our trials designed to assess your suitability and playing levels, giving our expert coaches a comprehensive view of your potential.
Here's what the on-field session typically includes:
- Fitness Assessment: We'll put you through a series of drills to gauge your speed, agility, endurance, and overall athletic conditioning. This is crucial for understanding your physical readiness for the demands of college rugby.
- Skills Drills: You'll participate in a variety of rugby-specific drills focusing on core skills such as passing, general technique, situational awareness and set-piece fundamentals. This allows our coaches to evaluate your technical proficiency and coachability.
- Game Situations & Small-Sided Games: This is where you really get to shine! You'll be placed in various game scenarios and small-sided games to observe your decision-making, tactical awareness, teamwork, and ability to perform under pressure. This provides the most authentic view of your playing style and potential impact on a team.
Our trials are run by FirstPoint USA's experienced team of coaches, many of whom have extensive backgrounds in both UK and US rugby. They're not just looking for raw talent, but also for players who are coachable, dedicated, and possess the right attitude to thrive in a high-performance environment.
The Decision: Ready for the Next Step?
The key objective of the trial is to assess your suitability and playing levels. Based on the expert judgment of our coaching team, you will receive notification within 48 hours as to whether you have passed our evaluation. This isn't a judgment on your character, but rather an assessment of whether you are currently ready to take the next crucial step in pursuing a rugby scholarship in the USA.
If you pass, it signifies that our team believes you have the potential to succeed in the American college rugby system, and we will guide you through the next steps of the exciting process of connecting with universities and securing scholarship opportunities at the follow-up interview stage, which will take place within 7 days of your trial with one of our expert consultants.
This trial truly gives you the chance to showcase your skills in front of coaches and put yourself in a position to be recruited by universities and colleges with rugby programs.
Why College Rugby in the USA?
The growth of rugby in the USA is phenomenal. It's currently one of the fastest-growing college sports for both men and women, with increasing investment and opportunities across the country. This means more scholarships, better facilities, and a higher standard of competition.
FirstPoint USA has a proven track record of placing talented rugby players at fantastic universities across the US. We've recently secured placements at prestigious institutions like Brown University, the University of Notre Dame, Life University, University of Arizona, Penn State University, and Lindenwood University, to name just a few of the fantastic universities across the country who are offering rugby opportunities. These are institutions renowned for their strong academic programs and competitive rugby teams.
Jamie Berrisford, our Head of Rugby and an alum of Life University where he won two national championships, says:
"Playing college rugby in the USA is a truly life-changing opportunity. It's not just about improving as a player; it's about gaining a top-class education, experiencing a new culture, developing invaluable life skills, and building a network that will last a lifetime. The growth of the sport in the US means there are more opportunities than ever before for talented players to achieve their academic and athletic dreams."
If you're a young rugby player with big ambitions, a FirstPoint USA Rugby Trial is your chance to turn those dreams into a reality. Come prepared, perform your best, and let us help you unlock a future of opportunity on and off the pitch in the United States!
Our next UK and Ireland rugby trials are being hosted on the following dates. Click here to book your place:
Tuesday 27 May: University of Surrey Sports Park, Surrey
Wednesday 28 May: Saracens Stadium (StoneX Stadium), London
Thursday 29 May: University of Bristol, Bristol
Friday 30 May: Bellevue Sports Village, Manchester
Friday 30 May: University of Edinburgh Peffermill Playing Fields, Edinburgh
Thursday 5 June: National Sports Campus (Indoor), Dublin
