E&H Men's rugby group on the field.

Rugby

Rugby is one of the fastest-growing club sports in America. The Men’s & Women’s Rugby Teams at Emory & Henry compete against other college club teams from around the region and in the Cardinal Athletic Conference.

Join Emory & Henry’s Rugby Team

During the summer, Emory & Henry typically hosts middle or high school rugby camps. Contact coach O’Neil for more information.

Emory & Henry College added competitive rugby to enhance the vibrant culture of the college community and to start a new tradition. Men’s and Women’s Rugby is registered through National Collegiate Rugby. The teams travel and play at home against other institutions on a collegiate level.

Women’s Rugby is NCAA Starting Fall 2023

Women’s Rugby Recruiting Questionnaire

Men’s Rugby is a Club Sport

Men’s Rugby Recruiting Questionnaire

*Important Note: Per NCAA rules, if you participate in an NCAA-athletic team you are not eligible for a Rugby Scholarship*

Men's Rugby wins first Conference Championship in Program History. (2021) Men's Rugby wins first Conference Championship in Program History. (2021)

Men’s Rugby

Men’s Rugby began at Emory & Henry in 2012 as a Club Sport program. It quickly grew into a popular sport on campus and transitioned to Affinity in 2016. The program has seen much success since that time and has seen many players receive high honors for their performance on the pitch.

The E&H Men’s Rugby program competes within the Cardinals Collegiate Rugby Conference as a part of the Challenger’s Division. In 2018, E&H finished 2nd in the conference and Head Coach Tom (Doc) O’Neill was named the 2018 Cardinal Collegiate Rugby Conference Coach of the Year.

The 2020-2021 Men’s team saw six members selected to the Conference All-Star Team despite not having played a full season due to COVID-19. Conference All-Star members selected were:

Eli Hamilton
David Doss
Hunter Burkett
Ethan Hughes
Wes Clements
Brandon Blair

The Conference Team finished sixth nationally at the National Collegiate Rugby Tournament in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The 2021-2022 Men’s team had it’s most succesful season in program history. Led by Coach O’Neill, the team finished the season undefeated with an 8-0 record and nationally ranked by National Collegiate Rugby. The team also won it’s first Conference Championship in Program history, beating The College of William & Mary in the Cardinal Collegiate Rugby Conference Tournament final, played at Emory & Henry College.

E&H Men’s Rugby

EHC Men's Rugby vs JMU
EHC Men's Rugby vs JMU
EHC Men's Rugby vs JMU
EHC Men's Rugby vs JMU
EHC Men's Rugby vs JMU
EHC Men's Rugby vs JMU
EHC Men's Rugby vs JMU
EHC Men's Rugby vs JMU
EHC Men's Rugby vs JMU
EHC Men's Rugby vs JMU

2021-2022 Season Results:

Sept. 11th vs. James Madison University- Won, 64-5
Sept. 18th vs. College of William & Mary- Won (forfeit)
Sept. 25th vs. Virginia Commonwealth University- Won, 49-14
Oct. 2nd vs. Longwood- Won (forfeit) (E&H Nationally Ranked- #17)
Oct. 14th vs. Roanoke College- Won, 75-14 (E&H Nationally Ranked- #14)
Oct. 30th at Richmond University- Won 41-12 (E&H Nationally Ranked- #17)
Nov. 6th and 7th (Cardinal Collegiate Rugby Conference Tournament)
- Round 1 vs Roanoke College- Won, 58-0
- Round 2 vs. College of William & Mary- Won, 63-26

2021-2022 Cardinal College Rugby Conference, Challengers Division, Champions!!

Nov. 20th and 21st (Regional Tournament at The Citadel, Charleston, SC)-

Women’s Rugby

In 2019, Emory & Henry formed its first women’s rugby team playing non-NCAA intercollegiate rugby in the South-Atlantic Rugby Conference. Their motto is “Never Give Up. Never Surrender.” The team has membership in National Collegiate Rugby and is a group of powerful women devoted to teamwork and dedication both on and off the field.

The 2020- 2021 team saw four members selected to the Conference All-Star Team. The Conference Team finished 1st overall and was awarded the National Championship at the National Collegiate Rugby Tournament in New Orleans, Louisiana. The members selected to the All-Star Team:

Sarah Dutton
Morgan Stone
Brooklyn Yates
Jazmyn Jackson

E&H Rugby Forward, Sarah Dutton, was awarded the distinction of a Scholastic All-American by National Collegiate Rugby for the 2020-2021 season.

The South Atlantic Rugby Conference National Championship Award Ceremony. 4 E&H Women were me...

2021-2022 Season Results:

Oct. 23rd Tri Tournament vs. Virginia Commonwealth University and UNC Greensboro-

Vs. VCU- Won, 29-5

Vs. UNCG- Won, 33-7

E&H Women's Rugby (2022)

Questions? Contact:

Tom O’Neill

Head Coach, Women’s Rugby
276-608-1324 Email

Traci Harrison

Director of Admissions

Graduate, Re-Admits, and Special student applications

Office: Office of Admissions
276-944-6134 Email

“As a football player at a small college, who did not make the travel squad, I discovered rugby when I transferred to Appalachian State University. After graduation, I joined the Greensboro, North Carolina men’s club, which helped me when it came time to get a job and gave me the opportunity to continue to play a sport I was passionate about. As a coach, you know this is a sport that you can continue to be a part of even after graduation.

—Coach Tom O’Neill

Men's Rugby

Women's Rugby

In the News

Nationally Ranked Emory & Henry College Rugby Program to host Cardinal College Rugby Conference Tournament

Emory & Henry College’s Rugby Program, nationally ranked, is hosting the Cardinal College Rugby Conference Tournament on Saturday, November 6 and Sunday, November 7 beginning at 10 a.m. Keep reading
Coach Tom O’Neill recognized by National Collegiate Rugby

Coach O’Neill was named National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) Penn Mutual Coach of the Month for the month of June 2021. Keep reading
Emory & Henry Rugby excels at National Collegiate Rugby Conference

The National Collegiate Rugby Conference was held May 29-31, 2021 in New Orleans, La. with both E&H Men and Women’s Rugby teams competing. Keep reading

Show 3 more... (6 total)

Admission News

<div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/1306-transfer-transform-the-allison-twins"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,902,1792/8314_IMG_8517.rev.1592924291.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,902,1792/8314_IMG_8517.rev.1592924291.webp 2x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,902,1792/8314_IMG_8517.rev.1592924291.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,902,1792/8314_IMG_8517.rev.1592924291.jpg 2x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,902,1792/8314_IMG_8517.rev.1592924291.jpg" alt="Hannah and Emma Allison" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,902,1792/8314_IMG_8517.rev.1592924291.jpg 2x" data-max-w="902" data-max-h="1792" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/1306-transfer-transform-the-allison-twins">Transfer & Transform: The Allison twins</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"> Hannah and Emma Allison will be transferring from Virginia Highlands Community College to Emory & Henry this fall. <a href="/live/news/1306-transfer-transform-the-allison-twins" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
<div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/1656-emory-henry-ranks-among-top-colleges-in"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,400,296/9450_drone.rev.1614002000.webp 1x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,400,296/9450_drone.rev.1614002000.jpg 1x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,400,296/9450_drone.rev.1614002000.jpg" alt="E&H Campus" width="345" height="225" data-max-w="400" data-max-h="296" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/1656-emory-henry-ranks-among-top-colleges-in">Emory & Henry ranks among top colleges in Virginia</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Emory & Henry College has been awarded top ranking status for Best Colleges In Virginia by Intelligent.com, a higher education resource guide.</span> <a href="/live/news/1656-emory-henry-ranks-among-top-colleges-in" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
<div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/2218-teaming-up-for-tuition-reciprocity"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/729,0,2867,2136/10839_TWU_and_EH_Signing-10.rev.1645461483.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/729,0,2867,2136/10839_TWU_and_EH_Signing-10.rev.1645461483.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/729,0,2867,2136/10839_TWU_and_EH_Signing-10.rev.1645461483.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/729,0,2867,2136/10839_TWU_and_EH_Signing-10.rev.1645461483.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/729,0,2867,2136/10839_TWU_and_EH_Signing-10.rev.1645461483.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/729,0,2867,2136/10839_TWU_and_EH_Signing-10.rev.1645461483.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/729,0,2867,2136/10839_TWU_and_EH_Signing-10.rev.1645461483.jpg" alt="President of Tennessee Wesleyan University, Harley Knowles (left) and Emory & Henry President, John Wells (right) shake hands after s..." width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/729,0,2867,2136/10839_TWU_and_EH_Signing-10.rev.1645461483.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/729,0,2867,2136/10839_TWU_and_EH_Signing-10.rev.1645461483.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2138" data-max-h="2136" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/2218-teaming-up-for-tuition-reciprocity">Teaming up for Tuition Reciprocity</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><p dir="ltr"> Employees and their families at Emory & Henry College and Tennessee Wesleyan University will now have a new educational opportunity with full tuition covered while pursuing a degree in higher education in the region.</p><a href="/live/news/2218-teaming-up-for-tuition-reciprocity" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
<div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/2423-remembering-the-life-and-legacy-of-former-delegate"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/42/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/11746_JoeJohnsonDINScholarship08.rev.1659730467.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/42/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/11746_JoeJohnsonDINScholarship08.rev.1659730467.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/42/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/11746_JoeJohnsonDINScholarship08.rev.1659730467.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/42/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/11746_JoeJohnsonDINScholarship08.rev.1659730467.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/42/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/11746_JoeJohnsonDINScholarship08.rev.1659730467.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/42/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/11746_JoeJohnsonDINScholarship08.rev.1659730467.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/42/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/11746_JoeJohnsonDINScholarship08.rev.1659730467.jpg" alt="Joe Johnson at Emory & Henry College scholarship event" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/42/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/11746_JoeJohnsonDINScholarship08.rev.1659730467.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/42/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,0,3200,2133/11746_JoeJohnsonDINScholarship08.rev.1659730467.jpg 3x" data-max-w="3200" data-max-h="2133" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/2423-remembering-the-life-and-legacy-of-former-delegate">Remembering the Life and Legacy of Former Delegate and Trustee Chair Joe Johnson ’57</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"> We are sad to report the passing of a Southwest Virginia legend who provided enormous leadership to the region, to the state and to his alma mater, Emory & Henry College, through a lifetime of service. <a href="/live/news/2423-remembering-the-life-and-legacy-of-former-delegate" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
<div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/1337-transfer-transform-abigail-hathorn"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,49,2320,2371/8422_IMG_6163.rev.1597088186.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,49,2320,2371/8422_IMG_6163.rev.1597088186.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,49,2320,2371/8422_IMG_6163.rev.1597088186.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,49,2320,2371/8422_IMG_6163.rev.1597088186.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,49,2320,2371/8422_IMG_6163.rev.1597088186.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,49,2320,2371/8422_IMG_6163.rev.1597088186.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,49,2320,2371/8422_IMG_6163.rev.1597088186.jpg" alt="Abigail Hathorn" width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,49,2320,2371/8422_IMG_6163.rev.1597088186.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,49,2320,2371/8422_IMG_6163.rev.1597088186.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2320" data-max-h="2322" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/1337-transfer-transform-abigail-hathorn">Transfer & Transform: Abigail Hathorn</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"> Abigail Hathorn (E&H ’18) transferred to Emory & Henry from Northeast State Community College to pursue a degree in Mass Communications. <a href="/live/news/1337-transfer-transform-abigail-hathorn" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
<div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/2445-eamph-professor-of-biology-chris-fielitz"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/4/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/128,204,2323,2400/11866_Christoper-Fielitz.rev.1661541789.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/4/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/128,204,2323,2400/11866_Christoper-Fielitz.rev.1661541789.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/4/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/128,204,2323,2400/11866_Christoper-Fielitz.rev.1661541789.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/4/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/128,204,2323,2400/11866_Christoper-Fielitz.rev.1661541789.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/4/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/128,204,2323,2400/11866_Christoper-Fielitz.rev.1661541789.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/4/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/128,204,2323,2400/11866_Christoper-Fielitz.rev.1661541789.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/4/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/128,204,2323,2400/11866_Christoper-Fielitz.rev.1661541789.jpg" alt="Dr. Chris Fielitz says he could sit at his microscope all day and zone the rest of the world out, looking at bones." width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/4/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/128,204,2323,2400/11866_Christoper-Fielitz.rev.1661541789.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/4/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/128,204,2323,2400/11866_Christoper-Fielitz.rev.1661541789.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2195" data-max-h="2196" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/2445-eamph-professor-of-biology-chris-fielitz">E&H Professor of Biology Chris Fielitz Investigates the Mystery of The Prehistoric Eel</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dr. Chris Fielitz, Professor of Biology at Emory & Henry College, has refuted a previous 1981 study on a fossil eel from late Cretaceous rocks of western Kansas, finding it to be related, instead, to a different group of fossil eels.</span> <a href="/live/news/2445-eamph-professor-of-biology-chris-fielitz" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>
<div class="lw_news_image"><span class="lw_item_thumb"><a href="/live/news/521-emory-henry-college-lands-in-four-national"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,1043,2133,3174/4542_Pocket-Folder-Cover-RGB_1_4.rev.1536594635.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,1043,2133,3174/4542_Pocket-Folder-Cover-RGB_1_4.rev.1536594635.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,1043,2133,3174/4542_Pocket-Folder-Cover-RGB_1_4.rev.1536594635.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,1043,2133,3174/4542_Pocket-Folder-Cover-RGB_1_4.rev.1536594635.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,1043,2133,3174/4542_Pocket-Folder-Cover-RGB_1_4.rev.1536594635.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,1043,2133,3174/4542_Pocket-Folder-Cover-RGB_1_4.rev.1536594635.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,1043,2133,3174/4542_Pocket-Folder-Cover-RGB_1_4.rev.1536594635.jpg" alt="Emory & Henry College campus view pictured here was ranked as one of the best liberal arts colleges by U.S. News & World Report." width="345" height="225" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,1043,2133,3174/4542_Pocket-Folder-Cover-RGB_1_4.rev.1536594635.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/83/width/345/height/225/crop/1/src_region/0,1043,2133,3174/4542_Pocket-Folder-Cover-RGB_1_4.rev.1536594635.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2133" data-max-h="2131" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </a></span></div><div class="lw_widget_text"><h4 class="lw_news_headline"><a href="/live/news/521-emory-henry-college-lands-in-four-national">Emory & Henry College Lands in Four National College Rankings</a></h4><div class="lw_news_summary"> Emory & Henry College ranks among the best liberal arts colleges in the United States, according to the annual list of rankings released this week by <em>U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges</em>. <a href="/live/news/521-emory-henry-college-lands-in-four-national" class="link-with-arrow gold">Keep reading</a></div></div>