05/01/2025
Hello! My name is Allen Day and I am the current head coach for the Fallbrook High School Rugby team. Thank you for being a valued part of our SoCal rugby community! Your commitment and love of rugby is what keeps us growing. I’m reaching out to you regarding a special and vital opportunity for our SoCal rugby community.
Rugby CIF Initiative: A number of key stakeholders - SoCal Youth Rugby, SCIRF, Major League Rugby, San Diego Legion, RFCLA, Rugby NorCal, and US Youth & High School - have sat at a common table for many weeks to create the RUGBY CIF INITIATIVE. We have joined forces to achieve the primary goal of adding rugby as a recognized CIF high school sport for our California youth.
We Need Your Help: We are approaching each California CIF section one-by-one with San Diego’s North County being one of the best and first opportunities. Athletic Directors and Principals need to hear directly from the North County rugby community how rugby has benefited you, your athlete, and your family – and how YOU want Rugby as a CIF sport in North County high schools.
We need you, parents, to reach out to the principal and athletic director at Fallbrook high school. Athletic Director: [email protected] . Principal: [email protected]
Rugby’s participation and fandom has grown exponentially in recent years in Southern California. Much of that is due to having two Major League teams in our backyard – San Diego Legion and RFCLA. With the LA 2028 Olympic Summer Games on the horizon as well as the Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cup in the US in 2031 and 2033, the world’s rugby spotlight is directly on Southern California. As the nation’s hotbed of rugby, Southern California has a timely opportunity to focus on adding rugby as a high school CIF sport. Rugby has long been a club sport at SoCal high schools and a varsity sport at a select few. We all know firsthand the value rugby has for student-athletes – fitness, team connection and cohesion, motivation to achieve positive grades, opportunities for college recruitment and access to US rugby pathways. See for yourself – watch how rugby has influenced these select SoCal athletes: Rugby CIF Initiative Hype Video (yellow button at top of page).
How to Help: Please email your North County area High School Athletic Director and Principal ASAP today. Email a brief, heartfelt message to your Athletic Director and Principal with these suggested elements:
Introduce Yourself: Mention your name, your student’s name (if applicable), and your connection to rugby.
Share Your Experience: Explain how rugby has positively impacted your athlete, your family or yourself. Mention specific benefits you, your athlete or your family have experienced such as team culture, personal growth, athletic development, or academic motivation.
"Ask" & Share how it Benefits North County HS: Ask your AD or Principal to support a rugby program by recognizing it as a valued sport. Ask them to provide resources and support the goal to make rugby a recognized CIF sport in North County. Let them know that continued support means more opportunities for students to grow, compete, and represent their schools with pride.
Be Positive and Appreciative: Thank them for their work supporting student-athletes and expanding opportunities for North County families.
If you’d like help crafting your message or finding the right contact for your family, or you know a great contact, please reach out. With your help, North County can be the first in the country to add rugby as a CIF Sport – and start the momentum for the rest of SoCal and all of California. THANK YOU for taking action today and standing with the Rugby CIF Initiative for all California rugby athletes.
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Best wishes,
Allen Day
