The YMCA has partnered with the Indiana County Warriors to develop a Youth Rugby program. This program is geared toward those youth who want to learn how to play the sport, brush up on the rules, tactics, and skills, improve their game and most importantly- HAVE FUN! Rugby is for boys and girls ages 8-14.
Rugby Registration:
What is Rugby
Rugby is a ball game that is played on a similar-sized field to a football field. At each end of the field are the goalposts and a try zone (end zone). Rugby is played between two teams of 15 players each. Each team tries to move an oval-shaped ball down the field into the opponent’s try zone. The ball can only be passed sideways or backward (like a lateral in football) but can be kicked forwards at any time. A rugby match usually consists of two 40-minute halves. It is a fast-paced continuous all-action game with no time-outs with play rarely stopping.
Every player on the field plays offense and defense. Every player will have opportunities to run, pass, catch, and even kick the ball, as well as defend and tackle opponents.
How are Points Scored
Try – a team scores a try which is 5 points when the ball is placed down in their opponent’s try zone.
Conversion – after scoring a try, the team has an opportunity to add 2 more points by kicking the ball through the uprights.
Drop goal – during open play, a team can also score 3 points when a player drop kicks the ball through the uprights. This involves dropping the ball and kicking it as it hits the ground.
Penalty – If one team commits a penalty, the opposing team can kick the ball from a tee through the uprights for 3 points.
Why Allow Your Child to Play Rugby
It is estimated that more than 1.5 million people of all shapes and sizes play rugby in the United States – men and women; adults and children. Many American sports fans are nervous for their kids to play rugby, mainly because the players do not wear helmets or padding. Ironically, this lack of equipment helps make the game safer because coaches and players have to pay more attention to safe technique, especially for tackling.
Some reasons why rugby is great for kids:
- The YMCA rugby will start as touch or flag rugby until the kids are ready for limited contact and then full contact.
- Rugby is a fun sport because all players get the same opportunity to run with the ball, pass the ball, and play both defense and offense.
- The coaches will emphasize safe tackling techniques. Your child will be taught how to tackle without using their head or targeting their opponent’s head.
- Rugby builds and promotes character because all players are taught to respect their coaches, referees, their teammates, and their opponents.
- Rugby develops decision-making and problem-solving skills. The game is always moving. The lack of time-outs and breaks between plays means the emphasis is on the players, not the coaches. Players develop the capability to quickly analyze situations under pressure which boosts their mental and physical agility.
- Social skills are developed as rugby is a highly social sport with plenty of interaction between team members and opponents before and after games, forging lifelong bonds and friendships.
History of Rugby in Indiana, PA
In 2017, Indiana local, Todd Raible, had a vision to bring rugby to his hometown. Having played the sport as a United States Marine, he saw the benefits of rugby: a brotherhood with his teammates, discipline, fitness, and most of all, a lot of fun. With the help of coaches, Zubin Billimoria, Larry Herrington, Gordon Wells, and Greg Lynch, that vision has become a reality.
The Indiana County Warriors is a high school rugby team made up of players from the various Indiana County school districts. The Warriors have had players from Indiana Area, Homer-Center, Marion Center, and United. They hope to expand that participation to all County high schools. The Indiana County Warriors first season was 2018. A group of boys who had never seen a rugby ball before that season’s preseason training gave it everything they had and launched the program.
Since that first season, the Warriors program has gone from strength to strength. In 2021, Indiana County won the Allegheny Division, made up of other teams in western and central Pennsylvania, and went on to reach the State semifinals.
The rugby club has also had significant individual success. In our short history, the Warriors have already had players earn scholarships to play Division I college rugby and represent Pennsylvania in an interstate all-star tournament. With experienced coaches from England, South Africa, and across Pennsylvania, we have the knowledge to help players learn and enjoy the sport, and go as far as their potential will take them.
Coaches Bios:
Todd Raible
Todd Raible was introduced to the game of rugby in 1988 while serving in the United States Marine Corps. After playing for Erie until the early 1990s, Coach Raible then played for South Pitt Rugby until he moved to Indiana, PA where he then played for coach Larry Bouma at IUP. Coach Raible retired from actively playing once he and his wife started their family in Indiana.
After coaching various youth sports for the last 10+ years and his children moved onto college, Coach Raible spearheaded the beginning of the Indiana County Warriors rugby program. With the help of Larry Bouma and Zubin Billimoria, the program had its inaugural season in 2018. In its fourth season, the program was able to qualify for their first State Playoff berth and had two senior players, Gavin Prebish & Tanner Smith, earn Division 1 Rugby Scholarships to Notre Dame College in Ohio.
Coach Raible is married to Linda Raible and has three grown children Kacey, Jordan, and Justin. He recently retired from 29+ years of service at Royal Oil and Gas Corporation where he served as their CFO and is a Certified Public Accountant. Coach Raible also served in the United States Marine Corps during and after college and is a combat veteran of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Zubin Billimoria
Coach Zubin Billimoria first started playing rugby as a young child growing up in England. He continued playing through high school, college, and law school. After relocating to Indiana, PA with his family in 2015, Coach Billimoria became involved with the Indiana County Warriors high school rugby team shortly before the team’s first season in 2018. As a member of the Warriors coaching staff, he has helped establish and grow that program. Coach Billimoria was extremely proud to see the Warriors reach their first State playoffs berth in 2021. Coach Billimoria has witnessed firsthand the impact that rugby has had on the high school players. He wants to give younger children the opportunity to learn and enjoy this great sport.
Coach Billimoria works at the Indiana-based law firm of Kauffman & Billimoria, PLLC. Coach Billimoria is married to a local surgeon, Nazneen Billimoria, and together they have three young children.
Larry Herrington
Coach Larry Herrington started playing rugby with the California University of Pennsylvania in 1977 as a non-student player. Coach Herrington is one of the founding members of the South Pittsburgh Rugby Club in 1979. He served as a coach, referee, and various officers of S.P.R.C. and the Allegheny Rugby Union.
Coach Herrington moved to Indiana in 1996. He and his wife, Laura, have been married for over 32 years with three adult children and one more who is a current player for the Indiana Warriors Rugby Club. Coach Herrington is also a local business owner.
Coach Herrington is privileged to help introduce the game of rugby to a new generation of young athletes. Rugby is a game that teaches fitness, camaraderie, and true support for each other in a team environment, of which he is proud to be a part of.
Gordon Wells
Being South African, coach Gordon Wells was born with rugby in his blood and a ball in his hands. It was a game he played with friends from a young age in the streets or on a grass patch. One of his fondest memories growing up, was going to the world-famous Newlands rugby stadium with his dad to watch his favorite local team in action. As he grew older, he continued to play rugby at high school and college. After relocating to Indiana at the end of September 2020, he found the Indiana County Warriors high school rugby team. Coach Wells quickly became a critical member of the coaching staff. Coaching these young men has given Coach Wells a new lease on life and he thoroughly enjoys sharing his rugby knowledge with the players. It gives him great pleasure to see them grow and improve as rugby players and as young men. He could not be prouder of the team’s accomplishments as they reached their first-ever State Championship playoffs. The future for Indiana rugby looks bright.
Gordon is the minister at the Indiana Church of Christ. He is married and has three children.
Greg Lynch
Coach Greg Lynch started playing rugby after playing high school football and college soccer. He quickly grew to love the game and encouraged his sons to pick up the sport in high school, one of whom continued playing in college.
Coach Lynch relocated from Philadelphia to Indiana in January of 2020 and is a vascular surgeon at IRMC. He has 6 adult children and helped with coaching their youth sports. He was thrilled to join the talented coaching staff of the Indiana County Warriors rugby team last year and act as a mentor to the boys. His family came to watch the team compete in the State Championships held this year near Philadelphia and he was proud of the success the team achieved.
Coach Lynch believes that rugby requires teamwork, field awareness, and non-stop movement which helps develop stamina, strength, and countless life skills.