The Clayton Rugby Football Club is made up of players, of all skill levels, ages 18 and over. The club currently fields two full sides with a third team in development. The Clayton RFC has grown quickly since our first game in 2014 and aspires to be a model club in the Carolinas and USA Rugby. We are one of the fastest growing clubs in the USA and we are led by an progressive Board of Directors with high aspirations. We aim to continue that growth well into the future as we expand our programs and offerings to our members.
We are also fortunate to have our own rugby facility that includes three pitches, bathrooms, pavilion, and playground. The Johnston County Rugby Park is scheduled to open in 2019. Future additions to the park include a clubhouse which will make our club one of few clubs in the entire USA to have a full service rugby facility.
No experience is necessary to play. The Clayton RFC has a culture that encourages and welcomes brand new players to the sport of rugby.
The club is a member of the Carolinas Geographic Rugby Union as well as USA Rugby which is the governing body for the sport in the United States. Our XVs playing season begins in August and runs through April with a short break for the Holidays in December. During that time, we practice two night per week and play 2-3 games per month. Games are played on Saturdays. June and July is 7s season and our club fields competitive and social 7s teams that participate in multiple tournaments throughout the Summer.
Our 1st XV is the club’s competitive side. They currently compete in Division 3 of the Carolinas Rugby Union. During the 2017/2018 season and only their second season in Division 3, the squad reached the playoffs for the first time in club history.
We are actively recruiting players with experience, recent college grads, and athletes looking to challenge themselves with the goal of pursuing promotion to Division 2 in the coming years. Our club has a number of connections throughout the business community and can assist with job placement for recent grads or players interested in relocating to the area.
Our 2nd XV serves as our developmental team for new players, social players, and Old Boys. The 2nd XV currently plays in Division 4 of the Carolinas Rugby Union and against other B Sides and social teams in the Carolinas. Our #1 priority is that every single playing member of the Clayton RFC gets game time every weekend. Regardless of experience of skill level.
Our 2nd XV helps us provide our players quality game time against similar level competition while at the same time developing players that wish to pursue selection for our 1st XV.
The Clayton RFC also has two more sides in development. The club is close to fielding a full Old Boys (Age 35+) side that we expect to enter into one tournament per year and play 1-2 social matches against other Old Boys teams along the East Coast.
We’re also working on developing a U23 side that provides players just out of High School the opportunity to transition into Men’s rugby without having to face off against older and more seasoned club rugby players. Our U23 side will compete against local collegiate teams until there is a formal U23 competition in the Carolinas.
The Clayton RFC offers social membership levels. A social membership is a great way to become involved with the club without the bumps and bruises that come with playing a contact sport. Our club has a fun and active social atmosphere with multiple events each year.
Social members can get involved in a number of ways. Whether that is coming out to the park to support our teams from the sidelines, joining up at one of our many social events, or getting involved as a volunteer. Our social members are some of the most active and productive members of our club.