The WRFC is Delaware’s oldest men’s club rugby team having been around since 1972. In addition to its men’s team the organization fields a women’s team, youth teams and a team called the Old Boys for those 35 years old and older. Photo courtesy of Wilmington Rugby Team.
Wilmington Rugby’s men’s team starts their 2026 fall season with a matchup against Northeast Philadelphia Irish Rugby Club on September 19, at Alapocus Run State Park.
WILMINGTON, Del – Following a summer of friendlies and tournament play, the Wilmington Rugby Club’s men’s team (WRFC) will kick-off their 2026 fall season on September 19, at Alapocus Run State Park, against the men’s team from Northeast Philadelphia Irish Rugby Club. The game time has yet to be announced.
The WRFC is hoping to improve on a strong 2025 fall season in which they narrowly missed the playoffs. The team will face a strong test right out of the gate against Northeast Philadelphia Irish Rugby Club. The club’s men’s team has finished in the top two of the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union (EPRU) Division III fixtures the past two seasons, according to the team’s website.
The WRFC’s match on Saturday is the first of a six game schedule they will play this fall, which includes a matchup against the Wilkes-Barre Rugby Football Club at the end of the season. The Wilkes-Barre Rugby Football Club won the EPRU Division III championship in 2025, according to its team website. That will be the final game WRFC plays in the 2026 fall season and will take place on October 31.
The WRFC is Delaware’s oldest men’s club rugby team having been around since 1972. In addition to its men’s team the organization fields a women’s team, youth teams and a team called the Old Boys for those 35 years old and older. The youth programs include a “Rookie Rugby Program” which is a non-contact, introductory style program for those ages 7-14, the Wilmington Raptors program which is a co-ed U14 team and two high school aged club teams. The Wilmington Colts are the boys high school club team and the Wilmington Vipers are the girls high school program. The Vipers inaugural season was in the spring of 2026, according to the WRFC website.
The club is always welcoming new players regardless of experience level or talent. Those interested in participating can go on the WRFC website and hit the join tab at the top of the page where they can fill out an interest form. The club also welcomes interested individuals to check out a practice or reach out with any questions. All practices during the fall season are held at the Siegel JCC in Wilmington, Delaware. The men’s team practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays and women’s team practices on Mondays and Thursdays.
The sport of rugby is slowly gaining popularity in the United States. USA Rugby — the national governing body for rugby in the United States — says it has over 110,000 active members across its many levels, according to their website. Over 68,000 spectators flocked to M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore to watch a match between the South Africa Springboks and New Zealand All Blacks, last week, according to the Baltimore Sun, and in 2031 the US will be a host site for the 2031 Rugby World Cup, according to an ESPN article from 2022.
To learn more about the WRFC and how to get involved with their rugby programs check out their facebook page or click here to be directed to their website.
Ryan Colasanti joins Delaware Live following four years at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. There he covered multiple sports for the school’s radio station as both a reporter and editor. Ryan is excited to return back to the state and cover all things Delaware sports.
