Men’s rugby considers merger with other PNW schools, cites funding struggles
- Leslie Gomez, Staff Writer
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
A decade ago, Willamette University Men’s Rugby Club was ranked among the 50 best small-school teams in the country.
But in recent years, the team has struggled with ongoing funding challenges that threaten their ability to compete, recruit and exist as a standalone program, said club President Jack Godsil (’28).
Now, the team is preparing for a potential merger with Lewis & Clark College, the University of Puget Sound and Reed College, Godsil said. Beginning in fall 2026, Willamette would continue practicing independently but compete as part of a combined developmental team. While players are largely in support of the idea, concerns remain about losing recognition as a Willamette program.
Godsil, who joined the team during the second semester of his first year and has entered his third semester with the club, described rugby as a uniquely bonding experience. Unlike more well-known sports, many new players join without knowing the rules, creating an environment where teammates rely on one another to learn the game together.
“There’s a lot of chaos on the field,” Godsil said, “so you really get to know each other when you’re starting out.” That shared learning, he explained, often leads to lifelong connections.
Compared to other sports Godsil has played — such as baseball, swimming and water polo — rugby stands out for its intensity and dependency on teammates.
“Rugby is a brutal game,” he said. “You see guys at their lowest. You’re constantly getting hit, exhausted and out of breath.” For Godsil, that physical toll forces players to become more aware of one another, building a level of trust and care that is difficult to replicate elsewhere.
Despite this strong sense of community, the program faces serious obstacles. While recruitment can be challenging, players emphasized that funding is the team’s greatest struggle. Limited funds restrict everything from equipment purchases to travel for matches.
“In terms of funding, we really are up against the ropes here. We have a very limited amount of money. And ASWU gives — to no fault of their own — a selected budget of money that they can give away,” said Godsil.
In rugby union, teams must field players numbered one through 15, with each jersey number corresponding to a specific position. Willamette currently lacks a complete, matching set of jerseys, which prevents the team from officially registering for tournaments under its own name, Godsil said. As a result, players are often forced to join other teams at tournaments, making Willamette unrecognizable as a standalone program in the league.
Travel funding poses another major barrier. Some league opponents are located in Washington and California, and without funding for gas, lodging and transportation, players are often asked to pay out of pocket. For some, that cost is simply not feasible. “I hate having to bow out of games because guys can’t afford it,” Godsil said. “But that’s the reality.”
These limitations have also impacted the team’s competitiveness. Without sufficient resources, Willamette is often restricted to playing in developmental “B” tournaments rather than championship-level competitions, Godsil said. While some players are content simply getting time on the field, others hope to take the program further and bring greater recognition to the university.
In response to these challenges, the team has leaned heavily on community support. They have built relationships with Salem’s men’s semi-professional Rugby Club — whose president, Aaron Ricci, also serves as Willamette’s coach — as well as their partner team Willamette Rugby Football Club. Having relied on alumni donations for some time, they are planning to organize more fundraisers in the near future, Godsil said.
Despite the uncertainty, the message to potential players is clear: the door is still open. “Absolutely, 100% — please join,” Godsil said. “My guys do not bite. We need everybody.”