Registration for the 2025 season is open! Please read the "FINE PRINT" section below for registration details before continuing to the registration process. Thanks for your interest, and we look forward to you playing with the Hounds!
THE FINE PRINT ON FEES AND REGISTRATION - PLEASE READ
The cost for registration with the Wolfhounds is $225. (The late registration cost of $225, which includes a $25 late fee, for ALL age groups began on March 18, 2025.) This date was set in March due to uniform production lead times. Registration after the March 18 date is permissible; however, for the flag and 7th/8th grade teams, there may be difficulty obtaining your child's uniform if you register after March 18 as there is a 4-8 week production lead time. (We still welcome latecomers and not having the "correct" uniform will not prevent your child from playing. We just want to be upfront about this.) Registering by April 18th is recommended for the high school teams to ensure a uniform. (Again, this does not prevent playing.)
Additionally, there is an additional $31.19 (flag) or $56 (tackle) fee for registration with USA Rugby/the Massachusetts Youth Rugby Organization that must be completed as well. USA Rugby is also now requiring age verification for all registrants. (Age verification is a one time process - if you did this last year, congratulations, you do not have to do it this year.)
K-2, 3rd/4th, 5th/6th, 7th/8th Grade Teams:
The Spring 2025 season will run from Wednesday, April 30, 2025 to Sunday, June 28, 2025 for the K-2, 3rd/4th, 5th/6th, 7th/8th grade teams. The Spring 2025 season for these teams will be largely instructional with games in the second part of the season once players have learned the game basics.
K-2 parents: Please be aware that games against other rugby clubs in the area may or may not be possible for the K-2 teams. This is largely dependent upon whether other rugby clubs in the area are able to field K-2 teams in 2025. However, we try as much as possible to schedule these and sometimes have intra-squad scrimmages to get the K-2s game time if we cannot play another team. Our focus at this age level is more about learning and less about competition.
Kids can begin playing at age 6. We may make a case by case exception, but we ask that you as the parent who knows your child best evaluate first whether they can truly handle this and still have fun. We know you are eager, but there are plenty of rugby years ahead of them if they enjoy themselves. If they do not enjoy themselves, your child may end up with bad rugby associations and not want to play rugby! No one wants that!
High school teams:
The Spring 2025 season for the boys high school team will start at the beginning of June 2025 and run through the Bay State Games held at the end of July. The official season for the girls will follow the same schedule; however, there will likely be practices starting in mid-May for the girls to start learning the basics of rugby prior to the official season as this is an inaugural team. This is TBD.
New for High School Players in 2025: Any players over the age of 18 MUST complete SafeSport training. This includes players who start the season at 17 and turn 18 during the season (birth date before July 27, 2007). By USA Rugby rules, players cannot compete in games until they have completed this training as soon as they turn 18. I.e. If you turn 18 on a Monday during the season, you must complete this training by Friday to be able to compete on Saturday. There are no exceptions - please complete this in a timely manner to prevent disappointment. The link to this training will be found on the "My Profile" tab of the Rugby Xplorer application by which you registered for USA Rugby/MYRO under Accreditations AFTER the player turns 18. The link will not be there before.
See our Play page for information about practices and location.
Please reach out to us at info@wolfhoundsyouthrugby.org if you cannot find an answer to your question. Also check out our Rugby FAQs.
Unfortunately, we do not currently have a fall season though we sometimes have fall or winter clinics. We start in the spring and play until the end of June or July depending on the age group and participant availability.
Kids age 6 through high school can play in the Hounds Youth Rugby program. While we want your children to start playing rugby as early as possible, we find that typically kids under the age of 6 are not ready for the length of the practice and do not yet have the physical skills necessary. We may make a case by case exception, but we ask that you as the parent who knows your child best evaluate first whether they can truly handle this and still have fun. We know you are eager, but there are plenty of rugby years ahead of them if they enjoy themselves. If they do not enjoy themselves, your child may end up with bad rugby associations and not want to play rugby! No one wants that!
Kids generally play in age groups of 6-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, and high school ages. When registering, you will be asked for your child's grade & age so we can place your child onto the correct team.
Registration includes all practices and regular games in the season for which you are registering. The number of practices and games may vary based on weather, field conditions, and things outside of our control like Covid. (We will often play in rain, but we won't play when there is lightning.) Each player will receive a Wolfhounds jersey with registration.
Not at all. The kids on the Hounds Youth team come from all over the greater Boston area.
Boston Irish Wolfhounds Youth Rugby Football Club