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Our Story...

Cheshire Rugby (aka MidState Rugby) was founded in 2005 and began to outgrow the Greater Cheshire Region after a decade by expanding our reach into communities defined by a much larger geographical area. Now known as Midstate Rugby, our history, mascot, and mission have not changed and we will continue to provide the same elite programming and culture established by Cheshire Rugby. This includes the development of high school, youth, and children’s rugby. The Midstate Rugby culture is one that embraces core values of teamwork, inclusion, discipline, respect, and responsibility.

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Midstate Rugby Club currently offers rugby programming for youth and high school that grows the rugby player from our flag program into the youth tackle teams, and eventually our competitive boys high school program. Many of our high school level players continue to play college rugby and beyond.

Our Roots - Cheshire Rugby Club

Cheshire Rugby was founded in 2005 and was the brainchild of rugby enthusiast Ed Robinson. Ed brought in UCONN rugby alum Joe Masi as the first head coach along with coaches Dan Ruddy, Pete Velcofsky, and Bill Bishop. The team played its first match in April 2006 against Norwalk. Enthusiasm and participation grew immediately and the team captured the D2 High School boys NERFU tournament in 2007.


The team was soon competing against the top teams in CT and the Northeast as interest continued to grow. A youth flag program was started in 2008 led by Kris Bickell and Geraint Phillips. A girls high school program was created in 2012 and captured their first of three state championships that year. As the youth summer flag program bloomed, youth contact teams were added for U12 boys, U14 boys and U14 girls. Cheshire Rugby received 501c3 status in 2015.

 

Hundreds of players from Central Connecticut have played for Cheshire Rugby. In 2018, the decision was made to rebrand under the name Midstate Rugby setting the path forward for continued growth.

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Board of Directors

John Radshaw - President

Mike D'Andrea - Vice President

Nell D'Andrea - Secretary

Carl Casper​ - Director

Kim Bailey - Director

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501c3 - Non Profit Organization

Midstate Rugby is a youth-serving 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to providing growth and development opportunities in rugby union football in Central Connecticut. Midstate Rugby Club adheres to World Rugby’s Core Values of integrity, respect, solidarity, passion and discipline.
 

The Club is governed by a Board of Directors and an executive board comprised of stakeholders representing all levels of the organization. It is the job of the board to make decisions for the club with all members in their best interest. The Board of Directors works to manage operations, procure resources, sponsorships, help promote the club and recruit players, and generally give back to their community through the lens of the rugby.

What Is Rugby?

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