Welcome to the Village Lions Rugby Football Club (NYC)

Since its inception in 1989, the Village Lions Rugby Football Club has put together a colorful history. Spawned from a unique marriage between Alan Whelan (founder of the St. John’s University Rugby Club in the 1970′s and then owner of the Red Lion Pub in Greenwich Village, New York), a few fellow St. John’s University alumni and a random assortment of Red Lion bartenders, bouncers and imbibers, the Village Lions, from the beginning, were a club bonded by their love of rugby and ale.

The Lions have now evolved into two established teams under one banner: a promising Division II Men’s Squad and a Women’s Squad that has quickly risen to be a regional and national force after winning the 2002 National Division II championships in only their second full season.

Started in 2000, the women’s team is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2010. Over a decade, the Leonas have competed at DII Nationals FIVE times, and have graduated to Division I competition. Coach Mary Holmes is looking forward to building on the team’s historic first win in DI.

Want to join the Village Lions? The team is always looking for a few good men and women who have a passion for the sport of rugby and address post-match revelry with the same ardor.

If you are interested, contact either men’s VP Oliver Smith (vpmen-at-villagelions.org), women’s VP (vpwomen-at-villagelions.org), or Bryan Kuhn (rugbydirector-at-villagelions.org), the club’s Director of Rugby.