Welcome to the Village Lions Rugby Football Club (NYC)

The Men’s & Women’s training schedules have been updated. Check them out!

Check HERE for an updated Men’s Training Schedule, and visit the Women’s Page for schedule info.

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 poised to celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2010. Over a decade, the Leonas have competed at DII Nationals FIVE times, and are currently ranked third in the nation. Coach Mary Holmes is looking forward to bringing home that championship title this year.

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 Jackie Finlan (vpwomen-at-villagelions.org), or Bryan Kuhn (rugbydirector-at-villagelions.org), the club’s Director of Rugby.