Support Spartans Rugby for the Season of 2025-2026!

This year, the Michigan State Men’s Rugby Club will be celebrating its 60th anniversary. In the past year, we have had the incredible opportunity to play in the Battle for the Castle Bowl game at the CRAA Fall Classic against Mount St. Mary’s. This gave multiple of our players a national spotlight. Check out below how our players are advancing in the sport of Rugby!

The team aims to continue providing our players with opportunities to play the sport at higher levels. While the team is successfully competing at these levels, these funds are continually needed to do so. These impact the team and, more importantly, the players, as we are an entirely self-funded club, allowing them to take on less financial burdens throughout the year.

Throughout the season, we incur various expenses as a club. These include equipment, club gear, travel and events. Support the Spartans and help MSU Men's Rugby continue competing at a higher level by donating today!

Player Spotlight

Miles Bell was given the chance to train with the USA U20s team and roster with their practice squad! More recently, we've had four players receive even more recognition. Miles Bell, Jeronimo Ballesty, Lucas Ring and Robbie Smith have been nominated for the USA U23s team and are currently training for selection to it. The whole Spartan community is cheering them on and pushing for their success.

Your Support Will Make a Huge Difference

Your support will have a massive impact on the club. Funds will be used to keep dues down for our players and help us travel. Overall, the money raised will help with club operations and continue the long-standing tradition of Spartan excellence.

Project Budget

Each year, the team has a variety of operating costs that ensure we stay competitive. Any way we can secure funds to continue playing the game we love is a huge win as a self-funded team. On and off the field, we use funds to advance our team through:

Equipment: Using goal posts, practice pads and balls helps us build the foundation of our skills. These items alone cost upwards of a couple thousand dollars, a big strain on our club's funds.
Kits: Our kits are important for looking presentable. They include game-day shorts and a jersey that each member needs. We also have thermal coats for our players for cold-weather games, which are all too common in Michigan and must be replaced frequently.
Travel: We have previously traveled for games via plane or bus and hope to continue doing so. Travel is important for advancing our team's skills and reach, but it also comes with additional expenses for our players. Typical expenses include hotel stays, renting a charter bus or purchasing plane tickets for long-haul games.

As a club, we hope to secure funds for its future to ensure it will continue running. This means looking to come out at the end of the season with money to put into our team bank account as a safety net and to ensure the club has funds down the road.

Who We Are

The team running the rugby project typically consists of various individuals in key roles. At the forefront is the coaching staff, led by the Head Coach Jim Rogers, who is responsible for developing game strategies, managing player training and making critical in-game decisions. Assisting the head coach is our assistant coach Todd Strbik (MSU Men’s Rugby Alumni) and multiple student coaches who specialize in various aspects of the game.

In addition to the coaching staff, this is a player-run club with players responsible for logistical and administrative tasks, including scheduling matches, arranging travel and coordinating player communication. Lastly, there is a leadership group within the team, often consisting of senior players who provide guidance and help maintain team cohesion. Together, this team of coaches, managers and support staff work in harmony to drive the rugby project towards success

Make a Gift by Mail:

University Advancement
Spartan Way
535 Chestnut Road, Room 300
East Lansing, MI 48824

*Make check payable to Michigan State University and write “Appeal 25GGDCF1RGBY” in the note section.

HONOR ROLL