Serevi Rugby(R) and World Rugby Shop(R) Create Scholarship Program to Provide Greater Access to USA Rugby's Developmental Pathway

LAS VEGAS, NV--(Marketwired - Jan 21, 2014) - Serevi Rugby^® (serevirugby.com), a leading provider of on-field programming for players and coaches from beginner to the U.S. National Team, has partnered with World Rugby Shop (worldrugbyshop.com) to create a scholarship program providing greater access to young men and women who have the potential and interest in growing their rugby skills by participating in the USA Rugby/Serevi development pathway. Scholarships will be given to ensure identified "high talent" players can attend High Performance Training Camps and Elite Residential Camps as part of the USA Rugby Academy powered by Serevi.

"For rugby to continue to grow in America, and for the U.S. National teams to thrive, we have to make the development pathway available for all players, no matter their financial situation," said Ross Young, CEO of Serevi Rugby. "World Rugby Shop is a great partner in our goal to grow the game, so we're pleased to work with them to open more doors for future Eagles."

To identify qualified players, Serevi Rugby coaches will distribute player nomination forms through local State Rugby Organizations (SROs), coaches, and other key constituents in the rugby community. Based upon meeting financial criteria and talent identification, athletes will be chosen to attend a camp in their area. Two of the scholarships will be designated for the National Small College Rugby Organization's (NSCRO) male and female players of the year.

"It's an honor to provide more kids an opportunity to build their skills and experience all that the game has to offer," said Brad Kilpatrick, Head of Rugby for World Rugby Shop. "World Rugby Shop is absolutely committed to growing rugby in the US. This scholarship program with Serevi lets us give young rugby players the opportunity to realize their dreams while improving the standard of play in this country at the same time. We couldn't be more proud to be a part of it."

In 2014, the Serevi/World Rugby Shop scholarship program will provide up to 60 scholarships for young men and women across the country to attend one of the USA Rugby Academy's High Performance Training Camps being held in Glendale, CO, Atlanta, Boston, San Diego, College Park, MD, New Orleans, and Minneapolis this spring and summer. The full schedule of camps is available at serevirugby.com.

National team coaches including Ric Suggitt (Women's 7s), Mike Tolkin (Men's XVs), Matt Hawkins (Men's 7s), and their high performance staff will attend the Training Camps to scout emerging talent. This talent identification component serves to funnel talent into the USA XVs and Olympic 7s pools, with high potential athletes invited to the USA Rugby Academy Elite Resident Camps, put on by Serevi in summer 2014.

In late 2013, Serevi announced a national partnership with USA Rugby (usarugby.org), the sport's national governing body, to run segments of the USA Rugby Academy, powered by Serevi. The Academy includes a national network of High Performance Training Camps to identify top players and provide a specific development pathway to the men's and women's U.S. National Teams. The High Performance Training Camps emphasize skill development, unit skills, situational awareness and decision-making for seasoned players, all while providing opportunities for high-potential crossover athletes new to rugby.

The partnership also makes Serevi the official Youth Partner for USAR, creating a series of youth development programs to introduce and build a core set of skills applicable to both 15s and 7s rugby and across the youth, high school and collegiate player spectrum, as well as to coaches at all levels.

About Serevi Rugby®
Headquartered in Seattle, Serevi® is focused on growing the game of rugby in North America and beyond. The official Youth Programming Partner of USA Rugby, Serevi offers on-field programming for coaches and players through the youth to elite spectrum. It also offers performance and casual rugby apparel to players and fans of the sport. For more information on Serevi Rugby, including upcoming player and coach training sessions visit www.serevirugby.com.

About World Rugby Shop
WorldRugbyShop.com is wholly committed to providing a superior level of service to our customers, and that dedication stems from a passion for the game that traces deeply back to the roots of the company. Opening just in time for the 1999 Rugby World Cup, WorldRugbyShop.com was launched from the confines of founder Bernard Frei's basement with only five products. But now, WorldRugbyShop.com has grown to be recognized as the leading retailer of Rugby gear and officially licensed merchandise for professional and amateur players, fans, and families around the world.
For more information, visit www.worldrugbyshop.com.