Serevi Rugby(R) and World Rugby Shop(R) to Provide 100 Youth Scholarships for 2015 USA Rugby Academy Camps

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwired - Mar 4, 2015) - Serevi Rugby^® (serevirugby.com) and World Rugby Shop (WRS) (worldrugbyshop.com) have again partnered to provide 100 young rugby athletes the opportunity attend a USA Rugby Academy Training Camp to chase their goals and dreams through the sport of rugby. In the scholarship program's second year, Serevi and WRS are increasing the number of scholarships by two-thirds in order to make the USA Rugby Academy's High Performance Training and Residential Camps more accessible to all athletes.

"Through the scholarship program last year we were able to provide a wide range of young players an opportunity to show and grow their skills, so we're thrilled we can expand the number scholarships in 2015 to give more kids a chance to follow their rugby dreams," said Emilie Bydwell, Serevi's Director of the USA Rugby Academy. "A big thanks to the team at World Rugby Shop, who are great partners in our collective efforts to grow the game and improve the level of play in America."

Players who received a scholarship last year, including high schooler Ciel Arbour-Boehme, have raved about the impact the opportunity had on their rugby careers. Arbour-Boehme received a scholarship for the Resident Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista.

"The time we spent working on growing as athletes was tremendously important on and off the field," said Abour-Boehme. "We spent hours working on fitness, skills, and tactics, as well as off-field work such as teamwork, strategy and gameplay. I can undoubtedly say that all of it helped me become a better rugby player."

To identify qualified players for the 2015 season, USA Rugby and Serevi coaches are working with local State Rugby Organizations (SROs), coaches, and other key constituents in the rugby community. Based upon meeting financial criteria and high performance talent identification, athletes will be chosen to attend a camp in their area. Two of the scholarships will again be designated for the National Small College Rugby Organization's (NSCRO) male and female players of the year.

Players interested in learning more and applying for a scholarship can visit: serevirugby.com/pages/info/index/page/scholarships.

"Rugby is a unique game that opens doors for kids while developing the types of skills and characteristics they'll need for a lifetime, so we're proud to partner with Serevi on this program again and get more kids into camp," said Brad Kilpatrick, Head of Rugby for World Rugby Shop. "The stories we heard from last year's scholarship athletes only confirmed our commitment to the program and growing the game in America."

In 2015, the scholarship program will provide up to 100 scholarships for young men and women across the country to attend one of the USA Rugby Academy's High Performance Training or Resident Camps being held in Boston, Charlotte, San Diego, College Park, MD, Glendale, CO, New York, Clermont, FL, and Minneapolis this spring and summer. The full schedule of camps is available at serevirugby.com/usa-rugby-academy.

As part of the USA Rugby Academy programming powered by Serevi, women's and men's national team coaches such as Mike Tolkin (Men's XVs), Justin Fitzpatrick (Men's XV's Assistant), Ric Suggitt (Women's 7s), and Luke Gross (Women's Forwards Coach) and other XV's and 7s high performance staff will attend the Training Camps to scout emerging talent, including scholarship athletes. This talent identification component serves as an entry point into the development pathway and ultimately the USA XVs and Olympic 7s pools.

About Serevi Rugby®
Headquartered in Seattle, Serevi® is focused on growing the game of rugby in North America and beyond. An official Youth Programming Partner of USA Rugby, Serevi offers on-field programming for coaches and players through the youth to elite spectrum through the USA Rugby Academy, Youth Rugby, and the Serevi Rugby Institute. 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.