Expanded Scholarships Fuel Gamecocks Recruiting
Expanded Scholarships Fuel Gamecocks Recruiting
The University of South Carolina men's rugby program has announced an expansion of its scholarship offerings.
Last fall, Head Coach John Roberts and Assistant Coach Jeff Smolka began working with university officials to dramatically expand the club’s scholarship program beyond in-state tuition to student-athletes after their freshman year.
The Smolka Family has been a longtime supporter of the program and they, combined with help from university partners, the program can now offer scholarships to incoming freshman, graduate, and international students.
These expanded offerings have allowed the program to cast a wider recruiting net and attract very talented players to compete in the very competitive Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference, and new recruits are already set to arrive on campus.
Glasgow Hawks flyhalf Freddie Thomson, who was 2022-23 player of the year for St. Columba’s School 1st XV, will join the program in January. Another Scot, Max Hendry, will transfer from Marian these fall.
“Both of these players should make an immediate impact on our club, and it would not have been possible to get them here without our scholarship program,” said Roberts. “We are eternally grateful to the Smolka family for this funding. It is transforming our program.”
On the domestic front, the Gamecocks offered scholarships to Michael Reing, 7s captain at La Salle College High School in Pennsylvania, Tommy Darlington, a six-year player and lock from Conestoga Rugby RugbyPA, and Bryson Mobley, from the Greer 76ers in South Carolina.
Through the new USC rugby scholarship program, tuition costs are cut by more than 50%.
Looking ahead, USC plans to offer nine to eleven scholarships to 2025 recruiting class, three or four for international students, four to six for domestic students and two or three for graduate school students and transfers.
“Our package exceeds or is very comparable to what a lot of varsity rugby programs are providing,” said Roberts. “From a bottom-line perspective it makes us very competitive.”
Scholarship applicants apply each spring after they are accepted. A scholarship committee comprised of Roberts, Smolka and a student committee selects recipients. Of 70 rostered players, 30 USC athletes are recipients of the Smolka Scholarships.
“Nearly half of the players on our roster are on scholarship,” said Roberts. “This generous program provides some bottom-line relief for our rugby families and helps us to attract top-shelf talent to our program.”
Many of the parents of the Smolka Scholarship recipients pass along part of these savings in the form of a gift of to the USC Men’s Rugby Endowment, which supports team travel and coaching salaries.
“It’s a circle of philanthropy,” said Roberts. “We help our families and they, in turn, help us. Everyone benefits.”