Serevi Rugby® and Eagle Impact Rugby Academy (EIRA) today announced their merger, aimed at providing a consistent and high-quality level of youth rugby development under the umbrella of the USA Rugby Academy.

As existing partners with USA Rugby, the merger immediately brings together two of the leading youth development organizations in the game to augment the high school, college, and club competition pathways in identify promising young women and men, and then develop these athletes for achievement on and off the field through high performance programming. The ultimate goal is to make USA Rugby more competitive at international age grade and senior levels.

Under the USA Rugby Academy umbrella, and fueled by the now combined strengths of Serevi and EIRA, programming will target both current rugby athletes, as well as those multi-sport athletes with the athletic potential for success on the pitch. For those young men and women with the skill, interest and desire, programs will prepare athletes to compete for places on USA age grade teams, the High School All-Americans, AIG Junior All-Americans (U20), Collegiate All-Americans, professional rugby competition, and the Eagles.

“We share a common vision of working with USA Rugby to leverage all available resources to expand both the male and female game and increase the level of play here in America,” said Emilie Bydwell, Serevi’s USA Rugby Academy Director. “Through a collaborative effort, we believe we will provide a platform for young people to progressively discover, enjoy and excel through rugby in the U.S.A. and beyond.”

“Our merger brings together two groups who have invested their passion, business acumen, and significant financial resources to teach kids the game we love, and improve the recruitment and retention of the talent here in our country,” said Salty Thompson, Eagle Impact Rugby Academy Director and USA Rugby Boys High School All-Americans Head Coach. “Both organizations believe that together we can achieve our vision of a wider and deeper pool of players in the U.S., to narrow the gap between our global competition and the Eagles.”

Serevi and EIRA have both enjoyed strong relationships in the rugby communities around the country, which have been essential to the progress that each has made individually. Together they will bring consistent, regional programming for players and coaches to key youth rugby areas including Florida, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, the Pacific Northwest, South Carolina, Southern California, and Texas, while looking for expansion opportunities in emerging rugby regions.

“Bringing together EIRA and Serevi is a huge positive for our collective efforts to raise the level of rugby in America,” said USA Rugby Chief Executive Officer Nigel Melville. “The consistency in training and development of young men and women in America brought about by this move is exactly what our Academy needs to raise the bar and leverage the large talent pool we have in this country.”

USA Rugby Academy will continue to seek community and corporate partnerships to provide camp scholarships and access to the sport that will ensure that rugby development and high performance rugby is available to any athlete no matter their background or economic status.