The Austin Rugby Club has been leading the growth of the game of rugby in the United States since our founding in 1967. We were one of the first rugby clubs in the U.S., and we were the first club to purchase our own grounds, to build a clubhouse and locker rooms, and to install irrigation on our fields. We have also been one of the most competitive teams in the U.S., with more National Sweet 16 appearances than any other club in the country. We are continuing to lead the growth of our sport with a major focus on coaching, player development, and the continual improvement of our facilities.
The ARC will be leading and developing Best Coaching Practices to improve the standard of coaching rugby in Texas and throughout the country. In the very near future, we will begin implementing coaching clinics for youth-level coaches, high-school coaches, and for nationally competitive men's and women's team coaches. During these clinics, we will be providing access to some of the best rugby coaches from around the world.
The ARC will be leading and developing Best Training Practices for various age-level athletes that incorporate on-the-field and off-the-field training, strength and endurance training, as well as dietary and nutritional guidelines. We will provide a clear pathway for athletes to develop and become USA Eagles, to represent our country at the Olympics, and to become professional rugby players. We will provide an opportunity for athletes that currently wrestle or play football, soccer, basketball or baseball to cross over and play at the highest levels of rugby union. And through annual summer camps and our club's work with USA Rugby's Rookie Rugby, we will continue to encourage our youngest kids to have fun playing the game of rugby.
We currently have three full-sized fields that are fully lit and irrigated. We also have home and away locker rooms with showers and restrooms and a 2,400 square foot clubhouse. Our next addition will be a weight room and rehab center followed by a new film and study room. We will continue to have the most dynamic rugby training grounds in the country, which will enable our club to continue leading the game of rugby in the U.S., and to prepare our next generation of rugby players for national and international competitions.
