The U.S. Rugby Foundation and the Graham Downes Fund Open Applications for 2026- 2027 Graham Downes Girls International Rugby Scholarship at Hartpury College
Hartpury College is set on a stunning 360-hectare (890 acres in U.S. parlance) campus in the picturesque English countryside, providing an exceptional environment for learning, training, and personal development. It has been rated Ofsted Outstanding in all areas, highlighting its commitment to delivering the highest standards of education and care.
Founded in 1948 as an agricultural college with just 50 students, Hartpury gained university status in 2018 and has since grown into a leading provider of both further and higher education. The College offers a wide range of high school programmes, while the University provides bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agriculture, animal science, business, equine studies, sport, and psychology. Across both College and University, Hartpury today welcomes 4,500 students from over 55 countries, creating a vibrant and international learning community.
The campus is located in the charming village of Hartpury, just 20 minutes from Gloucester’s historic city centre and two hours from London.
Hartpury College, the secondary school (or “high school” in U.S. terminology) is today a three year co-ed boarding school with 2,500 students – about 1700 boys and 800 girls – ranging in age from 16 to 18. Over 20% of the College students play rugby – 380 boys and 160 girls. The school year is divided into three Terms – Term 1 runs from September to December; Term 2 runs from January to March; and Term 3 runs from April to June. In July and August, prior to the start of Term 1, the higher level rugby players arrive at the school to participate in an elite pre-season rugby training curriculum.
The XVs rugby season (both girls and boys) runs from September to the last week in March. The 7s rugby season runs from April to June and culminates with The Rosslyn Park National Seasons Sevens – the world’s largest school rugby tournament held annually in London. Hartpury College’s 160 girl rugby players are grouped into four 40-player “training squads” with the 1st Training Squad comprised of the most elite players. Games are played on Wednesday.
Hartpury Women’s Rugby Academy: The academy creates a women’s rugby environment that rivals the professionalism of top-tier clubs. There is a track record of honing player skills while equipping them for a future beyond the rugby field. The coaches are deeply committed to supporting young women in achieving excellence in both their academic pursuits and their rugby career. The program has nurtured over 40 England u20’s and countless senior England internationals. Of the 23 player squad that won the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, 15 came through the Hartpury College Rugby Academy. Many players have secured coveted full-time contracts in both 7s and XV rugby.
The Hartpury College Women’s Rugby Academy recently showcased their dominance by securing an impressive five national titles. They emerged as winners in the Association of Colleges National League, the Continental Tyres Schools Cup, the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) National League, the BUCS National Championship, and the BUCS 7s National Championship.
On March 19th, 2026, Hartpury College secured, for the fifth time in the past six years, the RFU Academic Colleges & Education (ACE) Girls League Title in this season’s final at Twickenham Stadium, in a dominant display winning 43-5.
The Final match was livestreamed and can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw73tFbV5eg.
The team can be seen plenty on the Instagram page on the announcement – link below: https://www.instagram.com/hartpuryfewrfc/
Timing: The scholarship is for a roughly 9-10 month stay at Hartpury College from early-September 2026 to early-June 2027, which coincides with the start of the Hartpury College girls’ XV rugby training and runs through the end of the Hartpury College 7s rugby season.
The USRF President will announce the scholarship award winner(s) by the end of June 2026.
Eligibility: The USRF is accepting applications from U.S. sophomore and junior high school female rugby players who are in good standing with their rugby team and their school.
Applicants would typically be 16, 17 or 18 years old.
What the Coaches are Looking For: The Hartpury College coaching staff is looking for players who “are mature, are coachable with a positive attitude, have a strong work ethic, and are resilient under pressure.”
What the Scholarship Covers: The scholarship covers the cost of attending Hartpury College, including tuition; boarding either at the school in an all-girls dormitory block or in a homestay; travel and medical insurance; extracurricular activities; and English government and administrative fees. Airfare and transfers for the student to and from Hartpury is also included.
Application Requirements: Each application must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation from the applicant’s rugby coach(es), her high school transcript and other relevant information explained in the on-line application. Finalists will be interviewed virtually by the Hartpury College Scholarship Committee.
Completed applications and all recommendations are due by Friday, May 30th, 2026. To apply.
Hartpury College Interfaces: Once our scholarship recipient is selected and admitted, the school’s International Dept. will liaise with her and her family about all education, boarding, passport, visas, etc. The Rugby Dept. will look after the rugby side. While at Hartpury, the student will meet regularly with both groups for progress checkups.
Hartpury College Academics: The student will have a normal high school course workload (core subjects and electives), in addition to the rugby curriculum. Hartpury College will work with the student’s U.S. high school regarding academic synchronization and the transfer of academic credits to ensure no loss of academic standing.
Coaches’ Perspectives: Lewis Arnold is the Women’s ACE Head Rugby Coach and Rugby Academy Manager at Hartpury College. Lewis, a member of the Selection Committee, noted “It is a great privilege and opportunity for Hartpury College to partner with the U.S. Rugby Foundation. Having this opportunity to work with the Foundation and sharing the women’s rugby pathway we have developed here at Hartpury College with aspiring young American rugby players is something the Hartpury College coaching staff has very much welcomed. The college is renowned for producing elite rugby players, and we look forward to working with the USRF scholars who want to play rugby at the highest levels.”
Questions: Any questions about the Hartpury College Scholarship program, the application process, the school, the rugby program, boarding arrangements, etc., should be directed to any one of the Hartpury College Scholarship Committee members below:
Jon Hinkin | (702) 267-8354 | jhinkin@usrugbyfoundation.com
John Decker | (859) 539-5124 | johndecker7@gmail.com
Sarah Kaler | (314) 602-7800 | kaler.sarah@gmail.com
If you have a specific technical question regarding the Application form or the Application web site, direct your question to:
Bob Benson | (650) 520-1060 | rwbenson@sbcglobal.net
