US Rugby Foundation Scholarship & Grant Spotlight: Andrew Alves
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Pathways to Excellence High Performance Grant 2022
San Diego State University 2018–2022
Rugby Opens New Doors
Rugby is more than a sport, it’s a pathway to leadership, resilience, and opportunity. For Andrew Alves, the Pathways to Excellence High Performance Grant and US Rugby Foundation support provided the chance to train and compete in South Africa, an experience that reshaped how he approaches both sport and life.
During his time abroad, Andrew trained and played alongside a collegiate team in South Africa, embracing the intensity, culture, and community of rugby in the Western Cape. He describes it as “the greatest 2–3 months of my life,” where relentless training was paired with lessons in humility, ownership, and determination.
Lessons Learned Abroad
Reflecting on his experience, Andrew shared three key lessons that continue to influence his life:
- Humility: Andrew realized how fortunate he is to grow up in the USA and was inspired by the way rugby brings people together across backgrounds. “It taught me to keep the main thing, the main thing. If you do good and treat others well, you can focus on the task at hand without anything clouding the work.”
- Relentless: The training was intense, but calculated, pushing Andrew past thresholds he didn’t know he could surpass. This mindset now guides him both on and off the pitch.
- Ownership: From navigating new challenges abroad to facing demanding training schedules, Andrew learned to take full responsibility for his actions and outcomes, a lesson that applies across every area of life.
Continuing His Rugby Journey
Although an injury eventually paused Andrew’s competitive rugby career, he remains deeply connected to the sport. He actively attends games, supports youth teams, and uses his experience to mentor the next generation of players. “I will forever be in debt to the US Rugby Foundation for this experience,” he reflects.
Long-Term Impact
Scholarships and grants like Andrew’s provide more than financial support. They offer mentorship, international training opportunities, and life lessons that extend far beyond the rugby pitch. Andrew’s story demonstrates how USRF programs cultivate not just athletes, but leaders who carry the sport’s values into every aspect of their lives.
From youth programs to collegiate scholarships and high-performance grants, US Rugby Foundation empowers athletes like Andrew Alves to thrive — on the field, in the classroom, and beyond.
Learn more and access applications here.
(Photo credit: IG @a.alves45)
