Pathways to Excellence
We provide opportunities for promising players to improve their skills through scholarships, awards, and Pathways Grants for domestic and international player development.
The Graham Downes Development Grants and Pathways to Excellence High Performance Grants provide promising players the opportunity to grow as players, on and off the pitch, at domestic and international rugby academies.
USRF & the Graham Downes Fund Opens Applications for 2026 Graham Downes International Scholarship at Nelson College
Completed applications and all recommendations are due by Friday, December 5th, 2025.
Awarded Grants
In June 2025, the US Rugby Foundation and Madak partnered to launch the first-of-its-kind Collegiate Alumni Jumpstart Grant Program. This initiative was created to empower collegiate rugby leaders, providing the strategy and support needed to unlock the financial and organizational potential of their alumni networks for long-term program sustainability.
The College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) extended its gratitude to the US Rugby Foundation for their generous contributions to the East vs. West All-Americans Match. Their support was instrumental in making the elite competition between the nation's top collegiate athletes possible. The CRAA was proud to host the event and appreciated the opportunity to showcase the skill and dedication of its players.
The 2025 Boys High School Rugby National Championships took place from May 22-24, 2025, at the Moose Rugby Grounds in Elkhart, Indiana. The highly anticipated event featured 24 of the nation's top high school teams, including nine past championship winners, who battled across three fields for the coveted title. Every game was live-streamed on The Rugby Network, with the final championship match held on the Blue Field on Saturday.
Excellence in the News
Meet Pathways Recipients
The US Rugby Foundation strives to give every athlete the opportunity to achieve excellence. Two recipients of scholarships through the US Rugby Foundations Pathways of Excellence, Oliver Kirk and Max Doerfler, have reached the end of their term with Nelson College. Hear how these young athletes handled their time in New Zealand and strove for excellence.
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Meet Pathways Recipients
The US Rugby Foundation prides itself in opening pathways to excellence for as many athletes as possible. 2023 Pathway Recipients, JW Sarkees and Connor Bender, are about to enter their first term at Nelson College through the Pathways to Excellence program. Learn more about these athletes and their drive for excellence.
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Grant Recipients
Stories That Inspire
Meet a Pathways Recipient
With generous support from the Graham Downes Development Fund and the Pathways to Excellence Fund, U.S. U18s player Damian Morley spent over three months playing rugby at the world-renowned Stellenbosch Academy of Sport in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
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We Need Your Support
With additional funding, the Foundation could send more promising players to develop their skills through domestic and international rugby academies.
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