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Overview
In this episode of the With You! Rugby Podcast, we sit down with Shane Young, the newly appointed CEO of the United States Rugby Foundation. Shane takes us through his remarkable trajectory, from discovering rugby as a youth player in New Jersey and Florida to his transformative work as an educator and nonprofit leader.
The heart of the conversation focuses on Shane’s "boots on the ground" experience co-founding Memphis Inner City Rugby (MICR) in 2012 and later Urban Rugby America. He explains how these initiatives shifted the paradigm of youth sports by using rugby as a vehicle for academic success and poverty disruption. Now at the helm of the US Rugby Foundation, Shane outlines a bold roadmap for the future: professionalizing grassroots operations, securing catalytic philanthropy, and ensuring that every child in America—regardless of their zip code—has a clear pathway to the pitch.
Show Notes
[0:18] Shane reflects on his earliest introduction to the game, finding his passion for rugby at just 10 years old in New Jersey.
[0:38] The "founder's itch", starting rugby programs in high school and college where none existed.
[1:40] Shane celebrates his "one-month anniversary" as the CEO of the US Rugby Foundation and discusses the momentum he’s felt in his first 30 days.
[3:40] Event Spotlight: Join us March 20th in Dallas for an exclusive 100-person cocktail reception and mission briefing.
[5:25] A direct call to action- email, call, or partner with the Foundation. Shane wants the community involved, not just watching from the sidelines.
Wrap Up
To close out the session, Shane leaves us with a powerful call to action for the American rugby community. He emphasizes that with the Rugby World Cup coming to U.S. soil in 2031 and 2033, the time for "business as usual" has passed.
