Rugby in Fond du lac!

The number 1 sport in the USA is American football. But have you ever thought of how the game was invented? It was from the sport of Rugby!

And did you know that there is a high school boys club team in Fond du Lac that’s been around since 1999. They are the Fond du Lac Stoutrmen and play in the Wisconsin High School Boys Rugby conference.

The team started when the original coaches, Brad Casetta sr, Dale Klitzke and Mike Korb where on their way home from playing a match for Oshkosh Rugby Football Club in the fall of 1997 and were talking about how the HS boys’ program was growing in the state. They knew Brad Casetta’s son was a 3-sport athlete at the high school and could help get the players. So, they had a meeting and 25 kids showed up.

In 2004 the program became a 501 c 3 organization, Fond du lac Rugby incorporated which also had a HS girl, a senior men’s team called the Wolfpac. 2006 they added the grade school kids flag program through the YMCA and the recreation department, which is still going, and in 2019 they added middle school tackle programs for the boys and girls.

Today the coaches are original players from that first team. Sean Schaefer and Ish Harris, whose son also plays for the team.

The team this year is undefeated going into their match Friday April 30th at 5:30 at Sabish Jr High. The action is nonstop play for 2 30-minute halves and only 8 substitutions. No timeouts. With a win they will qualify for the playoffs and play at the state championships in Cottage Grove Wisconsin May 30th.

So come out and see a physical, high energy, non-stop action sport!