The Detroit Rugby Football Club was founded in 1968 by seven people that had been crossing the border to play rugby in Canada. Over the past several decades, the club has grown immensely, with over 1,500 players being a part of the club in that time. In recent years, the DRFC has made Warren its home base. Their clubhouse is located near Toepfer at 21618 Van Dyke Ave. The home field is at Austin Dannis Park on Stephens. Whether you would like to become a player, watch a game, or visit the clubhouse, there are opportunities for you to get involved with this local sports club.
The DRFC has two seasons of play, a competitive season in the fall and a friendly season in the spring. The first men’s game of the spring season is on Saturday, April 1st. The team will kick the season off on the road, but their first home game this spring is on Saturday, April 8th. The DRFC’s women’s team will play their first home game the following weekend on April 15th. You can check out the full schedule for the spring season here. In addition to the men’s and women’s teams, the DRFC also has a wheelchair team. Both of that team’s spring games will be played on the road, but keep an eye out for local games in the future. If you are interested in joining any of the DRFC’s teams fill out their online form here.
For those looking to get involved with the Detroit Rugby Football Club as a fan rather than a team member, there are opportunities for you as well. Supporters can become members of the club at three different levels, Associate, Associate Plus, and Social. These memberships will allow you access to the DRFC clubhouse. The higher memberships will also help support the club monetarily, assisting with costs for things such as sports equipment, merchandise, construction, and upkeep at the clubhouse. Membership for supporters starts with dues as low as $10 a year. Get more information on becoming a member here. Throughout the year, the DRFC clubhouse hosts a variety of events, such as watch parties, weekly game nights, and banquets. Keep an eye on the DRFC Facebook page to stay in the know on upcoming events at the clubhouse and games.
The DRFC is also a 510(c)(3) that accepts donations to keep the club running. There are a variety of ways that you can donate, which can be found on the club’s website here. There are opportunities to contribute to improvements and upkeep of the clubhouse as well as fees associated with the teams, such as travel costs, referee fees, and equipment and supply costs.
Whether you’re an avid rugby fan or new to the sport, this is an excellent opportunity to get social right here in Warren and hopefully make some new friends in the community.