We live in a traditionally sports minded culture. Deeply rooted in athletic traditions, we are surrounded by memories and monuments dedicated to competitive heroes, and are steeped in the slow motion glory of endless highlight reels. We live in a society that does not scoff at the price tag of $300 million stadiums, or the exorbitant salaries of $200 million stars. 

This is America, and we love action; crunching tackles, sprinting runs, and high stakes risk. Why then, is rugby union not included in our palette of much hyped sports? 

After all, rugby is the precursor to American football, and many of football’s current elements are native to the game of rugby. According to legend, the game of rugby began as the result of a soccer player picking up and running forward with the ball during a soccer match in 1823; mankind’s lust for aggressive action then inevitably intervened. And many years later, the game of rugby has evolved into arguably the world’s most physically demanding and competitive sport. 

Played without the protection of NFL style padding, 15 players on each side battle it out on a quest to the opposite try line, through 80 total minutes of near non-stop play. The game is played on a pitch (field) similar to soccer dimensions, and the ball is thrown laterally or backward (no forward passing). So, the question remains; why not rugby?  It’s among the top 3 most watched and played sports globally, and among the most rapidly rising sports here in the States.

Give yourself a break from time-outs, first downs, commercial breaks, strike-outs, and NASCAR, and charge head first into the organized melee that is rugby.

Each youth participant is paired with a dedicated mentor for one year, who works to establish a bond and help the teen overcome obstacles through skating, surfing, and snowboarding. Stoked also offers an after school program geared toward career development, and a workshop called “Stoked Sistas,” which boosts girls’ confidence by getting them on a board. The work of Executive Director Larosiliere and co-founder Sal Masekela have racked up a ton of sponsors including Zoo York and ESPN, and several partner schools throughout NY and LA. Check out the organization’s promo video below, and visit their website to find out how you can contribute your time.

Stoked Mentoring Video from stokedmentoring on Vimeo.