Stamford Rugby is currently the top ranked DII high school rugby team in Connecticut. The team was founded in 2009 by Michael Duggan, the Executive Director of the Domus Foundation, a youth outreach program based out of lower fairfield county. His daughter, Kellie Duggan, was a star rugby player at Siena College before her life was tragically cut short by cancer. To honor his daughter's life, Duggan established Stamford Rugby through Domus institution Stamford Academy, an urban high school providing students in lower Fairfield county a second chance at education. Two Greenwich Rugby alumni, Frank Gianchetta and Mike Schachter, and USA national player Jeremy Kosbob, courageously volunteered their time to help jumpstart the program by becoming the franchises first coaching staff. With a shoe string budget, Duggan was able to create an entry level uniform kit, including shorts, socks, and jerseys displaying the initials "KD" on the sleeve to honor his fallen daughter.
To fill the player roster, the team expanded to local High Schools such as Westhill and Stamford High School to become an all-city associated club team. At the time, Stamford Academy was one of only six schools in Connecticut to proudly carry the sport of rugby. Like any new sports program, Stamford was attempting to find its identity as a team, while simultaneously attempting to teach students a sport completely unfamiliar to them. Although the team was unable to secure a victory for the first two seasons, they held their heads high, as the rookie team bravely battled well established and nationally ranked programs such as Greenwich and Fairfield.
The 2011-2012 season was the turning point for this hard working team. Stamford Academy employed high school and CT Union rugby player Joseph Sullivan to organize and intensely coach the rag tag team of ruggers. With the help of major recruiting efforts by the Stamford High players, Stamford Rugby upgraded to a complete and well rounded team roster. As Coach Sullivan began training the team roughly 8 months in advance to prep for the season, little did he know that this valiant pre-season training effort would propel the team into their most successful year yet. On a cold and rainy march afternoon, Stamford Rugby defeated Madison High School 25-12 in the team's first ever victory. The team stayed humble and confident, as Stamford Rugby finished the regular season with a division record of 3 wins and 2 losses. In the Connecticut Round Robin State Championship, Stamford beat New London and division rival Southington to advance to the team's first ever title game. However, the injury plagued team was outmatched by a fully healthy Fairfield Prep, as the team fell short of the state title by a mere 2 points.
Stamford Rugby would not settle for second place in the 2013 season, they had their minds on the Championship since day one of pre-season. Stamford Rugby underwent vast changes this season to get where they are today, including new coaching staff member Gavin Malloy. With the help of a highly successful Krispy Kreme fundraiser and multiple Stamford High bakesales, Stamford Rugby raised enough money for brand new high quality uniform kits. The kits included new merchandise, gear bags, socks, shorts, and professional grade jerseys that displayed the DOMUS masthead on the front, and the KD initials still honoring Kellie Duggan. The team had enough left over to finance their very first home game, where they found themselves defeating Division Champions Fairfield Prep 66-19. After starting the season with two close loses against Amity and Southington, the team did not lose another game for the rest of the season, securing 4th in the division and advancing to the playoffs. In a true David and Goliath fashion, Stamford upset top seeded Southington High School to advance to the Championships for a second year in a row. Stamford then went on to secure the team's first ever State Championship, as they bulldozed over Madison High School 35-24 in the team's fourth year of existence.
Stamford's sudden rise to fame has become the talk of the rugby community in Connecticut, as they demonstrate how hard work and determination can transform the newest of teams into formidable threats. The future of Stamford Rugby looks promising, as the Spartans will work day and night to yet again secure the State Championship for the 2014 season.