The Twin Ports Rugby Football Club will host its first Youth Rugby Jamboree on May 30, capping an inaugural season that has grown faster than organizers expected. The event will bring 5th and 6th grade teams from across Minnesota, along with a visiting squad from North Dakota, to Burlington Field for an afternoon of sevens play and community gathering.
Ashley Allen, the club’s social chair and a former college player, said the momentum behind the youth program has surprised even the adults who built it.
“We have so much youth that we actually have split into two sides, which is fairly unheard of, especially in your inaugural year,” she said. “To be able to bring out 14 kids to jamborees in our first year is really great to see.”
Rugby has existed in the region before, but the current effort began when Allen, her husband, and a small group of volunteers revived the club with a long-term vision. They wanted a men’s team, a women’s team, a women’s plus team, and a youth program that could eventually reach into local schools.
“The sport is such a community focused sport,” Allen said. “You’re really relying on your trust of the community all the time, that we’re tackling properly, that we’re doing the training properly. It really drives a sense of community, and I think it’s a great sport for us up in the Midwest.”
The youth season runs through May, with practices open to any child who wants to try the sport. Families only pay if they choose to attend jamborees. That open door approach has helped draw players from Two Harbors, Silver Bay, and surrounding towns.
The 5th and 6th grade division are the first level where tackling is introduced, and Allen said the kids have taken to the game quickly.
“These kids, my gosh, the way they’re thinking ahead, the way they are just advancing so much, it’s leaps and bounds better than I could have done,” she said. “They really work together in a way that amazes me.”
As both a coach and a parent, she sees the confidence building in real time. Her oldest son plays on the team.
“After games he’ll be like, oh, I miss my team,” she said. “They’ve not seen each other for 15 minutes and he misses them already. It’s really growing the sense of community we like to see.”
Allen said the jamboree format reflects rugby’s culture. Smaller clubs often combine players so every child gets meaningful time on the field.
“It doesn’t really matter to us who the team is as long as the kids get to play and are having fun,” she said. “It helps drive home the rugby community. It’s always been about community.”
For kids who are curious but unsure, Allen keeps the message simple.
“Come out. We’re never going to push you past your comfort level,” she said. “You don’t have to be good right away because we’ll teach you everything you need to know. Come with a happy attitude and I promise you’ll have fun.”
The club expects games to begin around noon, though organizers may shift closer to 1 p.m. depending on team prep. Families and community members are invited to attend, learn the sport, and cheer on the athletes.
• Youth Rugby Jamboree
• May 30, 2026
• Noon
• Burlington Field
For more information, visit: twinportsrugby.org or Facebook: Twin Ports Rugby
