Santa Barbara has a rugby club for men, one for women and one for kids and teens. All three teach the game from scratch, train twice a week at local parks, and are a lot of fun.
Most people who join a Santa Barbara club had never played before. Nobody expects you to know the rules on day one, and nobody expects you to be fit yet either. That part comes from showing up.
Sign up to play
Pick a team and your details go straight to that club's organizers. Not sure which fits? Choose “Not sure” and SBRFC's volunteers will get your message.
Find your team
Three clubs, all welcoming beginners
Each club runs its own training, matches and social life. Here is when and where each one meets.
Men's · 18 and over
Grunion RFC
Training
Tuesday and Thursday, 7–9 PM
Where
Elings Park, upper fields
Season
Pre-season from Tuesday, November 3. Matches January to April, on Saturdays.
It's fun. Rugby is a running, passing game where everyone handles the ball, from the biggest forward to the quickest winger. Training is outdoors, twice a week, at parks between the mountains and the ocean.
You'll make friends fast. Teams train together, travel to matches together and spend time together off the field. After Thursday training the Grunion head to Baja Sharkeez, and the Mermaids run socials and fundraisers through the year.
There's a place for every body. Rugby needs big players, small players, fast players and strong ones. New players arrive at every level of fitness and get fitter by playing.
New to rugby?
Questions beginners ask
Do I need experience?
No. Coaches teach the basics from the first session: passing, catching, tackling safely and what is going on in a scrum. You don't need to be fit to start, either.
What should I bring?
Boots if you have them, trainers if you don't, plus water and clothes you can run in. A mouthguard is worth having before you play contact. No mouthguard yet? Ask at your first session.
Is it safe?
Rugby is a contact sport, and the clubs coach it that way. Coaches teach new players how to tackle, and how to be tackled, safely. Kids' rugby is matched to age: U8 plays non-contact flag rugby, contact comes in step by step as players get older, and the Stingrays' coaches are USA Rugby certified. If you have an injury or a worry, tell a coach before you start.
How old do I need to be?
Adults 18 and over play for the Grunion (men) or the Mermaids (women and nonconforming players). Kids and teens from U8 to U18 play for the Stingrays.
How do I start?
Fill in the form on this page and your details go to the club you pick. Or just turn up: get to training ten minutes early and tell someone it's your first time. Men can text Jordan at (805) 618-6510, women can email the Mermaids at santabarbararugby@gmail.com, and parents can register with the Stingrays online.
Where
Where the clubs train
Both grounds are public parks, and anyone is welcome to come and watch a session before joining in.
Grunion · Mermaids · Stingrays from Dec 8
Elings Park
1298 Las Positas Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. The Grunion use the upper fields and the Mermaids use Soccer Field 2. Free parking.
