Resident Feature

Good People from Local Talent

Oaks Rugby continues the Town of Danville’s history of youth athletic success.

From its humble beginnings as a family friendly Sunday pick-up game at Hap Magee Park in 2005, the Danville Oaks Rugby Football Club has steadily grown into one of the largest and most competitive youth rugby clubs in the country. With over 300 boys and girls ranging in age from 5 to 18 years old, the Danville Oaks are helping rugby become one of the fastest growing sports in the United States.

Played religiously in Europe and the South Pacific for well over a century, local communities, colleges, universities and now professionals in the states are embracing the sport for its inclusivity, supportive membership and action packed play. It has taken a while, but this status is a far cry from previously being misnomered as a fraternal game played by only roughians and hooligans. Now, it is seen as a fun and competitive game for all, that nurtures its participants into simply good people.

The Town of Danville is notoriously known as an incubator for youth and high school sports, producing some of the strongest and most competitive teams in the state and even the country. Soccer, baseball, football and basketball have traditionally dominated, but Danville’s young athletes are realizing there’s a new game in town, and they want to be a part of it. In 2015 the Oaks Girls Varsity team won the NorCal Club Championship and took 3rd place at Nationals. In 2018 the Oaks Boys Varsity team not only won the NorCal Club Championship, but also won the National Club Championship. As for 2022-2023, the Oaks are confident that they will be competing at the same level and beyond as the Boys Varsity Team will also be playing internationally on tour in New Zealand during Spring Break. 

As a “club” organization, the Oaks can include participants from not only Danville, but all of the Tri-Valley and the greater East Bay. Their past and current coaches are from all over the world including New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, England, Tonga and the USA. This diversity allows a vast bank of knowledge and experience to be shared with the players, while the flexibility in recruitment has allowed the club to ensure its commitment to inclusivity and fostering exceptional talent. 

Danville Oaks Rugby Football Association is a non-profit organization, operating on participation fees, volunteer hours, and corporate sponsorships. If you have any interest in helping support the Oaks, please reach out to oaks@danvillerugby.com. If you have children, grandchildren or neighbors with either, and they are interested in sports, Oaks Rugby is something for them to TRY! Registration is now open at www.danvillerugby.com. 


By Josh Glaser, Danville Oaks Rugby President