About
Marin Highlanders Rugby Club offers rugby training and home and away weekend matches during its youth season. The program includes youth training, U8–U14 Open House Sessions, and a High School Girls Highlanders clinic with Perry Baker.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: Youth season runs from November through March, with home and away weekend matches on Saturdays or Sundays depending on field availability.
The Marin Highlanders Rugby Football Club operates under the national governing body USA Rugby and is a not-for-profit charity managed by an elected President and Board of Directors. The club’s mission is to develop the sport of rugby in Marin County and to instill in its players the values of fairness, camaraderie, discipline, and service. The club has compiled a high caliber coaching staff that includes several coaches who have played at the international level. Leadership roles include Youth Rugby (U8–U14/Middle School) led by James Thompson, Boys High School Rugby led by Kim Stagg, and Head Coach John Vantress, along with presidents and coaches named in the club’s history.
The club’s history includes its origins as Redwood Rugby Club in 1980, national championship squads in 1981 and 1982, and its first international victory in 1982 against Cantonian High School in Cardiff, Wales. The name Marin Highlanders replaced Redwood Rugby in 1998, and the Marin Youth Rugby Club, founded in 2005, merged into the Highlanders program in 2008. Now in its fourth decade, the club is under Head Coach John Vantress and has produced High School All Stars, Collegiate All Americans, Regional All Stars, Pacific Coast Representatives, USA National Team members, and Major League Rugby professionals.
The club participates in state and national tournaments, has toured locally and internationally, and provides athletes to college rugby programs and representative sides. Ghilotti Construction donated time and materials to help club members turn a wasteland behind a school into a grass rugby field that was later dedicated to community use. Financial aid and scholarships are available for club registration, and 12% of all proceeds from the Marin Highlanders Rugby Club Apparel Store go directly to the club. The club has a partnership with T&B Sports in San Rafael, which serves as the home for training and supporters gear, including team practice jerseys, hoodies, t-shirts, sweatpants, bags, hats, scrum caps, mouth guards, tape, and socks.
Families can take proof of registration to T&B Sports in San Rafael to pick up a Paladin rugby training jersey for ages U8–U14/Middle School. For U8–U12, these jerseys are used as both training and match day jerseys, and for U14–U18 (Middle School, JV, Varsity) players, they serve as the club training jerseys for the season. Team practice jerseys are available for pickup in late November when the order arrives. The club states that anyone can join and that no rugby experience is necessary. Parents can text “Rugby” to 414-249-6080 for updates and can follow the club on Instagram, including accounts for the Girls Middle School and High School team.
Last updated March 21, 2026.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: Youth season runs from November through March, with home and away weekend matches on Saturdays or Sundays depending on field availability.
The Marin Highlanders Rugby Football Club operates under the national governing body USA Rugby and is a not-for-profit charity managed by an elected President and Board of Directors. The club’s mission is to develop the sport of rugby in Marin County and to instill in its players the values of fairness, camaraderie, discipline, and service. The club has compiled a high caliber coaching staff that includes several coaches who have played at the international level. Leadership roles include Youth Rugby (U8–U14/Middle School) led by James Thompson, Boys High School Rugby led by Kim Stagg, and Head Coach John Vantress, along with presidents and coaches named in the club’s history.
The club’s history includes its origins as Redwood Rugby Club in 1980, national championship squads in 1981 and 1982, and its first international victory in 1982 against Cantonian High School in Cardiff, Wales. The name Marin Highlanders replaced Redwood Rugby in 1998, and the Marin Youth Rugby Club, founded in 2005, merged into the Highlanders program in 2008. Now in its fourth decade, the club is under Head Coach John Vantress and has produced High School All Stars, Collegiate All Americans, Regional All Stars, Pacific Coast Representatives, USA National Team members, and Major League Rugby professionals.
The club participates in state and national tournaments, has toured locally and internationally, and provides athletes to college rugby programs and representative sides. Ghilotti Construction donated time and materials to help club members turn a wasteland behind a school into a grass rugby field that was later dedicated to community use. Financial aid and scholarships are available for club registration, and 12% of all proceeds from the Marin Highlanders Rugby Club Apparel Store go directly to the club. The club has a partnership with T&B Sports in San Rafael, which serves as the home for training and supporters gear, including team practice jerseys, hoodies, t-shirts, sweatpants, bags, hats, scrum caps, mouth guards, tape, and socks.
Families can take proof of registration to T&B Sports in San Rafael to pick up a Paladin rugby training jersey for ages U8–U14/Middle School. For U8–U12, these jerseys are used as both training and match day jerseys, and for U14–U18 (Middle School, JV, Varsity) players, they serve as the club training jerseys for the season. Team practice jerseys are available for pickup in late November when the order arrives. The club states that anyone can join and that no rugby experience is necessary. Parents can text “Rugby” to 414-249-6080 for updates and can follow the club on Instagram, including accounts for the Girls Middle School and High School team.
Last updated March 21, 2026.
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