Lake Forest Harrier Rugby Football Club is New, a Winner

They come from all walks of student life: football players, wrestlers, hockey players, concert violinists, band members, and student council members.

Most of the players come from Lake Forest High School, and a few from surrounding high schools. But Lake Forest's newest team, the Lake Forest Harrier Rugby Football Club, is also a winner.

Lake Forest routed New Trier, 54-8, Saturday afternoon at Lake Forest College's Halas Hall field. It was not only a big victory on the field, but a victory in the community, too.

"At the adult club level, rugby's always been big in the Chicago area, and our goal through Illinois Youth Rugby Association is to grow the youth and high school levels and provide athletes with another competitive sport," said Lake Forest head coach John Walker. "These kids can go on to play in college, and this gives them that opportunity to be ahead of the curve."

Walker, 46, played 20 years, including four years for Eastern Illinois University.

Rugby is one of the most popular games elsewhere in the world, has been a competive sport in the U.S. for a long time yet is finally gaining traction in Lake Forest.  

The offers two programs for young athletes with a youth rugby feeder program for sixth-through eighth-grade players and a high school program. Both are aligned with Illinois Youth Rugby Association and USA Rugby.

"Our goal is to instruct and teach them rugby's fundamentals, techniques, and superior fitness needed to play rugby, as well as the great amount of respect athletes in the game worldwide are known to have," Walker added. 

Harrier RFC's next match will be under the lights against the Arlington Stallions at 7:30 p.m. Thursday (April 28) at .