USVI PRIVATEERS RUGBY UNION

In August 2012, a small group of rugby believers made it official. The Brugos brothers, Ryan Mullen, Scott McFarlane, and Dan Perez came together to establish the USVI Rugby Football Union, the territory's first and only rugby union. They named their team the Privateers, a nod to the islands' seafaring heritage. Head coach Joe Brugos, a St. Thomian himself, brought together a squad of former college players and local athletes, drawing talent from all three islands from day one.

The Privateers roster spans players aged 18 to nearly 60, ranging from complete beginners to referee-level veterans. What the team lacked in history, they made up for in heart. Neighboring teams in the BVI and San Juan were essential partners in those early years, offering scrimmages and even player loans when the Privateers were short a man. The union drew early community support from local businesses including Bellows International, Dr. Chase, Offshore Marine, and Cattie Law Offices, while My Brother's Workshop contributed the construction of a training sled for the team.

The Privateers set up their training home at the Charlotte Amalie High School field on St. Thomas, practicing Tuesday and Thursday evenings and playing home matches at the South End Cricket Field beside Addelita Cancryn Middle School. Both venues became familiar ground for a growing fanbase and an open-door culture that welcomed spectators and new players alike.

The Privateers' first competitive rivalry was against the San Juan Rugby Club. In their debut meeting, the two sides battled to a 5-5 draw, a result that signaled the Privateers were ready to compete at the regional level. The bond between the clubs grew into a tradition: after every match, the San Juan club hosted the Privateers for a post-game celebration, a custom shared among teams across the U.S., British Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

In 2013, a small group of women stepped onto the field to play touch rugby, marking the first chapter of women's rugby in the USVI. Though the squad was short-lived, it planted a seed. The union has expressed a long-standing desire to build a full women's team as the sport continues to grow across the islands.

In early 2016, the Privateers traveled to the continental U.S. for the first time, competing at Ruggerfest in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, marking a new chapter in the team's competitive reach.

Later that spring, the Privateers hosted Harvard Business School at the UVI soccer field in a match that came down to the final minute. Players from St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas united on the same pitch, representing the full territory in one of the most competitive home matches in union history. Harvard won 22-21, but the Privateers proved they could go toe-to-toe with an established mainland program.

In March 2017, the USVI Rugby Football Union made history by hosting Rugby Paradise Smash, the first collegiate sevens tournament of its kind on the islands. Held at UVI on St. Thomas, the event brought Babson College, Bowdoin College, USA Stars Sevens, and BVI U-23 to the territory for a full day of competition. Visiting teams also participated in community service projects throughout the territory, partnering with local organizations, reflecting the union's belief that rugby is about more than what happens on the pitch.

The Privateers have held youth rugby clinics on both St. Thomas and St. John, with plans to expand that youth pipeline. The International Rugby Board has supported the USVI Union and proposed funding coaches and trainers to come to the territory to teach physical education teachers about the game and raise local awareness of the sport.