Do I need experience to join the Austin Blacks?

No experience is required. We have players who came to their first-ever practice as adults. Coaches work with beginners to learn the basics quickly, and you'll be placed on the side that fits your current level.

What does membership cost?

Player dues support the club's operations, field maintenance, and competition fees. Monthly and full-season options are available. Visit the member portal on this site or email us for current pricing.

What age do I need to be to play?

The adult sides are open to players 18 and older. If you're looking for youth rugby (ages 4–18), visit our Youth Rugby page.

Do you accept players from other countries?

Absolutely. The Austin Blacks have a long history of welcoming international players. Many players from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, England, Argentina, and other nations have played for the club.

How do I know which side (D1, D2, D3) I'll play for?

Placement is assessed by the coaching staff based on your experience, fitness, and position. Most new players start at D2 or D3 while they learn the club's systems, but there's no ceiling on where you can end up.

Earn Your Blacks Jersey

Austin's most decorated rugby club is always looking for the next generation of Blacks. Whether you've played for 20 years or never run a lineout in your life — we want to see you at Burr Field.

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Why the Blacks

Compete at the Highest Level

The Blacks field four competitive sides in USA Rugby's D1, D2, D3, and D4 divisions. Our D1 and D3 teams are national champions. Wherever you are in your rugby journey, you'll be pushed to get better.

Culture & Brotherhood

This club has been building community since 1967. The post-match culture, the tours, the relationships — they're part of what makes the Blacks different. You're not just joining a team. You're joining a club.

World-Class Facilities

Train on three regulation pitches at Burr Field, one of only two privately owned rugby facilities in the United States. Weight room, changing rooms, and a clubhouse all on-site.

How to Join

Pay Player Dues — Sign up via the member portal (monthly or full-season options available).
Register with USA Rugby (CIPP) — Complete your player registration via Rugby Xplorer with Austin Blacks.
Show Up — Come to a Tuesday or Thursday practice. That's it.

Questions? Email info@austinrugby.com and one of our recruitment officers will be in touch.

A rugby player falling or diving on the grass field during a game, near the goalpost pad, with a crowd of spectators seated in the stands in the background.

Training Schedule

Tuesdays: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM at Burr Field
Thursdays: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM at Burr Field
Saturdays: 12:00 PM (when no match scheduled)

New players are welcome to attend a practice before committing. Just show up — introduce yourself to a coach or any player on the pitch.

Rugby players in black uniforms on a grassy field, with one player passing the ball and others running behind him, spectators sitting on bleachers in the background.

What to Expect

Show up to practice in athletic gear, cleats are helpful but not required for your first session. Introduce yourself to whoever's running drills. You'll be welcomed, assessed lightly, and placed into appropriate groups. Bring water. Stay for the whole session. Stick around after, the social side of this club is half the reason people never leave.

"Playing for the Austin Blacks has given me a community and family that I couldn't replicate anywhere else. Even though I'm far away from family, playing with the club in Austin has given me a second home. The rugby is great and the connections from the club are ones that will last a lifetime.

— Asa Carter, Former MLR
"I've been playing for Austin Blacks for 10 years, and it's been one of the most influential experiences in my life. The club has a history and mentality of winning that drew me here in the first place. That culture starts at the top with the coaching staff. The level of experience and international exposure that the coaches have had at the highest levels of test rugby is unmatched at the club level here in the States. This is also what attracts some of the best talent and players across the country, and internationally, to play for the Austin Blacks. The dedication and passion for the game is infectious and raises the standards and skills of everyone. It's why, across 3 divisions we consistently make state, regional, and national playoffs.""

— Andrew McMath
"Playing for the Austin Blacks was one of the best decisions I made when landing in Austin from Ireland in 2023. The level of coaching and facilities in the Austin Blacks is head and shoulders above anything else I saw while playing in the US. The best part about this club is it feels like a community where no matter your skills or talent, everyone is here to help each other out be it on or off the field. I've made lifelong friends and connections from my time at the Austin Blacks and I could not speak more highly of the club."

— Ben Roche, Former player

Frequently asked questions

No experience is required. We have players who came to their first-ever practice as adults. Coaches work with beginners to learn the basics quickly, and you'll be placed on the side that fits your current level.
Player dues support the club's operations, field maintenance, and competition fees. Monthly and full-season options are available. Visit the member portal on this site or email us for current pricing.
The adult sides are open to players 18 and older. If you're looking for youth rugby (ages 4–18), visit our Youth Rugby page.
Absolutely. The Austin Blacks have a long history of welcoming international players. Many players from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, England, Argentina, and other nations have played for the club.
Placement is assessed by the coaching staff based on your experience, fitness, and position. Most new players start at D2 or D3 while they learn the club's systems, but there's no ceiling on where you can end up.

Join the Blacks