Valley Panthers Rugby Club
Spring 2025 Practice is underway!Prospective Panthers are welcome to check out a practice. Mac High students can also come to a lunch meeting; contact us for details. Feel free to reach out with any questions!
Head CoachChristine Bader played rugby at Amherst College in Massachusetts—in the 1990s! But she never forgot how much the sport taught her about leadership, teamwork, and community, and was thrilled to find the Panthers.
Email: me@christinebader.com
Google Voice/Text: (971) 319-0963
Faculty AdvisorMike Fair discovered rugby in college at the University of Arizona and played for 12 years. He is a teacher at McMinnville High School and our faculty advisor.
Google Voice or Text: (503) 217-4284
Email: mfair@msd.k12.or.us
Classroom: MHS, Adams Campus room 210
Student Contact
Wanna talk to a current Panther? Feel free to reach out to Mac High's Aaliyah Resendez (971-706-0164) or Vayda Ringen (971-312-3550).
Who are the Valley Panthers?
The Valley Panthers are a team of high school girls based in McMinnville, Oregon and welcoming players from all over Yamhill County (and even beyond). The team just celebrated its 20th anniversary! Our team is diverse, inclusive and supportive, and we have deep respect for ourselves, our teammates, and our rugby community.
What is rugby?
Rugby is a full-contact sport. It's a little like a cross between football, soccer, and wrestling. You play with a ball similar to football, gameplay and structure is similar to soccer, and you tackle like in football or wrestling. There is lots of amazing rugby to watch on YouTube—including from the 2024 Summer Olympics, when the USA women won the U.S.'s first Olympic medal in rugby sevens!!!Full contact? Am I going to get hurt?
As with all other sports, getting injured is a possibility, but safety is a priority for us. We take a lot of time teaching how to fall and tackle properly, so we can keep ourselves and our opponents safe.
I want to play, but I don't go to McMinnville High School.
We are a club sport, not a school sport, which means you don't have to go to Mac High to play for us! This also means that you cannot be excluded for the same academic reasons as you would for other school sports. We have had players from Newberg, Yamhill-Carlton, Dayton, Willamina, and even Salem; and even if you are only partially available for practices and games you can still join the team. There are no tryouts and no cuts.
What gear do I need?
A mouthguard, cleats, running shoes, and a good-fitting sports bra. (Bras for Girls has a great guide to finding the right sports bra.) Most players also wear spandex under their shorts that come to about your mid-thigh. For matches, we provide jerseys.How much does it cost?
Apart from the clothes, shoes, and mouthguard, you don't need any other equipment. USA Rugby and Rugby Oregon set registration fees; USA Rugby is $35 for the fall and spring, this year Rugby Oregon is $100 for the fall and $180 for the spring.
The team does extensive fundraising in order to pay full or partial registration fees for those who need help, so finances should not be an issue!
Also, Every Kid Sports pays rec sports registration fees for players enrolled in Medicaid, SNAP, or WIC. Applications fill quickly, so sign up for their newsletter to stay on top of deadlines.
What's the difference between fall and spring seasons?
The fall is rugby sevens, which is the style of rugby in the Olympics. Like the name says, there are seven players per team on the field at a time. The spring is rugby union with 15 players on the field at a time, including a full scrum (the group of people pushing against each other to restart play).In the fall, we play multiple games per Saturday at different locations. In the spring we alternate between hosting and traveling. One of the best things about rugby is that the home team always hosts a social after the game, where we eat together and award Player of the Match to the other team. It's called the Third Half and is an essential part of rugby at every level!Do I need to register before coming to my first practice?
Nope! If you're on the fence about playing, you're more than welcome to come to a practice. You do need to register before tackling, and you need a few tackle practices before you can play in a game.
I'm not athletic, I can't play rugby.
You're not unathletic, you're just out of shape. And you'll get over that real quick. But I know that's not what you meant. Trust me when I tell you that rugby is a sport for everyone. We need fast girls and slow girls, big girls and little girls, tall girls and short girls. There are fifteen positions in rugby and there is at least one for you!If I fall in love with rugby, can I play at higher levels?
Absolutely! The Oregon RedHawks and the PNW Loggers are the state and regional all-star teams, and many Panthers have played for both. Women's college rugby is growing quickly and lots of Panthers have gone onto play at college. We've also had Panthers play at the international level, including at the Touch Rugby World Cup and the World Cup!
Can my little sister play?
Not until she's in high school. But Girls Rugby runs flag rugby for girls in 2nd-8th grade!
Who supports the team?
The Panthers are so grateful for the support we receive, financial and in-kind: including from Baker Creek Community Church, who has let us practice on their lawn for free since the club's founding; and the Mac High ASB, which gives us some funding each year.
We also have numerous community donors and fans around the country.You all sound amazing. How can I support you?
You can make a tax-deductible contribution to the Panthers here! (If you have a Donor-Advised Fund, you can contribute from it here.)
You can also buy team swag and add a donation.
The Panthers are part of Valley Rugby, a 501(c)(3) non-profit registered in Oregon, EIN 93-3668692.
Thank you!!!
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