About this episode
Topics Justin Hickey's Rugby Background Started playing rugby in high school after football season ended Continued playing at Central Michigan University Transitioned to coaching, starting with his high school team while playing club rugby Pursued a master's in education and school counseling, leading to college coaching opportunities Coached at Davenport University and Clemson before becoming head coach at Notre Dame in 2016 Notre Dame Rugby Program Structure Competes in NCR (National Collegiate Rugby) for 15s in fall/winter and 7s in spring Full-time commitment for varsity players with 5-6 days per week of training/games Typical week includes gym sessions, film review, and field practices Maintains both varsity and JV sides to provide playing opportunities for all skill levels Emphasizes player-driven leadership and culture-building Current Season and Future Goals 6-1 record so far this season, with upcoming Big Ten playoffs Aiming for consistent top-8 or top-4 finishes in NCR 15s Goals to continue strong performances in 7s tournaments, including CRC Recruiting and Admissions Process Uses a prospective player form on their website to initiate contact Works closely with university admissions counselors Assists interested students through the application process, including essay feedback Targets academically strong athletes from various backgrounds, not limited to Catholic schools Benefits of Notre Dame Rugby Combination of high-level academics, competitive rugby, and Division I athletic atmosphere Strong alumni network and support Opportunities in both 15s and 7s rugby jhickey3@nd.edu - Reach out to Justin Today! https://rugby.nd.edu/recruits/ worldrugbyshop.com rugbynorcal.org