Women's Rugby in the New Hampshire Seacoast
Seacoast Rugby Club
Serving Dover, Portsmouth, Exeter, Southern Maine, and Beyond
More Than Just Rugby
Looking for a women’s sports league near Dover, Portsmouth, Exeter, Rochester, Durham, or the New Hampshire Seacoast? We welcome women ages 18+ of all skill levels. Our club offers competitive matches, beginner friendly practices, fitness, friendship, and a community unlike any other.
There are plenty of reasons people join Seacoast Rugby. Some are retired (or, dare we say, washed up) athletes who miss competing. Others have never played a team sport in their lives and simply want to get stronger, make new friends, and try something outside their comfort zone.
Whatever brought you here, you’ll find a supportive team that values effort over experience. We’ll teach you how to pass, tackle, ruck, and score—but more importantly, we’ll cheer for every bit of progress along the way.
Every player starts somewhere.
Built on Sportsmanship. Powered by Community.
Rugby is one of the toughest sports you’ll ever play and one of the most welcoming communities you’ll ever join.
Our club is built on respect, teamwork, and continuous development. We celebrate big wins, learn from tough losses, and never leave a teammate behind.
Practice hard. Hit hard. Laugh harder.
In addition to regularly scheduled fall, spring, and summer matches, you’ll find social events, volunteer opportunities, road trips, and friendships that last long after the final whistle.
New to Rugby? You're Exactly Who We're Looking For.
Our coaches and veteran players are passionate about helping new players learn the game in a fun, supportive environment. Whether you’re 18 or 40, played college sports, ran marathons, or haven’t exercised in years, we’ll meet you where you are. Many of our best players had never touched a rugby ball before their first practice.
You don’t need to know the rules. You don’t need fancy equipment. You don’t need to be in perfect shape.
You just need to show up.
Find Your Team. Find Your Strength.
Since 1998, Seacoast Rugby Club has been bringing together women from across New Hampshire, southern Maine, and northern Massachusetts through the sport of rugby.
What began as a local team has grown into a community of athletes, professionals, students, moms, and lifelong friends.
Our mascot, the Tugboat, is inspired by the iconic Portsmouth tugboats that have long been the hardest-working boats on the Piscataqua River. They’re strong, dependable, and always ready to dig in when the job gets tough—qualities we strive to embody every time we step onto the pitch.
Whether we’re pushing through a hard-fought match, helping a new player learn the game, or cheering each other on from the sidelines, we believe success comes from showing up, putting in the work, and pulling together as one team.
Toot toot!
Frequently Asked Questions
Not at all! In fact, many of our players had never touched a rugby ball before their first practice. Our coaches and veteran players will teach you everything you need to know, from passing and tackling to the rules of the game. Everyone starts somewhere.
Absolutely. You don’t have to be “rugby fit” before you come—we’ll help you get there. Practices are designed to challenge you while meeting you where you are. Whether you’ve been working out for years or you’re just getting back into being active, you’ll improve over time alongside your teammates.
There’s no such thing as a “rugby body.”
One of the best things about rugby is that every body type has a place on the field. Tall, short, fast, strong, lean, curvy—every position requires different strengths, and every player brings something valuable to the team.
Rugby is a full-contact sport, so like any contact sport, there is a risk of injury. That said, player safety is our top priority.
New players are introduced to contact gradually, and our coaches spend plenty of time teaching proper tackling technique, body positioning, and safe play before anyone is expected to participate in full contact. You’ll never be thrown into something you’re not ready for.
There are annual USA Rugby registration fees and club dues that help cover things like insurance, referees, field rentals, equipment, and league expenses. We keep costs as affordable as possible and are always happy to answer questions about fees. Current player dues per season are $100 for new players and $150 for returning players.
We are based out of Dover, New Hampshire. Our home field is located at 3 Cold Springs Road, Dover, NH, which is where we practice and have home games. Check out our schedule for more information.
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3 Cold Springs Road | Dover, NH 03820
Great Bay Rugby is a 501c3 non profit in the state of New Hampshire.