About Babson Rugby Development Inc.

BRD is a public charity dedicated to the Education and Development of Rugby, born from the alumni of Babson College Rugby.

Mission

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    Providing Education while promoting the sport of rugby and fitness for the game through various means including camps, trainings, speaking engagements, coaching and advocacy.

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    Educating and Training players and coaches on the techniques and fitness that ensure safer match play and more enjoyable, successful experiences on the pitch.

Objectives

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    To promote the development of Rugby at the youth, high school, collegiate and adult level through education.

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    To train on the proper techniques and fitness to develop athletes to perform at their safest and best.

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    To educate and support the Laws of Rugby Union Football and to improve the Rugby IQ of players at all levels.

Education

Providing comprehensive rugby education through camps, trainings, and speaking engagements.

Fitness

Developing proper techniques and fitness to ensure safer match play and better performance.

Rugby IQ

Improving understanding of the Laws of Rugby Union Football at all levels of play.

Our History

Rugby in the United States

The game of Rugby in the US has a long history dating back over 150 years, with the first recorded match between Harvard and McGill Universities in 1874. Locally, men's clubs and private universities provided the continuity for rugby since that time.

By the 1990's most colleges and universities had adopted rugby clubs and were playing intercollegiate matches. Regional Conferences and National Governance emerged along the way to manage the structure of rugby in the US.

In 2018, Major League Rugby (MLR) was launched with twelve teams across the US and has seen increasing support in each of its successive seasons. Further, with the introduction of Rugby 7s in the Olympics in 2016, there has been a surge of interest in the sport worldwide.

Rugby match

Babson United Rugby Club

The Babson United Rugby Club (BURC) was founded in the Fall of 1979 during a time when many US Colleges and Universities were also adopting club rugby programs. In the 45+ years since then, there have been remarkable changes in the rules of Rugby Union and in the organization of Rugby in the USA.

Each of those changes has contributed to a better, faster game, a more organized structure of leagues and governance, and a greater emphasis on fitness and technique to compete on the international stage.

Over the past decade, most collegiate rugby teams have adopted a schedule that plays XVs in the Fall and 7s in the Spring. Babson's Rugby Team has followed that pattern and under the tutelage of Coach Carrick Pell, have won National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) Division III National Championships in both XVs and 7s, as well as an NCR 7s Premier Division 3rd Place finish in 2024.

Rugby team

Rugby XVs and 7s

In addition to the traditional game of Rugby XVs, the emergence of Rugby 7s has provided an even faster and TV-ready form of the game for players and fans to enjoy. While played on the same field, 7s is noted by two teams of 7 players who compete for two 7-minute halves.

This fast-paced match featuring great ball-handling, open-field tackling, and dramatic runs can be a high-scoring contest that rivals full-length XVs matches. Rules for XVs and 7s vary somewhat and training for each season takes on nuanced distinctions that are critical for safety and success.

Coach Pell's attention to discipline around education, training and fitness are critical ingredients to Babson's success. It is from that perspective from which BRD was founded and the desire to provide dedicated Education and Training with a focus on Fitness to others at all levels as we raise the level of play throughout the region.

Rugby sevens

Board of Directors

Meet the dedicated individuals leading Babson Rugby Development Inc.

Ken Jasper

President

Ken Jasper '82 was an original member, 2nd President and back's captain of Babson United Rugby Club when it was founded in 1979, helping elevate the club to #5 rank in New England by graduation.

Steve Ashekian

Vice President

Dedicated Vice President of Babson Rugby Development Inc., committed to promoting rugby education and development.

Phil Green

Treasurer

Treasurer of Babson Rugby Development Inc., managing financial aspects to support rugby education initiatives.

Dave Cederlund

Secretary

Secretary of Babson Rugby Development Inc., coordinating administrative functions to support the organization's mission.

Steve Drew

Director

Director at Babson Rugby Development Inc., contributing strategic guidance to advance rugby education and development.

Learn More About Our President

Ken Jasper, President

Ken Jasper

In the Fall of 1979, when the Babson United Rugby Club (BURC) was founded by Tim DeMello '81, Ken Jasper '82 was among the 50 students who stepped forward to learn the game and create the club. As the club's 2nd President and back's captain, Ken continued BURC's winning tradition and left the club with a #5 rank among all teams in New England upon graduation.

Ken played in Alumni games throughout the 1980's and 90's and has been a financial supporter since graduation. In 2003, he joined a group of 10 alumni to raise funds to dedicate the rugby pitch in Charlie Harrington's honor. In 2004, Ken founded the Rugby Alumni Advisory Council (RAAC) to formalize Babson Rugby's Alumni and establish it's Affinity Group with the College.

As President of the Alumni organization, Ken maintains an Alumni Website, Email list and Newsletter. Ken has also been instrumental in fundraising for the club for field and equipment improvements, as well as sponsorship for a Spring Break trip, and most recently to enhance the club's Endowment fund.

Ken organizes club anniversary celebrations every five years since the 25th Anniversary in 2004 and established the Hall of Fame recognitions and awards ceremony that occurs at each of those anniversaries. Ken is also a founding member of the Rugby Alumni Mentorship Program (RAMP) est. 2025, which endeavors to help Babson ruggers with their career aspirations through networking and guidance with the potential for internship and post collegiate opportunities.

As President and founder of BRD, Ken continues his commitment to the game of rugby, the Babson Rugby brand, and to funding this endeavor around education and fitness to improve the experience of those who play.