Behind the Scenes: Teamwork and Commitment Lead to National Championships

The IUP Men’s Rugby Club, a significant part of IUP’s sports legacy, recently added another feather to its cap by winning its fourth national championship. Head Coach Seth Erwin was asked about the sport, its history at IUP, and the team.

Erwin’s path to rugby was a unique one, marked by resilience. Initially recruited to play football at IUP during his senior year of high school, an injury dashed his football dreams. Undeterred, he committed to IUP. In a health and wellness course, Erwin’s rugby journey began when a classmate, noticing his potential, asked, “You look like you like to hit people. Have you ever played rugby?” After some convincing, Erwin attended a rugby practice, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Interestingly, the connection between his love of playing football and rugby echoes Erwin’s coaching experience. He started as a youth football coach in 2008 after graduating from IUP in 2007. From there, he moved back to rugby, coaching at Burrell School District. In 2012, Erwin created his own high school program for players in the Kiski Valley. Within two years, Erwin found himself at a familiar place; he decided to assist Head Coach Larry Bowman with coaching the rugby team at IUP. In 2018, Erwin was named the team’s head coach. 

IUP’s Club Rugby Program has been around for a half-century. However, according to Erwin, the program has had many changes, much like the sport itself. At IUP, it went from being a social club to a competitive team. Club Rugby’s status teetered in waves over the next several years, moving back and forth from a competition team to a social activity. Under Erwin’s leadership, the sport started to solidify with a concerted effort to consider the sport in a more intentional and caring way. The team approaches commitments by placing rugby over other social activities. Erwin remarks, “The current mindset is that school comes first, then rugby, then everything else.”

This commitment has paid off, with the team bringing home four national championship wins since 2022, placing IUP on the national stage. The team’s achievements are a source of pride for the entire IUP community.

The team became the 7s National Champions after their win in New Orleans in 2022. The following fall, they were the National 15s Runner-Up, losing to Principia College in Houston (Principia College has since been denoted a Division One team). In the spring of 2023, IUP was again the 7s National Championship in Washington, DC. Then, the team won the 15s National Championship in Houston. In the spring of 2024, IUP came close to securing yet another national championship, coming in third place in Washington, DC. Now, they are back on top by taking home the fall 2025 national championship title in 15s in Houston.

With their latest national championship win, it is difficult for the coaches and team to find similarities between all the championships played. Erwin says, “I know it’s very cliché, but they are all very different. For our first 7s championship competition, it was a great weekend, where we played very well. For our first 15s, it felt like a huge weight taken off. Failing in the championship the year before, it was the feeling of five months of work coming through! This last one is special on its own. A year full of player injuries and mixing rosters every match gave guys the experience to get us here. It’s very bittersweet—the last guys on that first 7s national title are all seniors now, and this is their last go!”

There is an expectation among the coaching staff and players within IUP Club Rugby. Everyone should be trying their best, putting in the work, and a willingness to learn. Erwin elaborates, “For us, it’s more about the mentality. You’re not just playing for yourself; you’re playing for the guys behind you; if you’re on the field, eight to 10 players want to be in that position, so give it your all!”

And, indeed, the team did give it their all with yet another national championship win. IUP Rugby continues its tradition of excellence. Erwin is already looking forward to spring and the coming seasons with the goal of maintaining the team’s competitive edge. But, to ensure the health and longevity of the team, he likes to remind fans that donations to the Club are very much appreciated. “As a club, donations are the best for us. These donations are what get us by. Having traveled so much in the past four years, I know anything helps us on our journey.”  Supporters interested in contributing can make a donation. 

Additionally, students interested in joining the team are very welcome. The IUP Men’s Rugby Club is committed to inclusivity and provides opportunities for all students to participate, regardless of their experience level. There are no tryouts, so newbies shouldn’t be intimidated to try the sport. No interested students are cut from the team, so everyone can participate in the experience. The best 15 players start, with eight players in reserve for each match. If there are more players, the Club expands to give everyone a chance to play. 

Interested in giving rugby a shot? Email Coach Erwin at serwin@iup.edu with your questions and to find out more about what it means to be part of IUP Club Rugby. So, if you want to be part of a team committed to excellence and one another, rugby may be the perfect sport for you!