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Harrisburg Rugby Football Club Rugby Complex

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Harrisburg Rugby Football Club, founded in 1969, had a dream that was initiated many years ago. The goal was to find a permanent home, a field and a foundation from which we could grow the sport of rugby in Central Pennsylvania.    

 Our vision for this property is a sports facility that will house one to three pitches, with ample parking for players and spectators. The fields will have permanent goal posts and flood lights for evening practice, and we would eventually build a clubhouse. The clubhouse will eventually have showers, changing rooms and a kitchen. The entire facility will be used for games, tournaments, fundraisers, and community activities, as well as be available for other area sports.

The plan is aggressive and bold – but with your help I know we can make this dream a reality. 

Rugby is the fastest growing sport in the United States, with Pennsylvania boasting well-established rugby programs all over the Commonwealth. For over 45 years, Harrisburg Rugby Football Club has been a leader in the development of rugby in Central Pennsylvania.


Harrisburg Rugby Football Club (HRFC) was founded in the fall of 1969, and became incorporated in 2003 as a non-profit organization. The HRFC mission statement is to grow the game of rugby at a grass roots level, and we strive to live that mission.

What started as a single men’s club team has grown into a total of seven teams. HRFC is currently made up of four U19 (under 19 years of age) teams: West Shore United Girls, Cumberland Valley Girls, West Shore United Boys, and Dauphin U19 Boys; and three senior teams: Men’s, Women’s, and H.O.B.O.S. (Harrisburg Old Boys Occasional Side - over 35 years of age) club teams.


Despite having such a large rugby footprint in Central Pennsylvania, during the 45+ year history of HRFC, the club has been a nomadic rugby club - playing in multiple parks and on multiple fields around the Central Pennsylvania region. It is our dream to end our nomadic nature.

Over the next 5 years, Harrisburg Rugby Football Club would like to purchase and develop land in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area - a place to call home.

#HRFCRugbyComplex is a dream, and we need your help to turn that dream into reality!

Project Status
Below are the preliminary grading plan and updated rendering for the fields provided by Third Mountain Surveying. As you can see, the club is able to develop this plot of land into 2 different field/pitch scenarios. Scenario #1 would have 1 international size rugby pitch and 1 full size pitch. Scenario #2 would lay out 3 smaller sports fields with the potential to be used for practices and/or other underserved sports entities. The parking lot, as shown, has 60 spaces. This will be large enough to accommodate the club and any visiting clubs.

The wheels are in motion and HRFC is one step closer to making the dream of growing the sport of rugby in Central Pennsylvania a reality!


Project Plan
The primary field, in Field/Pitch Scenario #1 will be used exclusively as a match pitch (international size) for the club and is situated furthest from the parking lot. Field 2 will be situated closer to the parking lot and will be mainly used for practices. In Field/Pitch Scenario #2 there will be 3 smaller fields that will be used for club practices, and will also be made available to rent by other local sports clubs, including soccer, rugby, lacrosse and other minority sports entities.

The development plan is aggressive and requires a high amount of capital, but also generates a great potential for return on investment. The plan requires $800,000 - $1 million to be raised in order to be completed. This price includes, land development, and further rugby complex development.

To meet the capital fund raising goal, the club has committed $50,000. The club is also offering the naming rights for the entire complex for a contribution of $100,000. The remaining amount will be generated through tax-deductible charitable donations.

Project Phases
Phase 1 – Construction: The property will undergo grading to level the fields. Retaining walls will be installed. A parking lot will be completed. Top soil and seeding will be applied. Estimated September 2018.

Phase 2 – Operation: In addition to field usage, the club plans to raise money through ongoing field rentals. This will come in the form of practices, games, and tournaments. The club has had preliminary discussions with local organizations, such as Capital Area Soccer Association (CASA) and Harrisburg Young Professionals (HYP), in which they expressed interest in future field rental opportunities. Estimated September 2018.

Phase 3 – The Club House: After stabilizing operations and raising additional cash through donations and/or field rentals, it is the club’s intent to install permanent light fixtures and build a clubhouse, complete with changing rooms, showers, and social facilities. The first step is to drill a well for water and install a septic system before the clubhouse can be fully outfitted with facilities. We are looking for talent and skill sets within our club and the community to complete a majority or the work if possible. Estimated September 2019
 
HRFC Future Vision
“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” ― Albert Einstein

HELP MAKE OUR DREAMS A REALITY. DONATE TODAY!
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Donations 

  • McKenzie Lazar
    • $10 
    • 5 mos
  • Anthony Trost
    • $100 
    • 5 mos
  • Susan Glessner
    • $100 
    • 7 mos
  • Ronald Rash
    • $100 
    • 9 mos
  • Don Dissinger
    • $50 
    • 1 yr
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Organizer and beneficiary

Eric Kovac
Organizer
Harrisburg, PA
Harrisburg Rugby Football Club
Beneficiary

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