Why Where You Play Doesn't Matter in the Rankings

Let's talk about an uncomfortable truth for some; in our rankings, it doesn't matter how good your team is, what competition you play in, or what academy or all-star program you are associated with.

We are more concerned with a player's submission's individual talent and character.

However, we know many people put a lot of value in the items listed above, and we feel we owe an explanation of why we do things the way we do.

Below, we give five reasons why these things aren't determiners in your ranking.

Some things you can't control...

1. You can't coach what Mother Nature gave you: size, speed, and athleticism. First and foremost, your size (height & weight) will pop off a page before any other information. Think of it as a preview of what you could be. If you fit the modern rugby size profile, you will get people to your games and to watch your tape. We will not deny that there are outliers that aid the 'size doesn't matter' argument (looking at you, Cheslin Kolbe); however, you have a significant advantage of getting noticed if your size profile aligns with your position. If you are an undersized player, this makes your highlight reel and showcasing your diverse skillset appropriately so important. To conclude, size doesn't discriminate between good and bad programs; you will get the first look if you fit the profile. (Understand our profiles better by checking out this blog post, "Understanding the Player Profiles")

   
   

   It's not about what you win but how you win...

   
   

2. State Championships and National Championships carry little weight at Prep Rugby Watch. This is not a slight or insult to any tournament or accomplishment by teams. Winning is always good, and the hard work should be celebrated. But, in an emerging sport like rugby, where most programs aren't varsity-sanctioned and/or are self-funded, knowing this, are ALL of the best teams, and by association the best players, competing for titles? For a visual representation, we've created maps showing where each team competed in the Boys and Girls High School Nationals this past year.

   
   

   

   Boys High School National Championship Team Locations

   
   

   First, let's look at the boys' map. The bulk of the tournament attendees originate from either coast of our country. This makes sense as it's traditionally a hotbed for talent due to its population size. However, as we can see, large portions of the country aren't represented at this event. Emerging rugby markets like Idaho and Montana (you should see what the Montana Institute of Sport is doing) aren't attending these events. Established states like Massachusetts, where rugby is a varsity sport, Florida, where they play year-round, Hawaii, and the Pacific Northwest are also not attending this event.

   
   

   

   Girls' High School National Championship Team Location

   
   

   Now, turning our attention to the girls' map. The 2025 event was held in Cottage Grove, WI, and as the cluster of stars shows, proximity to the event was a significant determinant in who would attend. It does show that hotbeds for girls' HS rugby were represented in Idaho, Utah, and California, but there was no representation from Hawaii, Texas, the South, or the East Coast.

   
   

   At the state level, teams with school support often have resources that club teams do not. While this aids in athlete readiness, there are still better players playing locally. This is usually showcased in their skill set and athleticism.

   Big cities often have good teams, but a good team isn't what you need to be ranked...

   
   

3. Rugby is a team sport, and individuals contribute to the success of the whole. But, as it relates to our ranking, your team's success does not indicate the type of player you are. As you saw on the map above, most 'good' teams are coming from or near big cities. Access to a large population will give teams the advantage of having more potential athletes to participate in the sport, but athleticism isn't the problem. Teams from densely populated regions often have a good collection of talent on the field, but in some cases, not the best coaching. Coaching has more to do with your scoutability than your record or number of state championships. Even in highlights, it becomes noticeable if a team is system-focused (coach-centric instead of player-centric) because players will miss 2-on-1s, a significant numbered overload, opportunities in transition, tackle flat-footed, amongst other things. On the flip side of that, if you are coached well, it will show up in your film in micro-skills like footwork pre, during, and post contact, the ability to weight your passes correctly, the ability to read and play what is in front of you, and a diverse skill set. All of which are not dependent on team success. We are more connected than ever...

   
   

4. Social media has made the world smaller, so the good players from smaller teams and states are easier to find. Prep Rugby Watch prides itself on being a free, accessible, and promotional business. In addition to that, recruiting is no longer about where you play; it's how well you can promote and showcase your talent. Somebody will be ranked if you can display a diverse skillset in your film, present yourself well, and play good rugby. Following this exact recipe, you will be recruited. Colleges and their coaches are more accessible than ever, and getting noticed is no longer dependent on what program you play for. It can all be done by marketing yourself often, and with the right content, so you gain attention.

   Your academy might not be as impressive as you think...
   

5. 'High performance' is more closely associated with marketing than actual performance nowadays. Many academies, all-star teams, etc, that promote themselves as 'high-performance' but can't define what it means and aren't achieving the minimum threshold standards for it. We won't deep dive into what makes a program high-performance, but one key element is the support staff associated with the organization. If there aren't other staff members beyond the coaching group, it does not qualify and shouldn't be promoted as high-performance. So when a player lists an academy on their bio, we will do our due diligence to determine what, if any, high-performance thresholds are established. There are good and bad operators in this space, and more rugby is always good, but we are tracking what is being promoted by whom as it relates to academies.

   
   

   We hope this sheds some light and justifies why we consider some things and don't value others. Drop us a comment if you agree or disagree!