University of Arkansas Women's Rugby
Coaches
Jason Ayers
Head Coach
(479) 295-4748
Level 2 Coach, Level 1 Referee, Level 1 Coach of Match Officials Certified
Coach Ayers was chosen to coach the Women’s University Club back in 2021 as they were trying to get re-started after a few years hiatus. Coach Ayers has a deep background in rugby dating back to 1988 when he first started playing back in Jacksonville, FL. He has been fortunate to play competitive rugby and been on several teams with great coaches and players from Atlanta, Baltimore, Orlando, and Chicago to Fayetteville. In addition, he has been on several rugby tours as a player both in the US and internationally. Coach Ayers’ biggest rugby playing accomplishment was playing for Orlando RFC and making the National 7s Club Rugby Championships 4 years in a row from 1996 to 2000, where they finished 4th in the US in 1999. Originally from Atlanta, GA, Coach Ayers found his way to Fayetteville, AR in 2011 with a job transfer as a vendor calling on Walmart. He has been involved in rugby in NW Arkansas since he arrived here. First as a coach for the Arkansas Gryphons, then always advocating the spread of rugby in the community to all playing levels by hosting Youth Clinics and coaching a High School club, as well as refereeing as there is also a demand for this in the surrounding area.
Coach Ayers loves coaching the University Women’s Rugby Club. There are always new players joining the team and it’s very rewarding to see them start out and then GROW into wonderful players on and off the pitch. It’s been a great way to give back to the sport that have given Coach Ayers so much over the last 36 years.
