Last fall, the University of South Carolina head coach John Roberts and assistant coach Jeff Smolka began working with university officials to dramatically expand the club’s scholarship program.
Until that point, the program could only extend near in-state tuition costs to sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
Thanks to continued philanthropic support from the Smolka Family and with help from university partners, the program can now offer scholarships to incoming freshman, graduate and international students.
These expanded offerings have allowed the program to cast a wider recruiting net and attract very talented players to compete in the very competitive Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference.
The new model has already borne fruit.
This summer, the program announced that Freddie Thomson, a fly-half for the Glasgow Hawks (in the Scottish Premiership) and 2022-23 player of the year for St. Columba’s School 1st XV, would be joining the club in January.
On the heels of that announcement, Gamecock rugby received a commitment from Max Hendry, a scrumhalf from Kilmacolm, Scotland, who is transferring this fall from Marian University, a varsity program.
“Both of these players should make an immediate impact on our club, and it would not have been possible to get them here without our scholarship program,” said Roberts. “We are eternally grateful to the Smolka family for this funding. It is transforming our program.”
Roberts and Smolka worked with Frist Point USA, a firm that connects international rugby students with U.S. colleges and universities that offer scholarships, to onboard Thomson.
USC is also working with First Point recruits for Fall 2025.
On the domestic front, the Gamecocks offered scholarships to Michael Reing, 7s captain at La Salle College High School in Wyndmoore, PA; Tommy Darlington, a six-year player and lock from Conestoga Rugby in Devon, PA; and Bryson Mobley a highly recruited forward from Liberty, SC.
Non-resident (or out-of-state) annual tuition for USC is $35,572. Through the USC rugby scholarship program, these costs are reduced to approximately $16,600 each year. That’s a savings of $66,000 over four years.
Looking ahead, USC plans to offer nine to eleven scholarships to 2025 recruiting class, three or four for international students, four to six for domestic students and two or three for graduate school students and transfers.
“Our package exceeds or is very comparable to what a lot of varsity rugby programs are providing,” said Roberts. “From a bottom-line perspective it makes us very competitive.”
Scholarship applicants apply each spring after they are accepted. A scholarship committee comprised of Roberts, Smolka and a student committee selects recipients.
Of 70 rostered players, 30 USC athletes are recipients of the Smolka Scholarships.
“Nearly half of the players on our roster are on scholarship,” said Roberts. “This generous program provides some bottom-line relief for our rugby families and helps us to attract top-shelf talent to our program.”
Many of the parents of the Smolka Scholarship recipients pass along part of these savings in the form of a gift of to the USC Men’s Rugby Endowment, which supports team travel and coaching salaries.
“It’s a circle of philanthropy,” said Roberts. “We help our families and they, in turn, help us. Everyone benefits.”
To learn more about the Smolka Scholarship program, please visit our scholarship webpage.
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