Bonney Lake Has a Rugby Club. It's Producing Pro Athletes.

There's a rugby club in Bonney Lake. And if you didn't know that, you're not alone.

The Rainier Highlanders Youth Rugby Club has been around since 2008, serving kids from ages 7 to 18 across the plateau area. They practice twice a week. They compete on Saturdays. They just completed their first season back in Bonney Lake after more than a decade based out of Auburn. And most people in this community have no idea they exist.

That's exactly what the club is working to change.

Built From Scratch

Founder Andy Ramsay didn't set out to build a youth sports organization. He was just a guy from Scotland who wasn't ready to stop playing rugby.

After more than 30 years playing across Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, Ramsay eventually settled in the Pacific Northwest. When his body finally told him it was time to hang up the boots, he started thinking about what came next.

"I wanted to repay the sport that had allowed me to travel to these countries, experience living, exploring, and making lifelong friendships," Ramsay said. "Knowing the positive experience I had for around 10 to 12 years, I was motivated to try and provide an opportunity for young local kids to be exposed to rugby and possibly give them similar opportunities."

His son, a Bonney Lake High School freshman at the time, wanted to play and there were no clubs within practical distance. So Ramsay built one. His son became the club's very first player.

Who It's For

The Rainier Highlanders operate as an affiliate of the Mount Rainier Athletic Club and serve a wide range of age groups with no school boundary restrictions. Kids from Bonney Lake, Puyallup, Graham, Edgewood, Enumclaw, and Buckley all play together.

The club runs two seasons. A girls-only fall league runs from mid-September through mid-October, featuring seven-a-side rugby designed specifically as an entry point for new players. It's low commitment, one practice a week and four to five Saturday game days, and is open to U15 and high school girls.

The main spring season runs from mid-January through early May, with matches on Saturdays beginning in late March. Age groups range from Under 10 coed flag rugby all the way up through high school boys and girls tackle.

And cost? Ramsay has been clear about this from day one.

"We will never turn a kid away because his family cannot pay our membership fees," he said. "I have been adamant about that from day one to current."

Beyond the scholarship program, the club also offers incremental payment options so families aren't forced to pay everything upfront. All a player actually needs to show up is a pair of cleats.

What Rugby Actually Looks Like

For families who've never watched a rugby match, the sport can seem intimidating. No pads. No helmets. Constant movement.

But Ramsay pushes back on the intimidation factor, especially when it comes to getting girls involved.

"I coached our girls teams for over 10 years and had many girls who had never played a sport, let alone a contact one," he said. "They are usually the most rewarding when you see them effectively tackling, much to the amazement of parents who love to see the confidence and increase in self-esteem they gain from playing."

No player is pushed into a live match before they and their coach feel they're ready. The club's tackle technique prioritizes safety and proper form, and Ramsay notes that football coaches across the area have told him rugby training has made their players noticeably better tacklers.

There's also a unique team culture element that doesn't exist in most American youth sports. After every home match, the club hosts a post-match meal where players, coaches, and officials from both teams come together on the sideline. Captains and coaches address everyone, and players of the day from both sides are recognized with a custom t-shirt or rugby ball.

"Parents really like this as they have never seen it in other sports," Ramsay said.

From Bonney Lake to the Pros

Here's something that might make you do a double take.

This club, the one most of Bonney Lake has never heard of, has produced professional rugby players.

Marques Fuala'au played for the Rainier Highlanders before heading to Central Washington University, where he was drafted third overall in the 2023 MLR Collegiate Draft. He is currently playing for Anthem Rugby Carolina in Major League Rugby, now in his third professional season.

Calvin Liulamaga also came up through the Rainier Rugby Club before four years at Central Washington. A two-time Collegiate All-American, he was selected in the first round of the 2024 MLR Draft by his hometown Seattle Seawolves. He made his professional debut this season and recently earned his first career start.

And then there's Calvin's sister, Celine Liulamaga, a former Highlanders player who went on to play at the University of Washington and is now a professional rugby player competing for the Bay Breakers in Women's Elite Rugby.

A brother and sister, both going pro, both starting from the same local club. That's not a coincidence. That's a pipeline.

Multiple other former Highlanders players are competing on athletic scholarships at colleges across the country.

Where to Find Them

The Highlanders practice and play their home matches at Kelley Farm, located on Sumner-Buckley Highway E in Bonney Lake behind Target. Practices run Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. for high school players, with younger teams wrapping up at 7:30. Home matches are on Saturdays, with youth games in the morning and high school matches running into the early afternoon. The community is welcome to come watch.

How to Get Involved Right Now

The club has several entry points coming up this fall for families who want to check it out before committing to a full season.

Girls-only skills camps for 6th through 12th graders are being scheduled in August at Kelley Farm. Free, zero-commitment, no obligation. Details will be posted to the club's social media pages.

Open touch rugby for ages 12 and older begins in October at Kelley Farm on Sunday mornings. Free, open to girls, boys, and adults.

In early December, the club will host informational sessions in Bonney Lake for parents and players to learn more about how the season works.

Spring season registration opens in late September.

To reach the club directly, email info@rainierrugby.org, find them on Instagram at rainier.rugby, on Facebook at Rainier Highlanders Youth Rugby, or at www.rainierrugby.org.

For 17 years, the Rainier Highlanders have been building something real, producing college scholarship athletes, professional players, and kids who found a sport that changed their lives. They've been here the whole time. Now you know.