Building a sustainable future for Milwaukee rugby
The Society for Cultivating Rugby Union Mastery (SCRUM) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the long-term growth and sustainability of rugby in the Milwaukee area.
Established in 2017, SCRUM brings together the resources, experience, and generosity of the Milwaukee rugby community to strengthen the sport for future generations. Through fundraising, financial stewardship, and community initiatives, SCRUM helps ensure that rugby continues to thrive both on and off the field.
Our work supports the Milwaukee Barbarians Rugby Club and its extended community of players, alumni, families, volunteers, and supporters. A major long-term priority is helping establish a dedicated rugby facility that will serve this community for generations to come.
Our Mission
SCRUM’s facility committee has adopted the following mission statement to guide the organization’s vision for the future of Milwaukee rugby:
To create a thriving and sustainable family-oriented rugby community centered around a dedicated facility where people of all ages can find their place as a player, coach, alumnus, volunteer and supporter.
This mission reflects a belief that rugby is more than a sport. It is a community where people can form lasting friendships, contribute in meaningful ways, and remain involved throughout their lives.
A dedicated facility will provide a foundation for that community to grow, bringing together current players, future generations, alumni, families, and supporters in a shared home for Milwaukee rugby.
Our roots in Milwaukee rugby
SCRUM’s history is closely connected to the Milwaukee Barbarians Rugby Club, whose origins date to 1975.
Over five decades, the club has evolved from Derry’s Rugby Club to the Westside Harlequins and, ultimately, the Milwaukee Barbarians. Throughout that history, generations of players and volunteers have sustained a community built on friendship, teamwork, service, and a shared love of rugby.
The club has accomplished remarkable things without the benefit of a permanent rugby facility. Matches, practices, tournaments, and social gatherings have taken place at various parks, rented fields, and local establishments.
Along the way, the club developed important sources of financial support, including the Lakefront 7s tournament, the former Sin Bin clubhouse, and an active alumni network.
SCRUM was established to help manage these resources, promote long-term financial sustainability, and turn the community’s shared ambitions into lasting investments.
Sustaining Membership: Investing in our community
One of SCRUM’s ongoing responsibilities is administering the Milwaukee Barbarians’ Sustaining Membership program.
Launched in 2018, the program provides alumni, friends, families, and supporters with a simple way to contribute regularly to the club’s future.
Sustaining Membership reflects a philosophy that has defined Milwaukee rugby for decades: being part of the club doesn’t end when your playing career does.
The program supports current club activities while directing at least 50% of contributions toward the development of a future rugby facility.
Since its launch, Sustaining Membership has grown from approximately $3,200 in annualized contributions to nearly $26,000 in 2026.
This dependable source of recurring support demonstrates the lasting commitment of Milwaukee rugby’s alumni and supporters — and the value of a community that remains connected across generations.
Responsible financial stewardship
SCRUM is committed to building and preserving the financial resources necessary to support rugby’s long-term development.
Rather than relying exclusively on individual fundraising campaigns, SCRUM combines recurring contributions, proceeds from established rugby events, donations, and long-term investments.
The Lakefront 7s, a Milwaukee rugby tradition since 1983, is a particularly important contributor. Proceeds from the tournament help support the rugby community while providing a significant source of funding for long-term investments.
Since 2022, SCRUM has invested proceeds from Lakefront 7s and contributions from the Milwaukee Barbarians and other supporters in a dedicated facility fund.
Through continued contributions and investment growth, the fund has grown substantially, providing a strong financial foundation for the development of a permanent home for Milwaukee rugby.
These resources reflect decades of volunteer effort, careful financial stewardship, and the generosity of the Milwaukee rugby community.
A club for life. A home for generations.
Milwaukee rugby has always been about more than the game.
For generations, players have joined the club for the sport and stayed for the friendships, community, and sense of belonging.
Those relationships endure long after the final whistle.
SCRUM helps ensure that this community continues to flourish — supporting rugby today while investing in opportunities for tomorrow.
The effort to establish a dedicated rugby facility represents the next chapter in that story: a place where traditions can continue, friendships can grow, and new generations can discover what makes Milwaukee rugby special.
The first 50 years built the community. Together, we can build its home for the next 50.