Dugan Winkie - HOF Class of 2025

By T.J. Brugger

Dugan Winkie stumbled into rugby his first year of college, Spring 2004, much like many do: someone asked him to play. Missing the competition from high school football and wrestling, he said 'yes' and quickly discovered rugby was more than a team—it was a community. 

Dugan switched between flanker and prop, appreciating the technicality required being an undersized prop and the freedom of being a flanker. He was a rare two-time club president (junior/senior years) when the club was…let’s call it less organized than it is today.

His proudest achievement was procuring school bus transportation for away games. A quantum leap compared to piling into the Geo Prizm alternative option available at the time. He calls that presidency his most impactful business education: "It was like being an early entrepreneur with lots of team members that have high ambition, little direction, and only a slight drinking problem." He continued playing for Wisconsin Rugby Club for a short-period post-undergrad, and later, after working at Epic, played for Yale's grad team, becoming their club president in 2014. 

While there were many standout UW Rugby memories, a few notable ones come to mind; The inaugural school bus trip that was mentioned earlier?  One snag arose.  They arrived in Lacrosse to realize that the kit bag had been left on the curb at Memorial Union! A individual named Skeezy (real names are withheld given now a successful, mature adult) was to blame but given how resourceful ruggers are, they borrowed UW-Lacrosse's practice kits, and there's even a photo of Dugan playing in borrowed kit. 

Another highlight was the 2005 Italy trip. He remembers about twenty ruggers packing a tiny countryside bar, clearly unequipped for them, soon drinking it dry (literally), and some (ok maybe just Dugan) enjoying the town's fountains a bit too immersively later on that night.  However, the best memory is the early days of his relationship with his wife of 15 years, Erica. She was alongside him from the first Zulu warrior and decided to stick it out for some reason. 

In terms of advice for current players: Cherish the relationships formed in the club. "The hardest part will be keeping them going," he says, noting some last a lifetime. He still reunites with teammates every year. "Make those connections now and maintain as many as you can." 

Dugan also highlights rugby's invaluable lessons: fighting through adversity and thriving in discomfort. "Not everyone gets to learn these gritty skills," he notes. "Remember them, and you will be in a good position for success." 

His final advice: Don't say "no" too often. He knew little about rugby when asked to join but took the chance. "Don’t be afraid in the absence of perfect information to go out on a limb and try something new." 

Finally, Dugan extends a huge thank you to Skip Heffernan for his instrumental role in building the club. He says Skip opened his heart, mind, house, and wallet, acting as a father figure for so many ruggers over the years.