Ryan McDowell: 27 States, Countless Friendships

By TJ Brugger

Ryan McDowell's first rugby match in 1994 was like many debuts—it was the first game he'd ever watched. "It's hard to imagine the first time you ever play a game, that it was the first game you ever saw," he reflects. That moment of discovery would spark a lifelong passion that has taken him from the fields of Madison to playing & coaching the next generation across 27 states.

Ryan arrived at UW during a transitional period for the club. With Stu Pippel having moved on and Skip Heffernan not yet at the helm, the fall of 1994 was largely player-driven. It wasn't until spring 1995 that Skip would begin his legendary tenure, starting with that memorable unsupervised tour to Louisiana, an adventure that set the stage for Skip's future tour planning mastery. The following year brought the first of many Skip-organized tours, this time to his home state of Texas. There the club discovered "the best tacos ever" and posted a respectable record against local competition, including victories over a combined UT-Southwest Texas team and the Corpus Christi Crabs, despite falling to Austin Rugby Club.

Throughout his UW career, Ryan made his mark primarily on the wing, with occasional stints at fullback and outside center. His leadership extended beyond the pitch as a two-time club president, where he helped balance the perpetual juggling act between fundraising, dues, and university requirements.

Ryan's senior year brought both individual and team honors. He earned selection to the Wisconsin Selects while helping lead the club to a breakthrough victory over UW-Eau Claire for the Wisconsin Championship. "Eau Claire had been dominant for a while," Ryan recalls, making the achievement more significant.

That championship victory perfectly illustrated rugby's unique social fabric. Later, playing for Metropolis RFC, Ryan would find himself teammates with many of the same players he'd battled against at Eau Claire and other Wisconsin schools—a testament to the sport's ability to transform opponents into lifelong friends.

Ryan's eight-year playing career with Metropolis, both 7s and 15s, was just the beginning of his contribution to rugby.

His commitment to growing the game led him to establish a youth rugby club in 2017, and he currently serves as Director of Hopkins Rugby & Minnesota Youth Rugby VP of Development. The program has flourished under his leadership, featuring teams from youth flag rugby through high school boys' and girls' clubs.

Not content to stop there, Ryan recently founded Loons Rugby Academy, an out-of-season skills development program designed to give young players year-round opportunities to improve their game and build the strength and conditioning foundation necessary for future success.

At this past alumni weekend, Ryan embodied the family values that rugby fosters, bringing his two high school sons to participate in touch games and attend the banquet. His rugby connections run deep—he met his wife at a UW rugby party in 1997, and all four of their children now participate in rugby in some capacity. "Rugby enhances the experience of going to college," Ryan explains, "but don't make the whole experience of college reliant on rugby." It's advice that comes from someone who has found the perfect balance between passion and perspective.

Rugby has opened the world to Ryan. His trips with various clubs have taken him to extraordinary places and provided unique experiences that typical tourism could never offer. A highlight came in 1999 during a Metropolis tour when he split off with Skip to attend a World Cup match in Scotland before rejoining the main tour in England. "When you're playing against those who live in these places, you socialize with the city," Ryan explains. "Instead of just seeing the tourist parts, you're taken to the beating heart of the city, and this makes for a better experience." The simple pride of being able to say you've played rugby in different places—whether Aspen, Colorado, or internationally—adds richness to life that extends far beyond the sport itself.

Ryan's message to current players is both simple and profound: "Play after college, it only gets better." His recommendation for anyone moving to a new city is straightforward: find the local rugby club, show up to practice, and you'll instantly have twenty new friends.

His colorful advice captures rugby's essence: "Exercise your inner Viking, do your job during the week, then on Saturday go pillage and plunder and make great memories before loading the longship and heading home." Having played or coached rugby in 27 different states, Ryan has witnessed firsthand how the sport provides access to "the very best the country has to offer" in ways that conventional travel never could. His simple directive: "Just keep playing."

Ryan's life philosophy reflects the values rugby instills: "Be as good as you can be in everything you do. Work hard, live with intention, and play with abandon, do what you love." From that first bewildering match in 1994 to his current role developing the next generation of players, Ryan McDowell exemplifies how rugby becomes more than a sport—it becomes a way of life. His continued dedication to growing the game ensures that future players will have the same opportunities for discovery, friendship, and adventure that have defined his remarkable journey. Ryan McDowell remains an active member of the UW Rugby community and serves as an excellent resource for current players seeking opportunities and inspiration in rugby development. Thank you, Ryan, for taking the time for this article! We hope to see you again at next year’s alumni weekend.|