About Us
Rugby as a force for good
And the name Fortivus was created to sit at the heart of everything we do.
Strength · Courage · Resilience · Character
Life · Growth · Opportunity
Together they represent our belief that rugby can help build strong people who are prepared to embrace the opportunities life presents. Because while rugby may be the game, the lessons learned through rugby often extend far beyond the field.
Fortivus was created on the basis of using rugby as a force for good.
Good for rugby in Illinois. Good for young people seeking an alternative to high cost, early specialization. Good for developing good, decent and well-rounded individuals.
Youth sports have become increasingly focused on rankings, specialization, and short-term success, and growing commercialization of youth sports is driving this.
Clubs chase the shiny penny instead of developing their own. Coaches are under pressure to win at all costs. Parents and kids are forced to specialize at an early age.
None of it makes sense. We all know it and even all of the data tells us so. But we all getting caught in a trap that is ultimately leading to over 70% of all kids in the USA quitting organized sport by the time they are 13.
This is where Fortivus and the game of rugby is different.
Rugby remains a true grassroots sport…
- Our fees are our costs, and we rely on our volunteers and fundraising to keep costs down
- Affording fees aren't prohibitive to joining as we have a Foundation to support all kids.
- There is a place for all kids, regardless of size, experience, skill level
- Our primary focus is on enjoyment, and once we achieve this, success follows
We firmly believe that success on the field can only occur when it is matched with success off the field. What this means is that for any team or player to succeed, they need to enjoy what they are doing. This means leadership, it means friendships, it means camaraderie, it means communication. It means these and many more. The greater the bond between the players, parents, coaches and volunteers, the greater the success we can have on and off the field.
We created Fortivus because this is how we believe sport should be.