History
Dr. Brian Kelly, then the Life Chiropractic College West President, and longtime Life West faculty member Bruce Chester, DC, established Life West Rugby in late 2013. The vision for establishing a top-level rugby program was realized on Jan. 11, 2014, when the Life West Men’s team, known as the Gladiators, played their first league match and outclassed the Monterey Bay Beach Dogs Rugby Club 79-10.
From the outset, Life West wanted to develop a program that showcased excellence in rugby and chiropractic. In an effort to enhance college pride and introduce chiropractic to a wider community; the program provided opportunities for students, alumni, chiropractors and the local community to be involved with the team.
The Gladiators were an immediate success, placing 2nd at the 2014 National Championship in their first season. A remarkable run of strong form saw the team remain unbeaten in regular season play. Ultimately, the first season Gladiators proceeded on to win the Northern California, Pacific North West and Western Conference Championship titles.
As intended, the program continued to grow in 2015, when the Life West women’s team took the field for the first time. In 2020, the men fielded teams at three levels of USA Rugby club play, while the women celebrated a second-place finish in the team’s first Women’s Premier League season.
A Shared Vision
The visions of the Life West Rugby and Life Chiropractic College West have been intentionally integrated in the creation of the rugby program. The synergy between the two visions allows us to deliver an amazing athletic program that supports and propels the college’s overall mission.
Life Chiropractic College West Vision
- Create a brighter future for humanity.
- Develop graduates who are successful and well-respected chiropractors in the world.
- Spread the word about Life Chiropractic College West and the chiropractic profession globally.
Life West Rugby Vision
- Build a successful program with elite athletes in a high performance environment.
- Instill a great sense of family culture and pride.
- Create a pathway for rugby players to have career in chiropractics by using a scholarship program that allows players to pursue an advanced education while playing rugby.
- Develop ambassadors for the college, chiropractic and the message that individuals can live and play at their potential.
- Offer a high-performance rugby environment with world-class coaching.