Code of Conduct

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

I. Enter the Arena

· We are the doers of deeds. We value leaders, problem solvers, and men of action.

II. Strive Valiantly

· Train to win - training merely lays the foundations of success. Do the extra work to make a difference.

· While pursuing excellence, errors and shortcomings are unavoidable. We value men who face these obstacles with enthusiasm and positivity.

III. Dare Greatly.

· Aim for the highest heights. Enthusiasm and devotion rarely manifest without a worthy cause.

IV. Speak your truth - but don’t be a dickhead.

· Communication is paramount in rugby. Aim to ask questions first, listen second, speak third. We do not value sarcasm or snark.

V. Effort + Attitude is more valued than Talent + Pedigree

· Talent can be developed, character cannot. We value effort and attitude over talent and pedigree. Poisonous attitudes will not be tolerated.

VI. Good Leaders Create More Leaders

· Successful teams have leaders throughout their ranks. Take responsibility.

VII. Create a Learning Environment

· Leaders are teachers. Embrace error and shortcoming, and look to learn from it. Encourage questions. Aim to solve problems, not to assign blame.

VIII. Know Thyself

· Be honest about your progress, performance, and effort level. After every match, take an honest look at yourself in the mirror and ask the question “did I do everything in my power to win that game”? Aim to answer “yes!”.

IX. Build Upon our Culture

· Build a culture based on our collective values. Rugby is known for its sense of community both on and off the field. When disagreements arise, they don’t belong in the public forum. Shared struggle, sacrifice, and adversity only strengthens our bond.

X. Be a Steward

· We value men who are altruistic, and who relish the great responsibility of protecting and enhancing the reputation of our Club. Leave the Club in a better place, not for your glory, but for that of our Club and community.

For as long as you embrace these principles, you will be blessed with the greatest of honors. The honor of being a Roughrider.