Rugby is known for being a “tough guy” sport. Kane Willey ’26 considers himself a “tough guy” and believes he is the toughest.
“Wrestling and football are very similar to rugby, and [rugby’s] a really tough sport, and I think I’m gonna thrive at Iowa. I’ve never played, but I think it’ll be a good transition,” Willey said.
Former City High assistant football coach Tyler Dailey and linebacker coach Chris Smith have deep ties in the rugby community and introduced Willey to the sport. Dailey is the executive director of the Iowa Rugby Foundation and helps coach the team. Smith has been a huge contributor to the success of the City High football program and has been a key influence in Willey’s decision-making process. Smith has been very vocal about Willey’s ability on the football field and wrestling mat.
“I think Kane will make the transition to rugby as smoothly as one athlete could. Kane is going to be just fine, and I’m very excited to see him progress into a new sport and continue to grow both as an athlete and a person,” Smith said.
Willey recently decommitted from Morningside University, where he was set to play football, and has committed to play club rugby at the University of Iowa.
“I just decided to switch it up and still be able to have fun with a new sport and enjoy it. Football has definitely taken a toll on my body, and I’m excited for the new challenge,” Willey said.
Willey has been playing at City High for two years, since transferring before his junior year from Wilton High School. Willey has played three varsity sports: football, baseball, and wrestling. Willey made the jump from 2A to 5A before his junior year, a move to give him an opportunity to prove himself against better competition.
“I would say it made me a much better athlete, as there are better coaches who have more knowledge, at the 5A level. I would say it really pushed me to take bigger steps to get to where I want to be,” Willey said.
Willey was a standout player for the City High football team, earning 2nd team all-district honors his senior year. During his senior campaign, he put up 29.5 tackles and 9.5 TFLs. He was also a force to be reckoned with on the wrestling mat, qualifying for state 2 years in a row.
As of 2026, rugby is a club sport for Iowa. The University of Iowa Men’s Rugby Club has been competing in the CRAA’s Heart of America Conference. The UIowa Men’s Rugby Team plays both 15s and 7s formats throughout Fall and Spring. 15s is played with 15 players per side over 80 minutes, emphasizing structure, strength, and set pieces, while 7s features 7 players per side over 14 minutes, focusing on speed, space, and high-intensity scoring. They are a known force in the conference, going 9-1 this past season, with their only loss coming in the postseason to Iowa State.
