Don Burgess’ lifetime career in rugby on Vancouver Island showcased his skills as a stunning player and brilliant coach. His rugby magic brought success to the teams he played with or coached, and earned him headlines in the British press, such as “Burgess Superb” and “Brilliant Burgess.”

Don came to Western Washington State College in 1957 on a track scholarship. He held the mile record for many years and was instrumental in getting the game of rugby on campus. He became a lifelong supporter of rugby at WWU until his passing in 2018 at the age of 85.

$15,000 awarded evenly across Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters for the selected student-athlete. This scholarship is reviewed after each quarter and is dependent on student's academic standing and their ability to maintain a high performance on the field.

Student athletes must submit a letter of application to the Western Rugby Alumni (WRA).

Scholarship applications must be completed in the Spring prior to Fall enrollment.