ABOUT US

The City of Bridgeport Rugby Alliance (COBRA) is a 501(c)3 charitable organization that is committed to helping the youth of Bridgeport by providing an outlet for increased focus, fitness, camaraderie, character…and fun. We accomplish this by introducing young men & women to the international sport of Rugby.

 

From our start at the Shehan Center in 2015 working with a handful of boys and girls, COBRA grew to coaching hundreds of children each week at 15 Bridgeport elementary/middle schools through the Lighthouse Program.  This year, COBRA added formal travel teams in age brackets U-10 through U-14.  These players train together twice a week and compete against teams throughout the New York tri-state area.  The travel team format allows us to forge much stronger connections to the students and have greater positive influence in their lives than we could through limited contact via Lighthouse.

 

Our program has been developed to target specific problems that affect some Bridgeport youth.  These include:

• Little or no connection to a future-focused team culture of working together to achieve a positive goal

• Social isolation – Despite living in densely populated neighborhoods, Bridgeport children, particularly those from the city’s housing projects, often have little personal exposure to other communities, options and opportunities

• Underdeveloped positive identity and social confidence -These deficiencies are addressed through development of personal responsibility, self-discipline, pro-social connections and community contribution

The COBRA rugby program demonstrates to our young men and women that hard work, persistence, effective communication, commitment to the team, self-control and considerate behavior result in real strength; strength that is noticed, acknowledged and respected by others.  Our team members learn that these behaviors lead to success.  This increases focus on academics and positive actions due to a newfound belief that future successes are attainable.