Coach Ruhland played for Fairport Rugby Club from 2005 until he graduated in 2008. He played a strong role as the Loose Head Prop in Fairport Rugby’s first win over rival McQuaid, subsequently winning FRC’s first New York State Championship.
Ruhland then pursued a business administration degree at SUNY Oswego. As a freshman in 2008 he helped Oswego RFC become Division 3 National Champion Runner’s up. The following year Oswego was bumped up to the Division 2 level, and as a sophomore Ruhland became a co-captain. He captained the team his junior and senior year while also serving as club president. In 2012, his senior year, Oswego lost to Colgate in the Division 2 NYS Championship.
Following Coach Ruhland’s graduation from Oswego, the club won multiple conference championships and made it to the Division 2 National Sweet 16 twice in four years. Ruhland is widely credited with laying the foundation for Oswego RFC’s continued success.
2013 was another big rugby year for Coach Ruhland. He joined the Fairport Rugby Club coaching staff and was inducted into the Fairport Rugby Hall of Fame. Also that year, Ruhland joined the Rochester Aardvarks RFC and received Rookie of the Year honors. He continues to play for the Aardvarks today.
One day Ruhland would like to coach rugby full time as a career. He currently holds a real estate license and manages a retail store in East Rochester. Coach Ruhland is an Eagle scout, and has lived in Fairport since 1994.