In honor of the team’s sustained record of success, Governor Scott Walker proclaimed Feb. 7, 2018, as University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Rugby Day.

The proclamation ceremony took place Wednesday in the east wing of the state Capitol in Madison. Warhawk student-athletes, coaches and family members were in attendance.

State Senator Steve Nass and Representative Cody Horlacher, both UW-Whitewater alumni, joined the governor in lauding the Warhawks and presented them with a legislative citation.

UW-Whitewater’s men’s rugby team is a club sports program that plays at the Division II level. Since 2011, the team has garnered four national championships and three national runners-up finishes.

The Warhawks play two seasons each year — one in the fall (USA Rugby Division II), and one in the spring (Division II College 7s). 2017 was an unprecedented year, with UW-Whitewater becoming the only school in history to win both national championships in one calendar year.