Universitario Bilbao Rugby

What Universitario Bilbao Rugby does

Universitario Bilbao Rugby (UBR) is a community-based private rugby club headquartered in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain, officially established in 2019 (with firmographic data referencing 1968 origins). The club operates a comprehensive multi-tier rugby program spanning youth development — the Errugbi Eskola for children ages 6-13 plus age-based teams M8 through M18 — senior men's and women's competitive squads, an inclusive rugby program (Inclusivo) for participants with disabilities, and veteran/masters teams (Unigans for men, LAMIAK UBR for women over 35). Senior teams compete in Spanish national competitions including División de Honor B and regional Liga Vasca competitions; the women's senior team achieved an historic promotion to División de Honor B and won the Vasca Liga unbeaten in the 2024-25 season, while three senior teams took Vasca Liga championships in 2024.

UBR generates revenue through a member-based model combining annual membership fees (asociados/socios), tiered sponsorship arrangements (main sponsors, patrocinadoras, colaboradoras, and bar partners), merchandise sales via an external e-commerce storefront (latiendademiclub.com), and event organization including the annual Bilbao Hiria youth tournament that draws over 1,000 participants. The club distributes its services directly through training and competition at the Polideportivo de Rekalde facility, supplemented by community recruitment via open days, school outreach, and signed partnerships with Mondragon Unibertsitatea (June 2024) and Universidad de Deusto (June 2024) for rugby promotion and research collaboration. Governance is led by President Aitor Jauregi Orbe and a general assembly of socios.

The organization has no disclosed AI/technology platform, no mobile app, no patents or trademarks, no disclosed funding or external investors, and operates with approximately 7 employees plus a broader volunteer and coaching ecosystem. Distribution and member acquisition rely on the club website, Instagram (@unibilbaorugby), community events, and institutional relations with the Federación Vasca de Rugby and Federación Española de Rugby.

Name

Universitario Bilbao Rugby

Legal name

Universitario Bilbao Rugby Club

Website

https://ubrbilbaorugby.eus

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Universitario Bilbao Rugby is a community-based private rugby club in Bilbao, Spain, fielding senior men's and women's teams in Spanish national leagues, a full youth academy (ages 6-18), inclusive and veterans programs, and generating revenue from memberships, sponsorships, and merchandise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Amateur Rugby Club

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

University/College Club Sports Programs (MPAKACAK)

Keywords

• Amateur rugby club
• Youth rugby programs
• Senior rugby teams
• Inclusive rugby program
• Rugby membership services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bilbao

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Club Membership (Socio): Annual membership fees from players and supporters who join as asociados
2. Merchandising: Sale of club merchandise and sports clothing through the club's online store
3. Sponsorship: Revenue from sponsors including main sponsors (principales), regular sponsors (patrocinadoras), collaborators (colaboradoras), and bar partners (bares amigos)

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Universitario Bilbao Rugby operates a full amateur rugby program in Bilbao: senior men's and women's teams competing in regional and Spanish national leagues, an Errugbi Eskola rugby school for children ages 6-13, age-based youth teams (M8 through M18), a women's masters program (LAMIAK UBR for players over 35), a veterans team (Unigans Bilbao), and an inclusive rugby program for participants with disabilities. The club also runs the annual Torneo Bilbao Hiria youth tournament and offers paid club membership to players and supporters.

Product overview

Universitario Bilbao Rugby (UBR) is a comprehensive rugby sports club offering structured teams across all age groups and skill levels. The club operates men's and women's senior teams competing in national and regional leagues, extensive youth development programs through its Errugbi Eskola school for children ages 6-13, and age-specific youth teams (M8 through M18). Additional programs include LAMIAK UBR for women over 35, Unigans veterans team, and an inclusive rugby initiative. The club also organizes the annual Bilbao Hiria youth tournament. All teams train at the Polideportivo de Rekalde facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lamiak UBR: Women's amateur rugby team for players over 35 years old, participates in Mater Series competitions
• Unigans Bilbao

Products and services

• Senior Masculino The club's senior men's rugby team competing in División de Honor B and Liga Vasca for adult amateur players.
• Senior Femenino The women's senior rugby team that won the Vasca Liga undefeated in 2024-25 and achieved historic promotion to División de Honor B in June 2025.
• Errugbi Eskola (Escuela de Rugby) The club's rugby school for children aged 6-13, introducing youth to the sport through training sessions and development programs at the club's Bilbao facilities.
• Equipos Juveniles (M8, M10, M12, M14, M16, M18) Age-based youth rugby teams ranging from M8 (under 8) to M18 (under 18), competing in Liga Vasca and regional tournaments for young amateur players.
• LAMIAK UBR Women's amateur rugby program for players over 35 years old, participating in Mater Series competitions for veteran female players.
• Unigans Bilbao The veterans rugby team of Universitario Bilbao Rugby, participating in veteran competitions and friendly matches for former adult players.
• Inclusivo Inclusive rugby program accessible regardless of physical condition or functional diversity, addressing social inclusion through sport.
• Torneo Bilbao Hiria Annual youth and children's rugby tournament hosted by the club, attracting over 1,000 young rugby players from across Euskal Herria (the Basque Country).
• Club Membership (Hazte Socio) Annual membership (asociado / socio) for players, families and supporters of the club, providing access to participation, voting at general assemblies, and member benefits/discounts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Women's team achieved promotion to División de Honor B and won Vasca Liga unbeaten in 2024-25 season
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Mondragon UnibertsitateacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2024Universitario Bilbao Rugby and Mondragon Unibertsitatea signed a collaboration agreement to promote rugby practice within the university campus in Bilbao, where over 1000 students study. The agreement aims to foster rugby participation among university students.
• Universidad de Deusto (Facultad de Educación y Deporte)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 June 2024Universitario Bilbao Rugby and the Faculty of Education and Sport of Universidad de Deusto signed a cooperation agreement for research and training projects in physical activity and sports in the field of rugby, sharing human resources and materials.
• Federación Española de Rugby (FER)coreOthersNational governing body for rugby in Spain. Club participates in national competitions under FER jurisdiction.
• Federación Vasca de RugbycoreOthersRegional governing body for rugby in the Basque Country. Club participates in Liga Vasca competitions and receives institutional support. President Iñaki Rica attends club events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Getxo Rugby Taldea: Amateur rugby club based in Getxo, Bizkaia — same province as UBR. Competes in similar Basque and regional leagues with comparable community-driven, multi-age-category structure, making it the closest direct peer in territory and offering.
• Complutense Cisneros Rugby: Madrid-based university-affiliated rugby club with a strong multi-category and youth academy model. Most structurally analogous to UBR given the 'Universitario' / university-tied identity, though operating at a larger scale in a different region.
• Ordizia Rugby Elkartea: Historic amateur rugby club from Ordizia, Gipuzkoa, competing in Basque regional competitions. Comparable in scale, structure, and reliance on local community membership and sponsorship — directly competitive for the same Basque rugby talent pool.
• Hernani Club Rugby Elkartea: Basque Country amateur rugby club from Hernani (Gipuzkoa). Operates a similar grassroots, community-funded model with senior and youth teams in Liga Vasca — directly comparable in geography and member-based structure.
• CR La Vila: Historic amateur rugby club from Villajoyosa (Alicante) with senior teams in Spanish national divisions. Comparable community-based structure with strong youth development, though operating in a Mediterranean regional context.

Broad incumbents

• Club de Rugby El Salvador: One of Spain's most decorated rugby clubs, based in Valladolid and competing in División de Honor (top tier). A benchmark incumbent operating with significantly greater resources, professional structure, and commercial scale than UBR.
• Barça Rugby: Rugby section of FC Barcelona, based in Barcelona. Competes nationally with the backing of one of Spain's largest sports brands, illustrating the resource and visibility gap UBR faces against multi-sport super-clubs.
• VRAC Quesos Entrepinares: Top-tier Spanish rugby club from Valladolid and perennial División de Honor contender. Represents the upper bound of what a Spanish rugby club can achieve commercially and competitively — useful benchmark for UBR's ceiling.

Regional players

• Gernika Rugby Taldea: Emerging amateur rugby club from Gernika in Bizkaia. Operates in overlapping Basque regional leagues and shares UBR's community-led, membership-funded approach, though at an earlier development stage.
• Eibar Rugby Taldea: Amateur rugby club from Eibar (Gipuzkoa) competing in Liga Vasca. Comparable in scale and community-driven model, but in a different Basque sub-region with limited direct head-to-head overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/unibilbaorugby
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bilbao-rugby

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Universitario Bilbao Rugby