The 1986 National Rugby Championships were a series of tournaments organized to determine a national champion in several divisions for United States rugby teams. The divisions included Men's/Women's Club, college, high school, Military, Sevens, and Interterritorial.

Men's Club The 1986 National Club Rugby Championship was sponsored by Michelob and took place at Pepin Rood Stadium of Tampa University in Florida from May 10–11."National Rugby Tournament Starts Tonight". (May 9, 1986). St. Petersburg Times, p.2C col.1 The teams featured in the tournament were the champions of the four sub unions of USARFU."Rugby Clubs Set To Compete". (May 8, 1986). Hartford Courant, p.C2 col.1–2 The Old Blues rugby club of Berkeley, CA won the title for the sixth time."Old Blues Win, Claim Club National Title". (May 11, 1986). Oakland Tribune, p.F-7 col.1

Semifinals

Third place

Final

Champions: Old Blues (CA) Staff: Jeff Hollings (Coach), Bill Armstrong (Asst. Coach) Captain: Whit Everett Roster: Rick Bailey (Prop), Mark Bass (Flanker), Dave Bateman (Scrumhalf), John Blackburn (Flanker), Randy Coste (Prop), Mark Deaton (#8), John Everett (Hooker), Whit Everett (Flanker), Isi Havili (Prop), Sammy Havili (Lock), Roy Helu (Center), Chuck Hextrum (Lock), Stanley Lolahola (#8), Tim Mascheroni (Fullback), Mike McClintock (Hooker), Bo Meyersieck (Flyhalf), Ken Meyersieck (Scrumhalf), Dave Mogni (Center), Dave Morze (Lock), Tim O'Brien (Center), Mark Richter (Wing), Matt Taylor (Wing), Gary Townsend (Center/Wing), Art Ward (Lock/#8), Blane Warhurst (Flanker), Jeff Westcott (Wing).

Women's Club The 1986 Women's National Rugby Championship was a tournament that took place at Fort Adams State Park on May 24–25 in Newport, RI."Rugby". (May 23, 1986). Providence Journal-Bulletin, p.D-10 col.6 Beantown won the title by defeating Florida State 8–4 in overtime. The Eugene Housewives took third place with a 34–0 win over Denver Old Girls."Eugene Ruggers Play For Third In National's". (May 24, 1986). The Register-Guard, p.8B col.2"Eugene Ruggers Third In Nation". (May 26, 1986). The Register-Guard, p.4B col.6 Jan Rutkowski of Beantown was MVP.

Final

Lineups: Beantown- Flaven, Money, Kimball, Richardson, Thorley, Heffernan, Bridi, Rutkowski, McClure, Madden, Ramsey, Morrissey, Keith, Keefe, Crawford. Florida State- Hill, Kossman, Gilbert, Pace, Kojm, Morton, Watts, Flores, Holmes, Jakubcin, Arnsdorff, Orsini, Alley, Smith, Bowlin.

College

The 1986 College championship was won by California. Dartmouth was runner-up.

Military The 1986 National Military Rugby Championship was a twenty team tournament that took place at Kelly Air Force base in San Antonio, TX from May 10–11 and was won by Pensacola Naval Air StationDonovan, John (May 21, 1986). "Pensacola Team Biggest Surprise". Pensacola News Journal, p.3D col.1-3 with a 19–6 win over Fort Sill Gunners in the Club Division while The Mike Stephenson President's Fifteen won the Open Division defeating US Coast Guard Select 17–9 in the final."Florida Team Captures Armed Forces Rugby Title". (May 12, 1986). San Antonio Light, p.D2 col.2-4 In the Chairman's Cup competition for kickers Gary Holmes of USN-Pensacola won the drop kicking contest, and Mike Schmidt of ORCHAS - US Army was the best place kicker."Rugby MVP". (May 15, 1986). The Morning Call, p.C8 col.2

Club Division Standings RankTeamPldWLTFA D-MFTHFTBPAR1.Davis-Monthan Mandrills3300430X12:018:013:02.Fort Hood31114120:12X0:04:03.Fort Benning311110180:180:0X10:04.Parris Island30300270:130:40:10X

Standings RankTeamPldWLTFA CPLUSUHAW3RD1.Camp Lejeune3210153X0:39:06:02.USUHS321019113:0X7:89:33.Hawaiian ORCHAS311143230:98:7X3:34.3rd FSSG30216180:63:93:3X

Standings RankTeamPldWLTFA FTSPENCAPMIN1.Fort Sill Gunners33002513X12:103:010:32.Pensacola3111511810:12X3:338:33.Camp Pendleton2111360:33:3Xw/o4.Minot20306483:103:38w/oX

Standings RankTeamPldWLTFA MONCPOSANFTC1.Monterey Fort Ord2300516X10:018:0w/o2.Cherry Point22104130:10X4:3w/o3.San Antonio21203220:183:4Xw/o4.Fort Campbell003000w/ow/ow/oX

Standings RankTeamPldWLTFA FTCFTBW-PHAW1.Fort Carson Ironhorses3300210X3:06:012:02.Fort Bragg312021190:3X12:69:103.Wright-Patterson312012180:66:12X6:04.Hawaii Marines312010270:1210:90:6X

Club Division Champions: Pensacola Naval Air Station Roster: Donald Schleicher, Gary Holmes, Shay, Crockett, P.J. Mulloy, Richard Haddad, Jack McGonagle, Tim Decelle,

Open Division Standings RankTeamPldWLTFA TMSCOARARSWP1.Mike Stephenson XV3300603X3:018:039:32.Coast Guard Select321021190:3X18:038:03.Rent-A-Rugger312012180:180:18X0:04.Scott/Wright-Pat B312010273:390:380:0X

Standings RankTeamPldWLTFA BLAHOB3FBPIC1.USAF Black Sheep3300423X12:326:04:02.Holloman AFB/Ft. Bliss321010123:12X3:04:03.3rd FSSG B3?200290:260:3X?4.Pickup Team3?20080:40:4?X

Open Division Champions: The Mike Stephenson President's Fifteen Roster: Brzewski, Foster, Gorecki, Riley, Trumps, Winger

The 1986 Interservice Rugby Championship was held at Fort McNair in Washington D.C. from 6–7 September."Marines Defeat Coast Guard For Rugby Title". (September 22, 1986). Navy Times, p.32 col.1–2 The teams involved were select sides of each service branch. From these teams a selection was made to field the Combined Services Rugby team for tours. Round robin 6 Sep Coast Guard 13–3 Navy Coast Guard 21–0 Air Force Coast Guard 7–10 Army Marines 9–0 Air Force Marines 18–0 Navy Marines 9–4 Army Coast Guard 10–6 Marines Army 16–10 Air Force Army W–L Navy Air Force W–L Navy

Third place 7 Sep Army 16–6 Air Force

Championship

1. Marines (4–1) 2. Coast Guard (3–2) 3. Army (4–1) 4. Air Force (1–4) 5. Navy (0–4)

Sevens Club The 1986 National Club Seven–a–side championship was played in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 30 August.Obradovich, Jim (August 27, 1986). "Q-C Irish Hope Second Time Is Charm". The Daily Dispatch, p.28 col.1–4 There were eight teams featured which included two representatives from each of the four territorial unions. The Quad City Irish defeated the Denver Barbarians 25–10 to win the championship."Irish Win Title". (September 1, 1986). Quad-City Times, p.18 col.6 Life College finished third by defeating OMBAC 12–8."Rugby". (August 31, 1986). Seattle Post Intelligencer, p.D10 col.7 The MVPs were Ollie Taveres of Quad City and Dave Poquette of Denver.

First round: OMBAC 22–6 Oklahoma Quad City 20–10 Sud Americano Life 18–15 Dayton Denver 12–10 Old Puget Sound Beach

Second round: Quad City 20–10 OMBAC Denver 10–6(OT) Life Sud Americano 13–12 Oklahoma Old Puget Sound Beach 16–10 Dayton

Third round: Oklahoma 24–0 Dayton (Seventh place) Sud Americano 18–12 Old Puget Sound Beach (Fifth place) Life 12–8 OMBAC (Third place)

Final

Champions: Quad-City Irish Coach:Bob Horn Cecil Youngblood Roster: Ollie Tavares (Hooker), John Bradley (Hooker), Dave Sarafin (Scrumhalf), Bill Ewan (Flyhalf), Dave Houssler (Moline), Dave Watkins (Forward), Dan Kilen (Center), Neil Early (Moline), Cecil Youngblood (Prop).

RankTeamWLFA1Quad City Irish (Iowa)3065302Denver Barbarians (Colorado)2132413Life College (Georgia)2136334OMBAC (San Diego)1240385Sud Americano (Washington D.C.)2141446Old Puget Sound Beach (Seattle)1238407Oklahoma University 1242358Dayton (Ohio)032558

All Star The 1986 National All-Star Sevens Rugby Tournament was an eight team tournament with two representatives from each territory that took place in Tucson, AZ on November 8. Similar to the ITTs, the other purpose of the tournament was to select members for the U.S. Eagles Seven–a–side team. The eight teams played two rounds of games and then were paired off in placement matches. The East I team won the final over the Midwest I team. Pacific Coast I came in third.

First round: Pacific Coast A 34–0 Midwest B East A 34–6 West B West A 10–12 East B Midwest A 20–0 Pacific Coast B

Second round: Midwest B 16–6 West B West A 18–4 Pacific Coast B Midwest A 18–10 East B East A 18–8 Pacific Coast A

Third round: Pacific Coast B 12–10 West B (Seventh place) West A 20–8 Midwest B (Fifth place) Pacific Coast A 18–10 East B (Third place)

Final

Champions: East A Coach: Emil Signes Roster: Chris Albrittain–Prop (NOVA), Bill Bernhard–Wing (Washington), Will Brewington–Hooker (MOB), Mark Gaetjen–Center (NOVA), Gary Lambert–Prop (Life), Dan Parris–Scrumhalf (NOVA), Chris Petrakes–Forward (MOB), Charlie Wilkenson–Flyhalf (NOVA), Jim Wilkenson–Back (NOVA).

ITT The Inter Territorial Tournament involved the four regional rugby unions comprising the United States RFU: Pacific Coast RFU, Western RFU, Midwest RFU, and the Eastern Rugby Union. The region teams are formed with players selected from the sub regional rugby unions. Subsequently, the USA Eagles are selected from the four regional teams after the ITT concludes. In 1986 the tournament took place at the Orlando Renegades practice field in Orlando, FL from February 15–17."Rugged Rugby Practice". (February 15, 1986). Orlando Sentinel, p.C-3 col.5 The Pacific Coast Grizzlies won the tournament for the second year in a row and nine of the last ten.Wood, Benton (February 18, 1986). "Pacific Team Maintains Its Dominance In Rugby". Orlando Sentinel, p.C-7 col.3-4 The Pacific Coast RFU won the Junior Tournament for players under the age of 25.

Results:

Champions: Pacific Coast Grizzlies Staff: Peter Sertic (Manager), Bing Dawson (Coach), Jay Waldron (Asst. Coach), Jim Bezel (Trainer), John Chase (Doctor) Roster: Rick Bailey (Old Blues), Mark Bass (Old Blues), Ed Burlingham (Back Bay), Joe Clarkson (Los Angeles), Rick Crivellone (Portland), Carl Crumpacker (OMBAC), Mark Deaton (Old Blues), Pete Deddeh (OMBAC), Gary Hein (Cal), Roy Helu (Old Blues), Kevin Higgins (Cal Poly), John Jelaco (Los Angeles), Mike McClintock (Old Blues), Pete McLaughlin (Seahawks), Bo Meyersieck (Old Blues), Randy Morris (Belmont Shore), John Mickel (Los Angeles), Dave Ochs (OMBAC), Mike Purcell (BATS), Tod Samet (San Francisco), Mike Saunders (OMBAC), Denis Shanagher (BATS), Bill Shiflet (Sacramento), Matt Taylor (Old Blues), Gary Townsend (Old Blues), Brian Vizard (OMBAC), Blane Warhurst (Old Blues), Kent Weyand (OMBAC).

TeamWLFA1Pacific Coast Grizzlies307692Eastern Colonials2136273Midwest Thunderbirds1225624Western Mustangs031352

High School The 1986 National High School Rugby Championship was a 12-team tournament that took place in Cupertino, CA. The Highland squad from Salt Lake City won the championship by defeating Burlingame of California in the final.Benson, Lee (May 22, 1986). "Highland Ruggers Savor Title". Deseret News, p.D1 col.1-4

Final

References