The 1987 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 1987 National Club Rugby Championship was sponsored by Michelob and took place at Pepin Rood Stadium of Tampa University in Florida from May 8–9."Rugby Championship Set For Today, Saturday". (May 8, 1987). St. Petersburg Times, p.202 col.2 The teams featured in the tournament were the champions of the four sub unions of USARFU. The Old Blues rugby club of Berkeley, CA won the title for the seventh time."In The District". (May 9, 1987). Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, p.14 col.2"Rugby". (May 9, 1987). Pittsburgh Press, p.C2 col.1"Tunisia Faces Black Bears; Blues Win". (May 9, 1987). San Francisco Chronicle, p.44 col.1-3 Gary Townsend of Old Blues was MVP.

Semifinals

Third place

Final

Champions: Old Blues Staff: Whit Everett (Coach), Dave Bateman (Coach), Mr. Goldenburg (President) Captain: John Everett Roster: Mark Bass (Flanker), John Blackburn (Flanker), Mark Carlson (#8), Steve Ellis (Center), John Everett (Hooker), Sam Havili (Lock), Brian Hillesland (Lock), Greg Hulbert (Lock), Don James (Prop), Stanley Lolahea (Flanker), Rob Mascheroni (Wing), Mike McClintock (Hooker), Bo Meyersieck (Flyhalf), Ken Meyersieck (Scrumhalf), Dave Mogni (Center), Dave Morze (Lock), Tim O'Brien (Center), Ramon Samaniego (Scrumhalf), Moses Similai (Center), Todd Stone (Wing), Matt Taylor (Wing), Gary Townsend (Fullback), Brian Walgenbach (Prop), Art Ward (#8), Blane Warhurst (Flanker), Giles Wilson (Prop).

Women's Club The 1987 Women's National Rugby Championship was a tournament that took place at Robb Field on May 23–24 in San Diego, CA."Other Sports". (May 22, 1987). San Diego Union, p.D-6 col.5 Beantown won the title by defeating Florida State 6–4."FSU Women's Rugby Team Loses Title To Boston". (May 25, 1987). Tampa Bay Times, p.26 col.1"FSU Ruggers Lose Title Game". (May 26, 1987). Tallahassee Democrat, p.24 col.1 The University of Minnesota took third place with a 34–0 win over Belmont Shore Land Sharks.

Final

Champions: Beantown of Boston, MA Roster: Flavin, Connors, Kimball, Kane, Thorley, Heffernan, Bridi, Rutkowski, Margie McClure, Mary Ellen Martin-Madden, Karen Keith, Onufry, Morrissey, Carmen Morrison, Keefe.

College

The 1987 College championship was won by San Diego State. Air Force was runner-up.

Military The 1987 National Military Rugby Championship was a twenty team tournament that took place at Wright Patterson Air Force base in Dayton, OH from May 2–3"Ohio Calendar Of Events For May". (April 25, 1987). Tempo Magazine, p.4 col.2 and was won by Pensacola Naval Air Station with a 40–0 win over the Davis Monthan Mandrills in the Club Division while The Mike Stephenson President's Fifteen won the Open Division defeating US Coast Guard Select 22–14 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 John Byzewski of Mike Stephensons won the drop kicking contest, and Mike Croy of Scott Air Force Base was the best place kicker."Rugby MVP". (May 15, 1986). The Morning Call, p.C8 col.2

Club Division Standings RankGroup APldWLTFA WPIFTBFTCCLA1.Wright-Patterson Jets3300644X17:416:031:02.Fort Benning321059254:17X9:846:03.Fort Carson30208250:168:9X?4.Clark30200770:310:46?X

Standings RankB+CPldWL PEND-MWP2SCOSEYPAN1.Pensacola330XX40:046:0X38:02.Davis Monthan Mandrills330XX29:021:040:0X3.Wright Pat II3120:400:29XX24-4X4.Scott3020:460:21XXXX5.Seymore Johnson302X0:404:24XXX6.Panama Southcom3010:38XXXXX

Standings RankGroup DPldWL CAMFTLHAWFTH1.Camp Lejeune Misfits330X7:020:1041:02.Fort Leavenworth3010:7X??3.Hawaii Marines30110:20?X?4.Fort Hood3010:41??X

Standings RankGroup EPldWLTFA FTCCHECAMTIN1.Fort Campbell32015312X12:1225:016:02.Cherry Point3201461812:12X9:025:63.Camp Pendleton30200340:250:9X?4.Tinker30206410:166:25?X

Standings RankGroup FPldWLFA HAWFTSUSUFTK1.Hawaii ORCHAS3212820X10:1612:06:42.Fort Sill321243216:10X0:228:03.USUHS31122120:1222:0X?4.Fort Knox3024144:60:8?X

Open Division The Mike Stephenson's President's Fifteen advanced to the championship match with wins of 36–4 against the combined team of Yuma/29 Palms and 40–0 against the Subic Bay Marines. The Coast Guard also made it to the final from its group with wins of 60–0 over Black Sheep and 44–0 over the combined team of Ellsworth/Lackland AFB.

Third place Subic Bay Marines 18-4 Black Sheep

Championship Mike Stephenson's President's Fifteen 22-14 Coast Guard

The 1987 Interservice Rugby Championship was held at Fort McNair in Washington D.C. from 12 to 13 September. 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 Army 16–9 Navy Marines 9–3 Air Force Marines 9–8 Navy Army 21–4 Coast Guard Marines 22–0 Coast Guard Navy 16–7 Air Force Coast Guard 18–7 Air Force Army 28–3 Marines Air Force 26–13 Army Navy 15–6 Coast Guard

Third place Navy 12–0 Air Force

Championship

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

Sevens Club The 1987 National Club Seven–a–side championship, was played at Lincoln Park at the Milwaukee Polo Grounds in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 6 September as part of the 14th annual Labor Day tournament.DeVrieze, Craig (September 4, 1987). "QC Ruggers To Defend U.S. Title". Daily Dispatch And Argus, p.C1 col.3–5 There were eight teams featured which included two representatives from each of the four territorial unions.Brewington, Peter (September 4, 1987). "Top Rugby Sevens Teams Meet Sunday". USA Today, p.6C Akron and QC Irish qualified from the Midwest.Nold, Bob (September 4, 1987). "Rugby Club Seeking National Title". The Beacon Journal, p.C4 col.2–4 Bethlehem and Duck Brothers qualified from the Eastern regional."National Tourney". (September 4, 1987). The Morning Call, p.C8 col.5-6 Los Angeles and Old Puget Sound represented the Pacific Coast. Denver Barbarians and Oklahoma University represented the West. The Duck Brothers defeated the Denver Barbarians to win the championship."Virginia". (September 8, 1987). USA Today, p.10C Old Puget Sound finished third. The MVPs were Will Brewington and Chris Doherty. The top two scorers were Mark Gaetjen with 26 points from 3 tries and 7 conversions and Will Brewington with 24 points from 6 tries.

First round: Old Puget Sound Beach 14–4 Bethlehem Denver Barbarians 26–6 Akron Los Angeles 24–10 Quad City Irish Duck Brothers 24–0 Oklahoma

Second round: Bethlehem 16–6 Akron Quad City Irish 16–6 Oklahoma Denver Barbarians 18–10 Old Puget Sound Beach Duck Brothers 24–6 Los Angeles

Third round: Oklahoma 14–6 Akron (Seventh place) Bethlehem 10–4 Quad City Irish (Fifth place) Old Puget Sound Beach 10–0 Los Angeles (Third place)

Final

Champions: Duck Brothers Coach: Tony Brown Roster: Chris Albrittain (Prop), Will Brewington (Hooker), Chris Doherty (Center), Jeff Gaetjen (Hooker), Mark Gaetjen (Wing), Danny Parris (Scrumhalf), Charlie Wilkinson (Flyhalf), George Wilkinson (Center), Jimmy Wilkinson (Prop).

All Star The 1987 National All-Star Sevens Rugby Tournament was an eight team tournament with two representatives from each territory. Similar to the ITTs, the other purpose of the tournament was to select members for the U.S. Eagles Seven–a–side team.Bieber, John (October 30, 1987). "Rugby Returns To Hi Corbett This Weekend". Arizona Daily Star, sec.D p.3 col.1-3 The eight teams played two rounds of games and then were paired off in placement matches. This years tournament took place at Hi Corbett Field and Hi Corbett Annex in Tucson, AZ from 30 October to 1 November as part of the 13th Annual Michelob Continental Rugby Classic."ASU Upsets Air Force At Classic". (October 31, 1987). Arizona Daily Star, sec.F p.5 col.1-2 The East II team won the final over the East I team. Pacific Coast I came in third.

First round: Midwest I 10–16 East II East I 26–4 Midwest II Pacific I 30–0 West II West I 18–4 Pacific II

Second round: Midwest I 24–6 West II Pacific II 28–0 Midwest II East II 10–4 Pacific I East I 22–12 West I

Third round: West II 18–10 Midwest II (Seventh place) Midwest I 4–0 Pacific II (Fifth place) Pacific I 12–0 West I (Third place)

Final

Champions: East II Coach: Emil Signes, Tony Brown Roster: Joe Taranto (Union), Joe McCann (OMEX), Steve Burnham (MOB), Shaun Western (MOB), Rory Lewis (Washington), Jimmy Wilkinson (NOVA), Mike Siano (Philadelphia Whitemarsh), Miller (MOB), Chris Petrakes (MOB).

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 1987 the tournament took place at Windhover Park in Schenectady, NY from May 23–25."Windover Park Hosts National Rugby Tourney". (May 23, 1987). Schenectady Gazette, p.21 col.2 The Pacific Coast Grizzlies won the tournament for the tenth time. The Pacific Coast RFU also won the Junior Tournament for players under the age of 25.

Results:

Champions: Pacific Coast Grizzlies Staff: Mike Pitts (Manager/San Francisco), Bing Dawson (Coach/OMBAC) Roster: Dave Bateman (Old Puget Sound), Bruce Bevirt (Santa Monica), Mark Carlson (Old Blues), Tom Constantine (Belmont Shore), Peter Deddeh (OMBAC), Jon Knutson (Old Puget Sound), Jon Lee (OMBAC), Bill Leversee (Belmont Shore), Rick Mayfield (Portland Pigs), Joe McGlinchey (Belmont Shore), John Mickel (Los Angeles), Tex Moore (Tucson Magpies), Randy Morris (Belmont Shore), Dan Morrison (San Francisco), Mike Murray (Los Angeles), Dave Ochs (OMBAC), Tim Peterson (San Francisco), Lee Rosen (Los Angeles), Ramon Samaniego (Old Blues), Todd Samet (San Francisco), Gary Stasco (OMBAC), Dave Surdyka (Los Angeles), Sam Vaca (San Francisco), Kurt Weyand (OMBAC), Barry Williams (Los Angeles).

TeamWLT1Pacific Coast Grizzlies2012Midwest Thunderbirds1113Western Mustangs1204Eastern Colonials120

Women's ITT The first edition of the Women's ITT was played from January 31 to February 1 in Metarie, LA and held in conjunction with the Battle of New Orleans tournament."Specials". (January 31, 1987). Times–Picayune, p.E-7 col.1 The Eastern RU won the championship.

Round one: East 16–10 West Midwest 10–3 Pacific Coast

Round two: East 8–3 Pacific Coast West 11–8 Midwest

Round three: East 4–4 Midwest Pacific Coast 19–6 West

Champions: Eastern RU Coach: Kojm, Arnsdorff Roster: Alhberg, Auger, Bowlin, Camp, Correira, Crowson, Dixey, Fahey, Flavin, Flores, Gowl, Hanawalt, Heffernan, Holmes, Jervey, Johnson, Maher, McClure, McFarren, Money, Morrison, Morrissey, Onufry, Orsini, Pace, Rutkowski, Sup, J. Watts, M. Watts.

High School The 1987 National High School Rugby Championship was an eight team tournament took place 16 May at the Fort Logan complex in Denver, CO.Smith, Bob (May 10, 1987). "8 Teams To Play In Rugby Nationals". Denver Post, p.16D col.1 The Burlingame squad from California won the championship by defeating Highland of Salt Lake City in the final."Prep Notebook". (May 17, 1987). San Francisco Examiner, p.C-2 col.4 Alamo City took third."Rugby Team". (May 17, 1987). Sunday Express-News, p.11-D col.2

Final

External links ITT Sevens East 1 vs East 2

References