The 1988 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 inter-territorial.

Men's Club The 1988 National Club Rugby Championship took place at Windhover Park in Albany, NY from May 14–15.Layden, Joe (May 16, 1988). "Windhover Park: A Dream Realized". Schenectady Gazette, p.31 col.7–8 The teams featured in the tournament were the champions of the four sub unions of USARFU.Eichelberger, Curtis (May 14, 1988). "Washington Club Reaches Nationals". Washington Post, p.D03 The Old Mission Beach Athletic Club of San Diego, CA won the title for the first time."Old Mission Beach Club Wins Rugby Title". (May 16, 1988). Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, part III p.10 col.1–2 OMBAC made it to the National championship by defeating seven-time winner Old Blues of Berkeley in the Pacific Coast Final."Creating A Winner Out Of The Chaos". (May 13, 1988). Los Angeles Times, part III p.9B col.1-6 Washington placed third."Rugby". (May 16, 1988). Washington Post, p.C02 Rick Crivellone of OMBAC was Most Valuable Forward and Mike Saunders of OMBAC was Most Valuable Back.

Semifinals

Third place

Final

Champions: Old Mission Beach Athletic Club Staff: Bing Dawson (Coach), Pat Boyl (President) Captain: Mike Saunders (Scrumhalf) Roster: Colin Cole (Flyhalf), Rick Crivellone (Flanker), Carl Crumpacker (Lock), Pete Deddeh (Flanker), John DeWitt (Fullback), Graham Downes (Prop), Dave Granfors (Flanker), Johnn Hastings (Prop), Kevin Higgins (Center), Mike Johnson (Wing), Jon Lee (Wing), Pat Lenihan (Fullback), Bill Leversee (Lock), Roger Mein (Flanker), Charles Montgomery (Fullback), Dave Ochs (Prop), Dennis Panish (Center), Dwayne Parker (Hooker), John Phillips (Flyhalf), Gary Stasco (Prop), Sam Vaka (Center), Warren Van Zyl (Center), Brian Vizard (#8), Kent Weyand (Hooker).

Women's Club The 1988 Women's National Rugby Championship was a tournament was played on May 28–29 in Naperville, IL.Clifford, Jack (May 26, 1988). "Rugby Crown Only A Rumble Away". Florida Flambeau, p.20 col.1–3 The University of Minnesota won the title by defeating Florida State 18–0.Thornton, Ralph (June 5, 1988). "U Rugby Club Wins National Title". Star Tribune, p.16C col.5–6"Women's Rugby Team Loses". (May 30, 1988). Tallahassee Democrat, p.2D col.7 Beantown took third place. University of Minnesota scrumhalf Tracey Diedrich was MVP.

Final

Champions: University of Minnesota

College

The 1988 College championship was won by California. Dartmouth was runner-up.

Military The 1988 National Military Rugby Championship was a twenty–seven team tournament in two divisions that took place at Wright Patterson Air Force base in Dayton, OH from May 11–15"5 Area Players Invited To Tourney". (May 13, 1988). Northwest Florida Daily News, p.2D col.7"Wright–Pat Hosting Rugby Championship". (May 12, 1988). Dayton Daily News, p.5–B col.3 and was won by Camp Lejeune Misfits with a 23–10 win over the Davis Monthan Mandrills in the Club Division"Ugah–Hail To The Misfits". (May 16, 1988). Dayton Daily News, p.1–B col.3-5 while Pensacola Old Boys won the Open Division defeating The Mike Stephenson's President's XV 16–6 in the final. A 'boot competition' was played by teams finishing third in their group and Camp Pendleton were the winners among them. In the Chairman's Cup competition for kickers Bourke Milligan of Pensacola won the drop kicking contest, and Brett Bowlin of Camp Lejeune was the best place kicker.

Path to championship: Camp Lejeune 18–6 Wright-Patterson AFB Camp Lejeune 10–0 Camp Pendleton Camp Legeune 17–7 Fort Carson Camp Lejeune 12–4 Pensacola

Path to final:"Davis–Monthan Loses In Final". (May 20, 1988). Arizona Daily Star, p.6C col.1-4 Davis Monthan 12–6 Hawaii ORCAS Davis Monthan 11–0 Fort Leonard Wood Davis Monthan 18–0 Fort Bragg Davis Monthan 6–4 Fort Campbell Davis Monthan 10–0 Fort Sill

Final

The 1988 Interservice Rugby Championship was held at Fort McNair in Washington D.C. from 10 to 11 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 Coast Guard 19–0 Navy Marines 29–0 Army Navy 16–6 Marines Coast Guard 4–0 Air Force Marines 13–9 Air Force Navy 14–12 Army Air Force 27–11 Army Marines 17–7 Coast Guard Coast Guard 10–0 Army Air Force 6–0 Navy

Third place Navy 13–12 Air Force

Championship

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

Sevens Club The 1988 National Club Seven–a–side championship, was played at the Milwaukee Polo Grounds in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 4 September."Akron Faces Strong Foe". (September 2, 1988). The Beacon Journal, p.D8 col.2 There were eight teams featured which included two representatives from each of the four territorial unions. Akron and QC Irish qualified from the Midwest.Nold, Bob (September 9, 1988). "First–Game Defeat Means Fifth Place". The Beacon Journal, p.E5 col.4–5 Maryland Old Boys and Duck Brothers qualified from the Eastern regional. Santa Cruz Rebels and Old Puget Sound represented the Pacific Coast."Rebels 7th In U.S.". (September 5, 1988). Santa Cruz Sentinel, p.D–4 col.6 Denver Barbarians and Dallas Reds represented the West. Old Puget Sound defeated the Denver Barbarians to win the championship."Seattle Rugby Club Wins U.S. Crown". (September 7, 1988). Seattle Post–Intelligencer, p.D4 Duck Brothers finished third. The leading scorer was Pete Wood of Akron with 20 points from 5 tries.

First round: Old Puget Sound Beach 8–6 Akron Denver Barbarians W–L Dallas Reds Duck Brothers W–L Quad City Irish Maryland Old Boys 16–0 Santa Cruz Rebels

Second round: Old Puget Sound 20–6 Duck Brothers Denver Barbarians W–L Maryland Old Boys Quad City Irish 18–6 Santa Cruz Rebels Akron 24–0 Dallas Reds

Third round: Santa Cruz Rebels 18–0 Dallas Reds (Seventh place) Akron 12–4 Quad City Irish (Fifth place) Duck Brothers W–L Maryland Old Boys (Third place)

Final

Champions: Old Puget Sound Coach: Jeff Docter Roster: David Bateman, Jon Knutson, Ty Adams, Mike Telkamp, Tony Ridnell, George Foster, David Carpenter, Jay Herron, Mathew Pleis. Chuck Depew."Washington". (September 9, 1988). USA Today, p.12C

All Star The 1988 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. This years tournament took place at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, AZ on 5 November as part of the 14th Annual Michelob Continental Rugby Classic."Big Sports Weekend On Tap For Viewers". (November 4, 1988). Tucson Citizen, p.4C col.5-6 The East A team won the final over the Pacific B team.Bieber, John (October 30, 1987). "Long Beach Defeats BYU To Win College Rugby Title". Arizona Daily Star, sec.E p.2 col.4-5 East B came in third.

First round: Pacific A 28–0 Midwest B East B 18–0 West A East A 30–0 West B Midwest A 22–10 Pacific B

Second round: Midwest B 32–4 West A East B 28–6 Pacific A West B 20–14 Midwest A Pacific B 28–0 East A

Third round: East B 22–8 Midwest B Pacific A 22–16 West A Pacific B 22–6 West B East A 36–0 Midwest A

Consolation semifinals: West B 22–8 Midwest B West A 28–6 Midwest A

Consolation final West A 32–6 West B

Third place East B 16–10 Pacific A

Semifinals

Final

Champions: East A Coach: Emil Signes, Mr. Davis, Mr. Betzler Roster: Paul Sheehy, Freutenberg, Brewer, Will Brewington, Rory Lewis, Charlie Wilkinson, Dave Karovski, Miller, Bill Fisher.

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 1988 the tournament took place at Windhover Park in Schenectady, NY from May 28–30. The Pacific Coast Grizzlies won the tournament for the eleventh time.

Results:

Champions: Pacific Coast Grizzlies Coach: Bing Dawson Roster: Rick Crivellone-Lock (OMBAC), Tony Flay-Hooker (Old Puget Sound), Kevin Higgins-Center (OMBAC), King Holmes-Scrumhalf (Old Puget Sound), Don James-Prop (Los Angeles), Jon Knutson-Center (Old Puget Sound), Bill Leversee-Lock (OMBAC), Shawn Lipman-Flanker (Santa Monica), Chris Lippert-Prop (OMBAC), Rick Mayfield-Flanker (Portland), Dan Morrison-Flyhalf (San Francisco), Ray Nelson-Fullback (Los Angeles), Joe Nickerson-Prop (Old Puget Sound), Chris O'Brien-Flyhalf (Hawaii Harlequins), Tim O'Brien-Center (Old Blues), Jeff Peter-#8 (Santa Monica), Tim Peterson-Prop (San Francisco), Mike Purcell-Wing (BATS), Tony Ridnell-Lock (Old Puget Sound), Al Robertson-Lock (Old Puget Sound), Mike Saunders-Scrumhalf (OMBAC), Mike Smith-Wing (Old Blues), Dave Surdyka-Flanker (Los Angeles), Brian Vizard-#8 (OMBAC), Kent Weyand-Hooker (OMBAC), Barry Williams-Wing (Los Angeles), Mark Williams-Center (Santa Monica).

TeamWLFA1Pacific Coast Grizzlies3084392Western Mustangs2162533Eastern Colonials1259604Midwest Thunderbirds034194

Junior ITT The 1988 Junior ITT tournament took place at Windhover Park in Schenectady, NY from May 28–30. The Pacific won for the third time in five years.

Champions: Pacific Coast Junior Grizzlies Coaches: Briley, Hastings, Spinella, Waldron Captains: Dwayne Parker–Hooker (OMBAC), John Wilmore–#8 (Back Bay) Roster: Sean Allen-Hooker (San Diego State), Jay Boyle-Fullback (Tucson Magpies), Chris Celsi-Wing (Los Angeles), Colin Cole–Flyhalf (OMBAC), Dave DeMay-Lock (Arizona U.), Jim Dreyfuss-Prop (Santa Monica), Merrick Firestone-Center (Tucson Magpies), Steve Forster-Flyhalf (San Diego State), Doug Giles-#8 (San Francisco), Dennis Gonzales-Flanker (San Diego State), John Hastings-Prop (OMBAC), Ben Hough-Flanker (UC Santa Cruz), Greg Hulbert-Lock (Old Blues), Ryan Kelly-Flanker (Arizona U.), Dean Klisura-Wing (Old Blues), Dennis Panish-Center (OMBAC), Robert Salabar-Fullback (Old Blues), Ramon Samaniego-Scrumhalf (Old Blues), Tony Samaniego-Scrumhalf (Old Aztecs), Greg Stoehr-Flanker (Old Blues), John Tellenbach-Fullback (UC San Diego), Chuck Tunnacliffe-Lock (Belmont Shore), Brian Walgenbach-Prop (Old Blues), Eric Whitaker-Wing (St. Mary's).

Women's ITT The second edition of the Women's ITT was played from January 30–31 in Metarie, LA and held in conjunction with the Battle of New Orleans tournament. The tournament ended in a three-way tie.

Round one: Pacific Coast 7–3 East Midwest 14–3 West

Round two: East 11–3 Midwest Pacific Coast 22–0 West

Round three: East 22–3 West Midwest 15–4 Pacific Coast

High School The 1988 National High School Rugby Championship was an eight team tournament took place 21 May at the Fort Logan complex in Washington, DC.Smith, Bob (May 10, 1987). "8 Teams To Play In Rugby Nationals". Denver Post, p.16D col.1 The Highland squad from Utah won the championship by defeating Burlingame of California in the final."Highland Claims Prep Rugby Title". (May 22, 1988). Salt Lake Tribune, p.D9 col.1–2 Doylestown of Pennsylvania took third."Doylestown Third". (May 23, 1988). The Intelligencer Record, p.B-3 col.4–5"High Schools". (May 23, 1988). Washington Post, p.B02

Seventh place Xavier 37–0 North Penn

Fifth place Regis 6–3 Alamo City

Final

Rosters: Highland– Mike Oifanakis (Prop), Shane Siatanga (Hooker), Mike Marriott (Prop), Justin Hawes (Lock), David Young (Lock), Mark Holmstrom (Flanker), Steve Jones (Flanker), Brett Harris (#8), Paul Brinton (Scrumhalf), Mike Moe (Flyhalf), Sione Lau (Wing), Glen Hubert (Center), Siope Hafoka (Center), Mark Conn (Wing), Matt Parkin (Fullback).