1980 National Rugby Championships
The 1980 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, Military, Sevens, and Interterritorial.
Men's Club
The 1980 National Club Rugby Championship was sponsored by Michelob and took place at Veteran's Memorial Stadium in Long Beach, California on May 10 and 11. The teams featured in the tournament were the champions of the four sub unions of USARFU. The Berkeley Old Blues won the title defeating St. Louis in the final after beating their New York namesakes in the semifinals for the second straight year. The All-Whites of Evansville, Indiana took third place. Whit Everett of Berkeley Old Blues was named MVP.Final
Champions: Old Blues RFC of Berkeley, CACoach: Ron Mayes
Captain: Jeff Hollings
Roster: Bill Armstrong, Rick Bailey, Jim Brazil, Gary Bunce, Peter Burman, Jack Clarke, John Dixon, Lee Evan, Whit Everett, Stephen Gritsch, Chuck Hextrom, Jim Meyersieck, Mark Hoffman, Steve Ponder, Mark Richter, Peter Richter, Scott Stringer, Mike Testerman, Art Ward, Dennis Ward, Blane Warhurst.
Women's Club
The 1980 Women's National Rugby Classic was a seven team tournament that took place on May 24–26 in Oakbrook, IL. The teams were split into two groups for round robin play. The Green division featured Florida State, Beantown, Ohio State and Chicago. The Red division included Minnesota, Wisconsin and Hoyden of Atlanta. The team from Florida State won the championship with five victories: FSU 29-3 Beantown, FSU 20-0 Ohio State, FSU 13-0 and 19–6 against Chicago and the 14-0 championship match against Hoyden of Atlanta, GA. En route to the final Hoyden dropped their opener 0-3 against Wisconsin then won two overtime games against Minnesota 8-4 and Wisconsin 4-0. Wisconsin defeated Chicago 6-0 for third place while Ohio State took fifth place with a 3-0 win over Minnesota. Seven members of Florida State were named to the all-tournament team.7th place: Beantown
5th place: Ohio State 3–0 Minnesota
3rd place: Wisconsin 6–0 Chicago
Final
All Tournament TeamMary Ellen Moynahan – Prop
Pam Mullins – Hooker
Betsy Kimball – Prop
Sue Meany – 2nd Row
Bev Buhr – 2nd Row
Kathy Flores – #8
Vicky Bowlen – Wing Forward
Judy Lee – Wing Forward
Mary Homes – Scrumhalf
Renata Brady – Flyhalf
Cindy Beebe – Inside Center
Candi Orsini – Outside Center
Linda Lillis – Wing
Jamie McKallister – Wing
Karen Hornsby – Fullback
College
The 1980 College championship was won by University of California at Berkeley. Air Force was runner-up.Military
The 1980 Military Club Rugby Championship took place at Wright–Patterson AFB in Ohio and was won by Coronado Navy with a 12–4 win over Scott AFB.Sevens
The 1980 National Sevens Rugby Tournament was hosted by the Hartford Wanderers and took place on June 14, 1980, at Sterling Field in West Hartford, Connecticut. The twelve team tournament was won by the Virginia Duck Brothers.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 from selected players from the sub regional rugby unions. Subsequently, the USA Eagles are selected from the four regional teams after the ITT concludes. The 1980 edition was sponsored by Michelob and was played at Oak Brook Polo Field in Oak Brook, Illinois from May 24–26. The Pacific Coast RFU repeated as tournament champions.Results:
Champions: Pacific Coast Grizzlies
Coaches: Ron Nisbet, Rod Sears
Manager: Dan Hickey
Roster: Rick Bailey-Prop, Dave Bateman–Scrumhalf, David Briley-Prop, Ed Burlingham–Lock, Jack Clark-Lock, Mark Deaton-#8, Whit Everett-Flanker, Mike Fanucci–Wing, John Fowler–Flanker, Steve Gray–Flyhalf, Ian Gunn–Flyhalf, Jay Hanson-Hooker, Jeff Hollings–Hooker, Chip Howard–Fullback, Dennis Jablonski–Fullback, Bob MacFayden-Scrumhalf, Skip Niebauer-Flanker, Tim O'Brien-Center, Mike Pavich–Prop, Dennis Shanagher-Center, Doug Straley-Scrumhalf, Lin Walton-Wing, Art Ward-#8, Peter Wood-Wing, Craig Young-Flanker.