1985 National Rugby Championships
The 1985 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 1985 National Club Rugby Championship was sponsored by Michelob and took place in Chicago, IL at Winnemac Stadium from May 11–12. The teams featured in the tournament were the champions of the four sub unions of USARFU. Milwaukee rugby club won the title for the first time.Semifinals
'''Third place'''
Final
Champions: Milwaukee RFCPresident: Tim O'Keefe
Coach: Tom Beckman
Captain: Bill Lemke
Roster: Mike Bahr, Tom Beckmann, Bob Bilda, Pete Boese, Phil Callen, John Dabriener, Tom Foley, Steve Gramling, Tim Gramling, Bill Hauser, Drew Howie, Bill Jhung, John Koeppen, Joe Landry, Mike Landry, Bill Lemke, Ed Martin, Vince Murphy, Bill O'Connor, Drew Palin, Tom Queoff, Mark Roseky, Joseph Sauer, John Starke.
Women's Club
The 1985 Women's National Rugby Championship was a tournament that took place at Golden Gate Park Polo Fields on May 25–26 in San Francisco, CA. Florida State won back to back titles and fourth overall after defeating San Diego Surfers 12–6 in the final. Minnesota took third place with a 8–0 win over Chicago. Kathy Kojm of Florida State was MVP.Consolation games:
- Beantown 26–4 Texas A&M
- Belmont Shore 36–0 New Orleans
Semifinals
'''Third place'''
Final
President's Select XV:Karen Lang, Sheila Hill, Patti Purcell, Kathy Kojm, Lori Reese, Jackie Watts, Lisa Patefield, Cathy Flores, Kim Colweck, Jill Goldberg, Candi Orsini, Deb Ahrens, Micki McVann, Suzi Rosen Arnsdorff, Pat Standley.
College
The 1985 College championship was won by California. Maryland was runner-up.Military
The 1985 National Military Rugby Championship was a sixteen team tournament that took place at Fort Sill, OK from May 11–12 and was won by Fort Ord of Monterey, CA with a 22–12 win over the Medical School of Maryland.'''Championship Bracket'''
Final
Consolation BracketOpen Division
May 11
Wheeler/Scott 9-3 Black Sheep
Coast Guard 34-3 Campbell/Bliss
Black Sheep 14-3 Campbell/Bliss
Coast Guard 32-0 Wheeler/Scott
May 12
Coast Guard 30-0 Black Sheep
Wheeler/Scott W-L Campbell/Bliss
The 1985 Interservice Rugby Championship was held at Fort Hood, TX from 7–8 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.
Championship
Sevens
The 1985 National Sevens Rugby Tournament was an eight team tournament sponsored by Michelob and took place on February 17, 1985, at Robb Field in San Diego, California. The eight teams played two rounds of games and then were paired off in placement matches. The Pacific Coast A team won the final over the Eastern A team. Similar to the ITTs, the other purpose of the tournament was to select members for the U.S. Eagles Seven–a–side team.All Star Sevens–February
First round:
- Pacific A 14–4 Midwest B
- Western A 20–10 Eastern B
- Eastern A 18–0 Pacific B
- Midwest A 16–4 Western B
- Eastern B 20–4 Midwest B
- Pacific A 17–10 Western A
- Pacific B 16–4 Western B
- Eastern A W–L Midwest A
Fifth place
'''Third place'''
Final
Champions: Pacific Coast ARoster: Dave Bateman, Gary Bunce, Pete Deddah, Steve Gray, Willie Jefferson, Mike Purcell, Denis Shanagher, Blane Warhurst.
All Star Sevens–December
A second All Star Sevens Tournament sponsored by Michelob took place in Orlando, Florida on December 7. The format was the same as the February event. Three rounds are played with winners and losers advancing to play each other respectively in the next round with the third round determining placements. Mark Gaetjen of the Eastern A team was MVP.
First round:
- West A 14–10 Pacific B
- East A 28–10 Midwest B
- Pacific A 18–10 West B
- East B 16–6 Midwest A
- Pacific B 18–10 Midwest B
- East A 24–4 West A
- Midwest A 14–22 West B
- Pacific A 20–14 East B
Fifth place: West B 18–6 Pacific B
'''Third place'''
Final
East A: Mike Caulder, Mark Gaetjen, Hoover, Gary Lambert, Dan Parris, Pete Peluso, Joe Taranto.Pacific Coast A: Dave Bateman, Del Chipman, Pete Deddeh, Mike Purcell, Denis Shanagher, Lin Walton, Blane Warhurst.
Club Sevens
At the club level the National Seven–a–side championship was played as part of the 11th Annual Michelob Continental Rugby Classic at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, Arizona on November 2nd. There were eight teams featured which included two representatives from each of the four territorial unions. The Old Mission Beach Athletic Club defeated the Northern Virginia Duck Brothers 26–12 to win the championship. Bethlehem finished third by defeating Quad City 10–6 in OT. Lin Walton of OMBAC was MVP.
First round:
- Duck Brothers 28–0 Albuquerque
- Quad City Irish 10–6 Old Blues
- Bethlehem 20–16 Texas A&M
- OMBAC 16–12 Dayton
- OMBAC 22–12 Bethlehem
- Duck Brothers 20–12 Quad City Irish
- Old Blues 24–0 Albuquerque
- Texas A&M 18–10 Dayton
Fifth place: Old Blues 13–12 Texas A&M
Third place: Bethlehem 10–6 Quad City Irish
Final
Champions: Old Mission Beach Athletic Club
Roster: Del Chipman, Pete Deddah, Dave Granfors, Steve Gray, Harold McFadyen, Scott Page, Mike Saunders, Brian Vizzard, Lin Walton.
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 1985 the tournament took place at Miller Park in Sacramento, CA from May 25–27. The Pacific Coast RFU won the Junior Tournament for players under the age of 25.Results:
Champions: Pacific Coast RFU
Coach: Bing Dawson
Roster: Rick Bailey-Prop, Dave Bateman-Scrumhalf, Ed Burlingham-Lock, Brad Chaboya-Flanker, Mark Deaton-#8, John Everett-Hooker, Whit Everett-Flanker, Gary Hein-Wing, Roy Helu-Center, Kevin Higgins-Center, John Jelaco-Prop, Rose Malinowski-Prop, Pete McLaughlin-Prop, Bo Meyersieck-Flyhalf, John Mikel-Scrumhalf, Todd Samet-Fullback, Denis Shanagher-Center, Bill Shiflet-Lock, Matt Taylor-Wing, Brian Vizard-#8, Art Ward-Lock, Blane Warhurst-Flanker, Kent Weyand-Hooker, Barry Williams-Wing.
Juniors
SemifinalsThird place
Final
Champions: Pacific Coast RFU
Coach: Jack Clark, Tim O'Brien
Roster: Bill Bicker-Center, John Blackburn-Flanker, Steve Blesio-Wing, Darrell Brooks-Fullback, Mark Carlson-Flanker, Rick Crivellone-Lock, Steve Ellis-Center, Steve Fentress-Prop, Jeff Keuchle-Lock, John Knudson-Center, Kevin Lake-Flanker, Pat Lenihan-Fullback, Mike McClintock-Hooker, John Metheny-Flyhalf, Bruce Miller-Scrumhalf, Mike Minafo-Wing, Rich Morgan-Flyhalf, Andy Odisio-Prop, Ted Oschowski-Hooker, Tim Peterson-Prop, John Riddering-Lock, Tony Ridnell-#8, Ramon Samaniego-Scrumhalf, Giles Wilson-Prop.
High School
The 1985 National High School Rugby Championship took place at the Tidal Basin in Washington D.C. The #2 seed Xavier squad from Manhattan won the championship by defeating Highland of Utah in the final by the narrowest of margins improving upon a 13 all draw with Highland earlier in the season. Highland advanced to the final beating #1 seed Burlingame in the semifinals. Burlingame won the third place match against Vacaville.Final
Champions: Xavier High School RFCCoach: Nigel Milton
Roster: Sal Augeri, Kevin Best, Peter Blessinger, Paul Burke, Kevin Corbett, Jim Cuddihy, Artie Estrella, Brian Fee, David Gallagher, Spencer Gillen, Mike Grassi, Andrew Israel, Bruce McLane, Luis Munoz, Vincent O'Grady, David Peppis, Ronnie Rojas, Peter Seccia, Joe Sweeney, Mike Tolkin, Tim Walsh.