1989 National Rugby Championships


The 1989 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 1989 National Club Rugby Championship was sponsored by Steinlager and took place at Englewood High School in Denver, CO from May 13–14. The teams featured in the tournament were the champions of the four sub unions of USARFU. The Old Mission Beach Athletic Club of San Diego, CA won the title for the second time by defeating Philadelphia Whitemarsh in the final. The host team, Denver Barbarians who were in their sixth national tournament placed third. Mike Siano of Whitemarsh was Most Valuable Forward and Mike Saunders of OMBAC was Most Valuable Back.

Final

Champions: Old Mission Beach Athletic Club
Staff: Bing Dawson, Mr. Rolls
Captain: Mike Saunders
Roster: Colin Cole, Rick Crivellone, Pete Deddah, Graham Downes, Steve Forster, Dennis Gonzalez, Kevin Higgins, Ben Hough, Mike Johnson, Peter Kuttel, Jon Lee, Bill Leversee, Chris Lippert, Greg Lumping, Duncan Lumsden, Charlie Montgomery, Dennis Panish, Dwayne Parker, John Phillips, Gary Stasco, Marty Trinkino, Sam Vaka, Brian Vizard, Ron Zenker.

Women's Club

The 1989 Women's National Rugby Championship was a tournament sponsored by Steinlager and was played at Lafreniere Park on May 27–28 in Metairie, LA. The Bay Area Shehawks won the title by defeating Florida State 9–4. Beantown took third place. The Shehawks scored the most points with 68 while the individual with the most tries was Mary Sullivan of Minnesota with 7. The MVP back was Shehawk scrumhalf Laura Burr and the MVP forward was Shehawk lock And Morrell.
Consolation Bracket
Semifinals

Final

Lineups:
Bay Area Shehawks– Kathie Morrison, Linda Chevalier, Alexander, Jessie Roberts, Andi Morrell, Brenda Trobaugh, Marti Watts, Law, Barbara Bond, Laura Burr, Annie Misko, Leal, Laura Karcher, Sandy Meredith, Mauldin, Zdarko.
Florida State– Fahey, Sullivan, Hill, Kathy Kojm, Brown, Claire Sup, Morton, Kathy Flores, Mary Holmes, Alley, Cooper, Patty Jervey, Candi Orsini, Davis, Nicholson.

College

The 1989 College championship was won by Air Force. Long Beach was runner-up. In the College All–Star tournament at Colorado Springs the Eastern All–Stars came in first, the Western took second and Pacific finished third ahead of the Midwest.

Military

The 1989 National Military Rugby Championship was a tournament that featured sixteen teams in the Club division and six in the Open division. It took place at Wright Patterson Air Force base in Dayton, OH from May 9–14 and was won by Camp Lejeune Misfits with a 21–4 win over the Pensacola in the Club Division while the President's XV won the Open Division defeating the Hahn Panthers 28–7. A 'boot competition' was played by teams finishing third in their group and Fort Sill defeated Seymour Johnson 21–3 to win that honor. In the consolation bracket final Fort Sill defeated Seymour–Johnson 18–3. In the Open Division championship the President's XV defeated US Forces Europe 28–7. In the Chairman's Cup competition for kickers Mike Ferguson of the Marine Corps won the drop kicking contest, and Steve Lavoye of Davis–Monthan was the best place kicker.
Path to championship:
Camp Lejeune 6–4 Fort Sill
Camp Lejeune 29–7 F.E. Warren
Camp Legeune 6–0 Wright–Patterson
Path to final:
Pensacola 15–0 Seymour Johnson
Pensacola 15–4 USUHS
Pensacola 13–0 Fort Knox

Final

Lineups:
Camp Lejeune– Castagnero, Bugler, Brown, Phillips, Clapp, Haddad, Greenwood, Mathews, Hittman, Bowlin, Polk, Byzewski, Graham, Hobbs, Ferguson.
Pensacola– Shield, Sands, Dyer, Parks, Yeager, Kowaleski, Lien, Schuler, Johansen, Reese, Grahm, Bennett, Miller, Milo, Veazy.
The 1989 Interservice Rugby Championship was held at Fort McNair in Washington D.C. from 9–10 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
  • Navy 13-12 Marines
  • Air Force 14–9 Coast Guard
  • Coast Guard 16–12 Marines
  • Army 24–16 Navy
  • Marines 0–18 Air Force
  • Coast Guard 18–13 Army
  • Navy 27–7 Coast Guard
  • Air Force 16–15 Army
  • Army 20–0 Marines
  • Air Force 12–12 Navy
Third place
  • Coast Guard 23–7 Navy
Championship
1. Air Force 2. Army 3. Coast Guard 4. Navy 5. Marines

Sevens

Club
The 1989 National Club Seven–a–side championship, was played at Lee District Park in Alexandria, Virginia on August 26 and 27 in conjunction with the Potomac Ruggerfest. There were eight teams featured which included two representatives from each of the four territorial unions. Akron and QC Irish qualified from the Midwest. Maryland Old Boys and Northern Virginia qualified from the Eastern regional. OMBAC and Old Puget Sound represented the Pacific Coast. Denver Barbarians and New Mexico represented the West. The Maryland Old Boys defeated Northern Virginia to win the championship. Denver Barbarians finished third. The teams played round robins in two groups of four teams each. The top two teams advanced to the semifinals.

Final

Champions: Maryland Old Boys
Roster: Vince Granger, Mark Benson, Shaun Western, Andy Truesdale, John Redmond, Steve Burnham, Brian Gallagher, Mark Miller, Don Lawrence, Chris Petrakes, Will Brewington.
All Star
The 1989 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 Lee District Park in Alexandria, Virginia on August 26 and 27 in conjunction with the Potomac Ruggerfest. The East I team won the final over the Pacific I team. Midwest I came in third.

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 1989 the tournament, sponsored by Steinlager, took place at Robb Field in San Diego, CA from May 27–29. The East and West tied for first. The MVP was Western #8 Dave Poquette.
Results:
Junior ITT
The 1989 Junior ITT tournament took place at Robb Field in San Diego, CA from May 27–29. The Pacific Coast won for the fourth time in six years. Chris Williams of the Pacific Coast Junior Grizzlies was the MVP.
Champions: Pacific Coast Junior Grizzlies
Staff: Dave Briley, Hom, Figone, Dr. Brewin, Dr. Toohey
Captain: Rich Pearson–Center
Roster: Scott Barbour-Flanker, Frank Bistrian-Lock, Chris Celsi-Wing, Henry Choi–Prop, Pat Cronin-Fullback, Dave DeMay-Flanker/#8, Matt Eshoo-Flanker, Chris Fiack-Wing, Doug Giles-#8, King Holmes-Scrumhalf, Alden Hough-Hooker, Greg Hulbert-Lock, Ryan Kelly-Flanker, Gerard Lumkong-Center, Scot Marker-Lock, Simon Matthews-Fullback/FH, Dwight Pargee-Center, Rodi Quitiquit-Wing, Mike Schneck-Hooker, Ian Sherman-Flyhalf, James Smith-Prop, John Velie-Scrumhalf, E.J. Wick-Prop, Chris Williams–Wing.
Women's ITT
The third edition of the Women's ITT was played from January 28–29 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 27–0 West
  • Midwest 7–4 East
Round two:
  • East 20–0 West
  • Pacific Coast 18–6 Midwest
Round three:
  • Midwest 21–0 West
  • East 18–3 Pacific Coast

High School

The 1989 National High School Rugby Championship was an eight team tournament took place 20 May at Cottonwood High School in Salt Lake City, UT. The Highland squad from Utah won the championship by defeating Burlingame of California in the final. Xavier of New York took third.
Consolation
Liberty 22–15 West End
Druids 4–0 Overland
Seventh place
  • West End 11–6 Overland
Fifth place
Semifinals
Third place

Final

Lineups:
Highland– Larry Gelwix, Mason, Wilcox, Jensen, Goates, Hawes, Parkin, Ebert, Becker, Berg, Rogers, Ellis, Matakaiongo, Turketo, Adamson, Latu.
Burlingame– Mark Hoffmann, Sciandri, Bianchini, Benson, Clark, Monroe, Quivy, Moli, Niu, Stein, Tonga, Fehoko, Idiart, Pohahau, Lauese, Mahoni.