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.
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.
Champions: Old Blues RFC of Berkeley, CA<br> Coach: Ron Mayes<br> Captain: Jeff Hollings (Hooker)<br> Roster: Bill Armstrong (Center), Rick Bailey (Prop), Jim Brazil (Prop), Gary Bunce (Center), Peter Burman (Flyhalf), Jack Clarke (Lock), John Dixon (Fullback), Lee Evan (Center), Whit Everett (Flanker), Stephen Gritsch (Wing), Chuck Hextrom (Lock), Jim Meyersieck (Scrumhalf), Mark Hoffman (Lock), Steve Ponder (#8), Mark Richter (Wing), Peter Richter (Flanker), Scott Stringer (Center), Mike Testerman (Prop), Art Ward (#8), Dennis Ward (Fullback), Blane Warhurst (Flanker).
The 1980 Women's National Rugby Classic was a seven team tournament that took place on May 24âÂÂ26 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 19âÂÂ6 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.<br>
7th place: Beantown<br> 5th place: Ohio State 3âÂÂ0 Minnesota<br> 3rd place: Wisconsin 6âÂÂ0 Chicago<br>
All Tournament Team<br> Mary Ellen Moynahan (Beantown) â Prop<br> Pam Mullins (Beantown) â Hooker<br> Betsy Kimball (Beantown) â Prop<br> Sue Meany (Ohio State) â 2nd Row<br> Bev Buhr (Wisconsin) â 2nd Row<br> Kathy Flores (Florida State) â #8<br> Vicky Bowlen (Florida State) â Wing Forward<br> Judy Lee (Wisconsin) â Wing Forward<br> Mary Homes (Florida State) â Scrumhalf<br> Renata Brady (Florida State) â Flyhalf<br> Cindy Beebe (Chicago) â Inside Center<br> Candi Orsini (Florida State) â Outside Center<br> Linda Lillis (Chicago) â Wing<br> Jamie McKallister (Florida State) â Wing<br> Karen Hornsby (Florida State) â Fullback<br>
The 1980 College championship was won by University of California at Berkeley. Air Force was runner-up.
The 1980 Military Club Rugby Championship took place at WrightâÂÂPatterson AFB in Ohio and was won by Coronado Navy with a 12âÂÂ4 win over Scott AFB.
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.
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 24âÂÂ26. The Pacific Coast RFU repeated as tournament champions.<br> Results:
Champions: Pacific Coast Grizzlies<br> Coaches: Ron Nisbet, Rod Sears<br> Manager: Dan Hickey<br> Roster: Rick Bailey-Prop (Old Blues), Dave BatemanâÂÂScrumhalf (Old Blues), David Briley-Prop (Santa Monica), Ed BurlinghamâÂÂLock (Irvine Coast), Jack Clark-Lock (Old Blues), Mark Deaton-#8 (California), Whit Everett-Flanker (Old Blues), Mike FanucciâÂÂWing (BATS), John FowlerâÂÂFlanker (UCLA), Steve GrayâÂÂFlyhalf (Los Angeles), Ian GunnâÂÂFlyhalf (Old Puget Sound), Jay Hanson-Hooker (San Francisco), Jeff HollingsâÂÂHooker (Old Blues), Chip HowardâÂÂFullback (BATS), Dennis JablonskiâÂÂFullback (Santa Monica), Bob MacFayden-Scrumhalf (OMBAC), Skip Niebauer-Flanker (BATS), Tim O'Brien-Center (California), Mike PavichâÂÂProp (Santa Monica), Dennis Shanagher-Center (San Francisco), Doug Straley-Scrumhalf (Hawaii Harlequins), Lin Walton-Wing (OMBAC), Art Ward-#8 (Old Blues), Peter Wood-Wing (Old Puget Sound), Craig Young-Flanker (BATS).