The 1987 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.
The 1987 National Club Rugby Championship was sponsored by Michelob and took place at Pepin Rood Stadium of Tampa University in Florida from May 8âÂÂ9. The teams featured in the tournament were the champions of the four sub unions of USARFU. The Old Blues rugby club of Berkeley, CA won the title for the seventh time. Gary Townsend of Old Blues was MVP.
Champions: Old Blues<br> Staff: Whit Everett (Coach), Dave Bateman (Coach), Mr. Goldenburg (President)<br> Captain: John Everett<br> Roster: Mark Bass (Flanker), John Blackburn (Flanker), Mark Carlson (#8), Steve Ellis (Center), John Everett (Hooker), Sam Havili (Lock), Brian Hillesland (Lock), Greg Hulbert (Lock), Don James (Prop), Stanley Lolahea (Flanker), Rob Mascheroni (Wing), Mike McClintock (Hooker), Bo Meyersieck (Flyhalf), Ken Meyersieck (Scrumhalf), Dave Mogni (Center), Dave Morze (Lock), Tim O'Brien (Center), Ramon Samaniego (Scrumhalf), Moses Similai (Center), Todd Stone (Wing), Matt Taylor (Wing), Gary Townsend (Fullback), Brian Walgenbach (Prop), Art Ward (#8), Blane Warhurst (Flanker), Giles Wilson (Prop).
The 1987 Women's National Rugby Championship was a tournament that took place at Robb Field on May 23âÂÂ24 in San Diego, CA. Beantown won the title by defeating Florida State 6âÂÂ4. The University of Minnesota took third place with a 34âÂÂ0 win over Belmont Shore Land Sharks.
Champions: Beantown of Boston, MA<br> Roster: Flavin, Connors, Kimball, Kane, Thorley, Heffernan, Bridi, Rutkowski, Margie McClure, Mary Ellen Martin-Madden, Karen Keith, Onufry, Morrissey, Carmen Morrison, Keefe.
The 1987 College championship was won by San Diego State. Air Force was runner-up.
The 1987 National Military Rugby Championship was a twenty team tournament that took place at Wright Patterson Air Force base in Dayton, OH from May 2âÂÂ3 and was won by Pensacola Naval Air Station with a 40âÂÂ0 win over the Davis Monthan Mandrills in the Club Division while The Mike Stephenson President's Fifteen won the Open Division defeating US Coast Guard Select 22âÂÂ14 in the final. In the Chairman's Cup competition for kickers John Byzewski of Mike Stephensons won the drop kicking contest, and Mike Croy of Scott Air Force Base was the best place kicker.
Club Division
Open Division<br> The Mike Stephenson's President's Fifteen advanced to the championship match with wins of 36âÂÂ4 against the combined team of Yuma/29 Palms and 40âÂÂ0 against the Subic Bay Marines. The Coast Guard also made it to the final from its group with wins of 60âÂÂ0 over Black Sheep and 44âÂÂ0 over the combined team of Ellsworth/Lackland AFB.
Third place<br> Subic Bay Marines 18-4 Black Sheep
Championship<br> Mike Stephenson's President's Fifteen 22-14 Coast Guard
The 1987 Interservice Rugby Championship was held at Fort McNair in Washington D.C. from 12 to 13 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.<br> Round robin<br>
Third place<br>
Championship<br>
1. Army (4âÂÂ1) 2. Marines (3âÂÂ2) 3. Navy (3âÂÂ2) 4. Air Force (1âÂÂ4) 5. Coast Guard (1âÂÂ3)
Club<br> The 1987 National Club SevenâÂÂaâÂÂside championship, was played at Lincoln Park at the Milwaukee Polo Grounds in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 6 September as part of the 14th annual Labor Day tournament. There were eight teams featured which included two representatives from each of the four territorial unions. Akron and QC Irish qualified from the Midwest. Bethlehem and Duck Brothers qualified from the Eastern regional. Los Angeles and Old Puget Sound represented the Pacific Coast. Denver Barbarians and Oklahoma University represented the West. The Duck Brothers defeated the Denver Barbarians to win the championship. Old Puget Sound finished third. The MVPs were Will Brewington and Chris Doherty. The top two scorers were Mark Gaetjen with 26 points from 3 tries and 7 conversions and Will Brewington with 24 points from 6 tries.
First round:<br>
Second round:<br>
Third round:<br>
Champions: Duck Brothers<br> Coach: Tony Brown<br> Roster: Chris Albrittain (Prop), Will Brewington (Hooker), Chris Doherty (Center), Jeff Gaetjen (Hooker), Mark Gaetjen (Wing), Danny Parris (Scrumhalf), Charlie Wilkinson (Flyhalf), George Wilkinson (Center), Jimmy Wilkinson (Prop).<br>
All Star<br> The 1987 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 SevenâÂÂaâÂÂside team. The eight teams played two rounds of games and then were paired off in placement matches. This years tournament took place at Hi Corbett Field and Hi Corbett Annex in Tucson, AZ from 30 October to 1 November as part of the 13th Annual Michelob Continental Rugby Classic. The East II team won the final over the East I team. Pacific Coast I came in third.
First round:<br>
Second round:<br>
Third round:<br>
Champions: East II<br> Coach: Emil Signes, Tony Brown<br> Roster: Joe Taranto (Union), Joe McCann (OMEX), Steve Burnham (MOB), Shaun Western (MOB), Rory Lewis (Washington), Jimmy Wilkinson (NOVA), Mike Siano (Philadelphia Whitemarsh), Miller (MOB), Chris Petrakes (MOB).
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 1987 the tournament took place at Windhover Park in Schenectady, NY from May 23âÂÂ25. The Pacific Coast Grizzlies won the tournament for the tenth time. The Pacific Coast RFU also won the Junior Tournament for players under the age of 25.
Results:<br>
Champions: Pacific Coast Grizzlies<br> Staff: Mike Pitts (Manager/San Francisco), Bing Dawson (Coach/OMBAC)<br> Roster: Dave Bateman (Old Puget Sound), Bruce Bevirt (Santa Monica), Mark Carlson (Old Blues), Tom Constantine (Belmont Shore), Peter Deddeh (OMBAC), Jon Knutson (Old Puget Sound), Jon Lee (OMBAC), Bill Leversee (Belmont Shore), Rick Mayfield (Portland Pigs), Joe McGlinchey (Belmont Shore), John Mickel (Los Angeles), Tex Moore (Tucson Magpies), Randy Morris (Belmont Shore), Dan Morrison (San Francisco), Mike Murray (Los Angeles), Dave Ochs (OMBAC), Tim Peterson (San Francisco), Lee Rosen (Los Angeles), Ramon Samaniego (Old Blues), Todd Samet (San Francisco), Gary Stasco (OMBAC), Dave Surdyka (Los Angeles), Sam Vaca (San Francisco), Kurt Weyand (OMBAC), Barry Williams (Los Angeles).
Women's ITT<br> The first edition of the Women's ITT was played from January 31 to February 1 in Metarie, LA and held in conjunction with the Battle of New Orleans tournament. The Eastern RU won the championship.<br>
Round one:<br>
Round two:<br>
Round three:<br>
Champions: Eastern RU<br> Coach: Kojm, Arnsdorff<br> Roster: Alhberg, Auger, Bowlin, Camp, Correira, Crowson, Dixey, Fahey, Flavin, Flores, Gowl, Hanawalt, Heffernan, Holmes, Jervey, Johnson, Maher, McClure, McFarren, Money, Morrison, Morrissey, Onufry, Orsini, Pace, Rutkowski, Sup, J. Watts, M. Watts.
The 1987 National High School Rugby Championship was an eight team tournament took place 16 May at the Fort Logan complex in Denver, CO. The Burlingame squad from California won the championship by defeating Highland of Salt Lake City in the final. Alamo City took third.