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."Rugby Super Bowl". (May 6, 1980). Los Angeles Times, p.J18 col.3 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."Old Blues Win Rugby Title". (May 12, 1980). San Francisco Chronicle, p.54 col.1-2 The All-Whites of Evansville, Indiana took third place."All-Whites Say Third Place Beats Fourth". (May 12, 1980). Evansville Press, p.15 Whit Everett of Berkeley Old Blues was named MVP.

Semifinals

Third place

Final

Champions: Old Blues RFC of Berkeley, CA Coach: Ron Mayes Captain: Jeff Hollings (Hooker) 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).

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."FSU’s Women Ruggers Defend National Title". (May 23, 1980). Tallahassee Democrat, p.2C 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 Team Mary Ellen Moynahan (Beantown) – Prop Pam Mullins (Beantown) – Hooker Betsy Kimball (Beantown) – Prop Sue Meany (Ohio State) – 2nd Row Bev Buhr (Wisconsin) – 2nd Row Kathy Flores (Florida State) – #8 Vicky Bowlen (Florida State) – Wing Forward Judy Lee (Wisconsin) – Wing Forward Mary Homes (Florida State) – Scrumhalf Renata Brady (Florida State) – Flyhalf Cindy Beebe (Chicago) – Inside Center Candi Orsini (Florida State) – Outside Center Linda Lillis (Chicago) – Wing Jamie McKallister (Florida State) – Wing Karen Hornsby (Florida State) – 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."Big Day". (June 14, 1980). Hartford Courant, p.29 col.5 The twelve team tournament was won by the Virginia Duck Brothers.Paterno, Karen (June 15, 1980). "Ruggers Sing Praises Of Their Sport". Hartford Courant, p.4C col.3–6

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."Rugby Tournament". (May 26, 1980). The Daily Herald, sec.4 p.4 col.6 The Pacific Coast RFU repeated as tournament champions. Results:

TeamWLFA1Pacific Coast Grizzlies3083192Midwest Thunderbirds2137253Western Mustangs1226764Eastern Colonials032147

Champions: Pacific Coast Grizzlies Coaches: Ron Nisbet, Rod Sears Manager: Dan Hickey Roster: Rick Bailey-Prop (Old Blues), Dave Bateman–Scrumhalf (Old Blues), David Briley-Prop (Santa Monica), Ed Burlingham–Lock (Irvine Coast), Jack Clark-Lock (Old Blues), Mark Deaton-#8 (California), Whit Everett-Flanker (Old Blues), Mike Fanucci–Wing (BATS), John Fowler–Flanker (UCLA), Steve Gray–Flyhalf (Los Angeles), Ian Gunn–Flyhalf (Old Puget Sound), Jay Hanson-Hooker (San Francisco), Jeff Hollings–Hooker (Old Blues), Chip Howard–Fullback (BATS), Dennis Jablonski–Fullback (Santa Monica), Bob MacFayden-Scrumhalf (OMBAC), Skip Niebauer-Flanker (BATS), Tim O'Brien-Center (California), Mike Pavich–Prop (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).

References