The 1989 National Collegiate Rugby Championship was the tenth edition of the official national championship for intercollegiate rugby. The tournament, sponsored by Steinlager, took place May 6-7 at the Air Force Academy soccer fields in Colorado Springs, CO."AFA's Title Hopes Earn Top Billing". (May 6, 1989). Gazette Telegraph, p.C2 col.5 The Air Force Zoomies won their first title with a victory over the Long Beach 49ers. John Oliver of Army was named best forward while Tim Bohman of Air Force was best back.

Venue ColoradoAF Academy Colorado Springs, Colorado Capacity:

Participants Army Black Nights Qualified for the National Championship by advancing from the Eastern College Championship on April 15–16 at Annapolis, MD."Army Rugby Advances". (April 16, 1989). The Journal News, p.24 Army 33-0 University of Buffalo Army 43-18 Navy

Roster: Coach- Michael Mahan, Wallace, O'Gorman, Vaughn Captain- John Oliver Record- Ron Albrecht (Prop), Dave Blain (Scrumhalf), Roscoe Blood (Prop), Brian Burlingame (Hooker), John DeBlasio (Scrumhalf), Sean DeMartino (Flanker), Kevin Dice (Flyhalf), Pete Dunn (Hooker), Kimo Gallahue (#8), Mike Halpin (Center), Mike Kilbane (Fullback), Cliff Lairson (Center), Bill Marshall (Center), Dennis McKernan (#8), Chris Morris (Flanker), Lew Nance (Center), John Oliver (Flanker), Lincoln Oro (Wing), Steven Phillips (Lock), Spence Robinson (Lock), Jim Saccone (Flyhalf), Rick Shipe (Fullback), Scott Sutherland (Prop), Vincent Torza (Center), John Wilson (Wing).

Penn State Nittany Lions Qualified for the National Championship by winning the Midwest Universities Cup on April 22–23 in Madison, WI."UW Rugby Club Misses Nationals". (April 24, 1989). Capital Times, p.18 Penn State 18-0 Michigan State Penn State 3-0 Bowling Green Penn State 13-12 Wisconsin

Roster: Coach- Bruce Hale, Sanvido, Smith, Cranston, Bennese, Grigor, Ryland Captain- Stephen Rae Record- Peter Anthan (Lock), Kevin Barry (Lock), Rich Cassidy (Fullback), Erick Chizmar (Center), Scott Davis (Wing), Greg Driscoll (Wing), Brian Ewing (Scrumhalf), James Gilhool (Lock), Howard Goldfine (Hooker), Antony Hardon (Lock), Brent Hutchings (Center), Stephen Hynes (Center), Peter Karmilowicz (Wing), Daniel Kelly (Flanker), George Nace (Hooker), Matthew Norton (Center), Lance Polcyn (Prop), Stephen Rae (Scrumhalf), Vincent Rocco (#8), Peter Skeels (Prop), Ian Wallace (Flyhalf), John Walton (Flanker), Jay Wieder (#8), Darren Woolf (Prop), John Zajac (Flanker).

Air Force Zoomies Qualified for the National Championship by winning the Western Collegiate Championship on April 15–16 in Lawrence, KS. Air Force 19-0 Rice Air Force 16-3 Kansas Air Force 22-9 Colorado

Roster: Coach- Vern Francis, Walt Daniels, Pat Gerdemann, Dave Easler, Jim Jasina Captains- Brent VanderPol/Jon Finley Record- Harry Blue (Prop), Tim Bohman (Center), Ronald Buckley (Flyhalf), Dan Drummond (Lock), Eric Fester (Wing), Jonathan Finley (Scrumhalf), Jeffrey Hill (#8), William Jacobus (Wing), Timothy Jozwiak (Flanker), Michael Junk (Hooker), Eric Kelm (Hooker), Travis Klopfenstein (Flyhalf), Jon Krause (Lock), David Mets (Fullback), Douglas Nikolai (Center), Kevin Oleen (Prop), James Owen (Lock), Bradley Rogers (Fullback), Glenn Rogers Jr. (Wing), Ted Schiller (Scrumhalf), James Snyder (Prop), Mark Thomas (Scrumhalf), Brent VanderPol (#8), Don Wood (Center), Arthur Wunder (Flanker).

Long Beach 49ers Qualified from Pacific Coast College Championships on April 7–9 in Tucson, AZ."Cal Rugby Loses In PCC Finals". (April 10, 1989). The Daily Californian, p.12 col.1–5 Long Beach 28-7 Washington Long Beach 12-0 Cal Poly SLO Long Beach 18-10 California

Roster: Coach- Dr. Dale Toohey, Kaplan, Stackhouse, Anderson, Morgan Captain-Brett Bowden Record- Steve Agor (Wing), Timothy Aitken (Flyhalf), Brett Bowden (Flyhalf), Jim Brown (Wing), Gabriel Cobos Jr. (Fullback), Jerry Fanning (Hooker), Jimmy Guadagno (Scrumhalf), Dario Guerra (Prop), Ray Harper (#8), Mark Kitchen (Center), Andrew Klinkenberg (Lock), Charlie McKerras (Lock), Steve Meert (Scrumhalf), Derrick Munck (#8), Andrew Nicholls (Lock), Jack Purdy (Prop), Kevin Robinson (Center), Eric Skaar (Flanker), Chris Stratton (Wing), Dean Toohey (Flanker), Jon Westerman (Hooker).

Bracket

Semifinals

Third place

Final

Champions: Air Force Academy Zoomies Coaches: Vern Francis, Walt Daniels, Pat Gerdemann, Dave Easler, Jim Jasina. Roster: Jim Snyder (Prop), Kevin Oleen (Prop), Harry Blue (Prop), Mike Junk (Hooker), Eric Kelm (Hooker), Dan Drummond (Lock), Jay Owen (Lock), John Krause (Lock), Tim Jozwiak (Wing Forward), Ted Schiller (Wing Forward), Art Wunder (Wing Forward), Jeff Hill (#8), Brent VanderPol (#8), Jon Finley (Scrum Half), Mark Thomas (Scrum Half), Tim Bohman (Center), Bill Jacobus (Center), Donnie Wood (Center), Eric Fester (Wing), Doug Nikolai (Wing), Skip Rodgers (Wing), Dave Mets (Full Back), Brad Rodgers (Full Back).

College All–Stars The inaugural All–Star Championship for college rugby players took place in Colorado Springs, CO from June 17–18."The Old College Try". (June 20, 1989). Gazette Telegraph, p.C1 col.4 Similar to the Inter Territorial Tournaments for club teams the college competition is divided by geographic union and used to select the All–American team that goes on to play other junior national rugby teams."Local". (June 23, 1989). Gazette Telegraph, p.C2 col.1 In the final the Eastern RU defeated the Western RFU 31–12. The final standings were 1st East, 2nd West, 3rd Pacific and 4th Midwest.

Semifinals:

Consolation Final:

Final:

Champions: Eastern Colonials Coaches: Tony Reynolds, Martyn Kingston, Ken Daly (manager). Roster: Chris Andres, Sal Augeri, Greg Bradshaw, Steve Brinson, Rich Brown, Edward Carroll, Darden Couch, Dan Durenberger, Jon Greenberg, Neil Guinan, Greg Hawes, Jeff Herb, Jim Johnson, James Keller, Chris Liles, Francis Mayer, Stu McLellan, Bruce Miller, Matt Miller, Kim Pipkin, Kareem Rifaat, Arien Sabban, Greg Schor, Bill Starkie, Greg Stiles, Mike Tolkin, Robard Williams.

All–Americans Shields (trainer), Porter (coach), Clark (coach), Kingston (coach), Reynolds (manager), Andres, Estep, Matthews, Bohman, Miller, R. Williams, Bracken, Allen, Greenberg, McPherson, Klinkenberg, Couch, Zugovitz, Keller, McKerras.

See also 1989 National Rugby Championships

References