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.Lassiter, Jim (May 15, 1989). "California Rugby Team Ruins This Philadelphia Story". Gazette Telegraph, sec.C p.1 col.1–4"Rugby". (May 15, 1989). Philadelphia Inquirer, p.5–E col.2 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.

Semifinals

Third place

Final

Champions: Old Mission Beach Athletic Club Staff: Bing Dawson (Coach), Mr. Rolls (Manager) Captain: Mike Saunders (Scrumhalf) Roster: Colin Cole (Scrumhalf), Rick Crivellone (Flanker), Pete Deddah (Flanker), Graham Downes (Prop), Steve Forster (Flyhalf), Dennis Gonzalez (Flanker), Kevin Higgins (Center), Ben Hough (Flanker), Mike Johnson (Wing), Peter Kuttel (Flanker), Jon Lee (Wing), Bill Leversee (Lock), Chris Lippert (Prop), Greg Lumping (Center), Duncan Lumsden (Wing), Charlie Montgomery (Fullback), Dennis Panish (Center), Dwayne Parker (Hooker), John Phillips (Flyhalf), Gary Stasco (Prop), Marty Trinkino (Hooker), Sam Vaka (Center), Brian Vizard (#8), Ron Zenker (Lock).

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."Rugby Championship Set". (May 11, 1989). The Advocate, p.8-F The Bay Area Shehawks won the title by defeating Florida State 9–4."Women's Rugby Takes Number 2 In Nation". (May 30, 1989). Florida Flambeau, p.7 col.1–2"Worth Noting". (May 29, 1989). Tallahassee Democrat, p.2D col.7 Beantown took third place."Rugby". (June 2, 1989). San Francisco Chronicle, p.D6 col.4 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 (Coach), Linda Chevalier, Alexander, Jessie Roberts, Andi Morrell, Brenda Trobaugh, Marti Watts, Law, Barbara Bond (Captain), Laura Burr, Annie Misko, Leal, Laura Karcher, Sandy Meredith, Mauldin, Zdarko.Florida State– Fahey, Sullivan, Hill, Kathy Kojm, Brown, Claire Sup, Morton, Kathy Flores (Captain), 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 9–14Schill, Chris (May 15, 1989). "Royal Ruggers Say Yanks Are Gaining". Dayton Daily News, p.5–B col.1–2 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 (Captain), Graham, Hobbs, Ferguson.Pensacola– Shield, Sands, Dyer, Parks, Yeager, Kowaleski, Lien (Captain), 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 (4–0–1) 2. Army (2–3) 3. Coast Guard (3–2) 4. Navy (2–1–1) 5. Marines (0–4)

Sevens Club The 1989 National Club Seven–a–side championship, was played at Lee District Park in Alexandria, Virginia on August 26 in conjunction with the Potomac Ruggerfest."Locally". (August 25, 1989). Washington Post, p.G2 col.2 There were eight teams featured which included two representatives from each of the four territorial unions. Akron and Quad City Irish qualified from the Midwest.Hente, Karl (August 27, 1989). "Maryland Team Wins National Clubs Title". Washington Post, p.B12 col.4–5 Maryland Old Boys and Northern Virginia qualified from the Eastern regional. OMBAC and Old Puget Sound Beach represented the Pacific Coast. Denver Barbarians and New Mexico Brujos 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.

Pool 1 First round OPSB 14–0 NM Brujos NOVA 14–10 QC Irish Second round QC Irish 30–0 OPSB NOVA 18–4 NM Brujos Third round NOVA 22–6 OPSB NM Brujos 16–10 QC Irish

Pool 2 First round Denver 16–12 OMBAC MOB 20–0 Akron Second round Denver 24–4 Akron MOB 24–4 OMBAC Third round MOB 22–6 Denver OMBAC 32–0 Akron

Semifinals

Consolation

Final

Champions: Maryland Old Boys Captain: Chris Petrakes Roster: Vince Granger, Mark Benson, Shaun Western, Andy Truesdale, John Redmond, Steve Burnham, Mark Miller, Don Lawrence, Will Brewington."Maryland". (August 28, 1989). USA Today, p.10C

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 27 in conjunction with the Potomac Ruggerfest. The East I team won the final over the Pacific I team. Midwest I came in third.

Pool 1 First round East I 16–10 Midwest II West I – Pacific II Second round East I 14–6 Pacific II West I – Midwest II Third round East I 14–12 West I Pacific II – Midwest II

Pool 2 First round Pacific I 28–0 West II Midwest I – East II Second round Pacific I 20–12 East II Midwest I – West II Third round Pacific I 26–10 Midwest I West II – East II

Semifinals

Consolation

Final

Champions: Eastern Colonials I Staff: Bob Davis (Manager), Emil Signes (Coach) Captain: Chris Petrakes (MOB)–Scrumhalf/Flyhalf Roster: Jimmy Wilkinson (NOVA)–Prop, Terrence Titus (Philadelphia Whitemarsh)–Hook/Prop, Tom Brewer (Union)–Prop, Charlie Wilkinson (NOVA)–Flyhalf, Steve Siano (Philadelphia Whitemarsh)–Flyhalf/Center, Rory Lewis (Washington)–Wing, Mark Miller (MOB)–Prop, Will Brewington (MOB)–Hooker."Maryland". (August 28, 1989). USA Today, p.10C

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.Simers, T.J. (May 28, 1989). "O'Brien Lends More Than A Foot To 30–7 Victory By Grizzlies". San Diego Union–Tribune, p.H–12 The East and West tied for first. The MVP was Western #8 Dave Poquette.

Results:

TeamWLFA1Eastern Colonials2156341Western Mustangs2158513Pacific Coast Grizzlies1261583Midwest Thunderbirds123264

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 (Coach), Hom (Trainer), Figone (Manager), Dr. Brewin (Coach), Dr. Toohey (Coach) Captain: Rich Pearson–Center (UC Berkeley) Roster: Scott Barbour-Flanker (Old Blues), Frank Bistrian-Lock (OMBAC), Chris Celsi-Wing (Old Blues), Henry Choi–Prop (Haggis), Pat Cronin-Fullback (CSU Chico), Dave DeMay-Flanker/#8 (Tucson Magpies), Matt Eshoo-Flanker (Santa Rosa), Chris Fiack-Wing (San Jose Seahawks), Doug Giles-#8 (San Francisco), King Holmes-Scrumhalf (Old Puget Sound), Alden Hough-Hooker (UC Santa Cruz), Greg Hulbert-Lock (Old Blues), Ryan Kelly-Flanker (Tucson Magpies), Gerard Lumkong-Center (OMBAC), Scot Marker-Lock (Las Vegas), Simon Matthews-Fullback/FH (U. Arizona), Dwight Pargee-Center (San Francisco), Rodi Quitiquit-Wing (Haggis), Mike Schneck-Hooker (San Jose Seahawks), Ian Sherman-Flyhalf (UC Davis), James Smith-Prop (UC Berkeley), John Velie-Scrumhalf (UC Berkeley), E.J. Wick-Prop (U. Arizona), Chris Williams–Wing (UC Berkeley).

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."Highland Seeded First In National Rugby Tourney". (May 19, 1989). Deseret News, p.2D col.1–3 The Highland squad from Utah won the championship by defeating Burlingame of California in the final.Baird, Joe (May 21, 1989). "Rams Repeat, Beat Guests For National Rugby Title". Salt Lake Tribune, p.D5 col.5-6 Xavier of New York took third."Prep Rugby". (May 21, 1989). San Francisco Examiner, p.C–15 col.4

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 (Coach), Mason, Wilcox, Jensen, Goates, Hawes, Parkin, Ebert, Becker (Captain), Berg, Rogers, Ellis, Matakaiongo, Turketo, Adamson, Latu.Burlingame– Mark Hoffmann (Coach), Sciandri, Bianchini, Benson, Clark, Monroe (Lipman), Quivy, Moli, Niu, Stein (Captain), Tonga (Vete), Fehoko (Bryan), Idiart, Pohahau, Lauese (Frost), Mahoni.

External links Philadelphia Whitemarsh vs OMBAC Final 1st Half Philadelphia Whitemarsh vs OMBAC Final 2nd Half National Club Sevens Final

References