old blues rugby club berkeley
The Americans ran out on the field amid a deafening cacophony of jeers. At halftime Hawley has his head wound checked. Football has become a television show before a live studio audience. The Old. The money was raised in San Francisco. Several San Diego State alumni are on the teams roster of 60-plus, and six former Aztecs are on the 25-man traveling squad that will play in Albany. So Stanfill took on Colin Hawley as a project, having him stay overnight when he tired of the drive. We are regulated by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement as an Internet gaming operator in accordance with the Casino Control Act N.J.S.A. Amateur rugby club in NYC. In 1936, the Stanford Rugby team won the Pacific Coast championship and carried on a winning campaign in Canada against the Universities of British Columbia, the Vancouver Rowing Club, and the All Stars from Victoria. In another season or two they will run out of fence. We welcome new players looking to join one of the premier rugby clubs in the United States. Mike Kane / The Chronicle **Tom Rooke, University of California Golden Bears rugby team await their coach before taking the field to play St. Mary's at Witting Rugby Field in Berkeley on Saturday, January, 13, 2007. photo taken: 1/13/07 Reserve players -- who could be starters on most college rugby clubs -- have been setting up the stands and climb-ing the Cyclone fence to hang the 22 National collegiate championship banners, ending with 2004, 2005 and 2006. . 15s Club Rugby | ncrfu Old Blue's Columbia University Origins | Ivy Rugby Conference A Cal football recruit would never set foot in here. Cal's Louis Stanfill emerges with the ball during the Bears' 32-17 win over the University of British Columbia in the World Cup. California Rugby Advisory Board - California Golden Bears Athletics President Theodore Roosevelt threatened to outlaw it by presidential fiat unless the national rules committee made changes that satisfied the Eastern schools. Nonetheless, seven players of the 1920 team dusted off their boots, raised $20,000, and found some massive football players who had never even seen a Rugby match, and headed for England-where they were trounced four times in practice sessions. Women's rugby, ironically, has also led to more public exposure to the game itself and men's rugby has profited greatly by it. Northern California was the first Local Area Union to have 25 or more high school teams actively engaged in league competition. See how we. Mike Kane / The Chronicle **Louis Stanfill But that is still not the end of it. Medical Director, Doctor On Demand; Faculty Mentor, Educators-4-CARE; Department of Veterans Affairs Secretarys Award for Outstanding Achievement In Service to, Homeless Veterans; Chief Resident, Stanford University Medical Center; Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Commendation for Service to Veterans; NIH/NMA Fellowship Travel Award, Cal BA English 1994, University of Chicago MD 2002, Stanford Hospital Residency 2005, Assistant Football Coach, Chabot College; Rugby Coach, Old Blues, Hayward Griffins, U-19, Rugby Player 1971-75, Football Player 1972-74, All-California High School Football, 1970 (Claremont); Freshman MVP, Cal Football, Cal Rugby Captain, 1973-75; Pelicans Rugby 1976-87, California Grizzlies Rugby 1979-87, USNT 1981-87, Cal BS Kinesiology 1975, Cal State Hayward MS Kinesiology 1977, Real Estate Broker, Pacific Union International, CEO James Warren & Son Realtors; Sr. VP/Creative Director, Foote, Cone & Belding; Wilton Combs and Colnett; VP/Creative Director J. Walter Thompson; Sr. But it doesn't mean there are scholarships. The Rugby heroes returned to the Bay Area without much fanfare. Theyll be back.. The first match was played in November 1873 against the Christ's Hospital 1st XV, on a field in Palmer's Green. Berkeley All Blues Women's Rugby Team | Berkeley CA - Facebook This was one year before the formation of the United States Rugby Union. "If you don't have a field that is named for you, over time it will be a parking lot or it will be artificial turf or it will be some other thing." After clearing their lines, OWs were then on the back foot. STL Blues @ LA Kings Hockey Betting Odds & Lines: Player Props We are proud to field 4 teams that cater to all levels of experience throughout the year: Women's Premier League (WPL), Division 2, Sevens, and High School. Cal lost to the Phoenix club 7 - 4. "Great old school classy bar with fine liquor offerings in jazzy clean upscale setting. The game jerseys look more like what Jack Nicholson would wear in a romantic comedy. SoCal did the same. 1961) sides from which it sprang. Everyone writes off the Boston Celtics every year, but they always come back. First played in November 1985, the tournament moved to the summer in 1986 and has been a fixture of the summer rugby season in the United States ever since. Particular mention should also be given to the number of debutants who had their first league game with the 1s: Max Greaves, Josh Heath, George Ratcliffe, Adam Wilkinson, Euan Copeland, Joe Jenkins, great shift from all the lads who have put a lot of effort in to pre-season over the last few weeks. But the primary reason for the clubs success, according to those involved, is its beneficial relationship with the parent Old Mission Beach Athletic Club. Feet stomping. Then he turns and says simply "effort," letting the word fall heavy on their shoulders. Estudiantes de La Plata. The Best 10 Jazz & Blues in Berkeley, California - Yelp Established in the fall of 1963 by six Columbia University Alumni, The Old Blue RFC's mission is to compete and to win at highest possible level of American club rugby. From dominance of the storied Old Blues through a consistent Berkeley All Blues Women's Rugby Team to Wisconsin Women's Rugby's first title, #USARugby looks back at the USA Club Rugby National. Mark Davey then crashed over to put the OBs 12-5 up. Full Zip pro Active Jacket. Dress Shirt Classic Pink. But we have had to work to attract quality athletes., OMBACs evolution into a rugby powerhouse has not occurred without criticism. Proof came at the Cal-Washington football game in October on an Indian Summer afternoon. Inc., a 501c(3) non-profit organization. Getting to Albany is just one step of many, Mike Saunders, OMBACs captain, said. . Asked if he was worried when his protege cracked heads, Stanfill jokes, "Well, he always was fragile.". Equality for women in sports has been a wonderful and righteous thing. Listed below are members of the NCRFU All-Star team who defeated the Southern California All-Stars in 1974 in San Francisco at the Polo Fields. Why Join Clubs at Berkeley? Request materials at least 2 business days in advance. "The field is critical to us," says Clark. David Witter is a freshman and, like his classmates on the team, is expected to be there at 9 a.m. on a Saturday hanging banners, selling sweatshirts, politely passing out programs. The Old Blues host Old Puget Sound April 5 and Old Mission Beach. This brought to a close what has been called "one of the strangest and yet most spectacular eras in the history of Pacific Coast Football. But thats not wrong. And was very close friends with many of his team mates such as Chuck Hextrum, Steve Rivera, John Dixon and Jack Clark. "An old oak tree hangs over one of the touch lines," says Clark. Chairman, CEO & Founder, CBRE Philippines, Inc. Rugby Player 1987-88, Football Player 1986-87, Oxford Univ. NCRFU History | ncrfu Coach 2003-08, Cal Athletic Hall of Fame, Inducted 2012; Bear Backer Since 1970, Mobilization Assistant to Vice Commander, Pacific Air Forces; Pilot, Delta Airlines, Legion of Merit, Air Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor, U.S. Air Force Academy BS 1982; Touro University MBA 2008, Vice President of Sales - North America, Lithium Technologies, Director of Sales, CrowdFlower / Adobe; Co-Founder, StealthHD, Cal BS Political Science 2007, Oxford Said Business School MA Management 2009, Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers; Listed in Best Lawyers in America, Cal BS 1976, UC Hastings College of Law JD 1976, USNT Jr. 1985; USNT 1987-89; Founder Olympic Club Rugby 1991-94, Managing Director, CH Investment Partners (2020-present), Chief Client Officer, North American Specialty Hospital (2017-19), Managing Director, UBS (2013-15); Managing Director, Bank of America Merrill Lynch (2009-12), Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, TMB Bank Bangkok, CEO, Retail Banking Asia, Private Banking Worldwide, ING Group; CEO, ING Baring; Head of Investment Management and Private Banking Asia, Head of European Equities and Equity Derivatives, JP Morgan, Captain, Belgian National Rugby Team, 40 selections; President, Belgian Rugby Federation; Member, Singapore Rugby Union Management Committee, Msc Engineering Brussels University 1973, MBA Columbia 1977, Former Commanding Officer TOPGUN Adversary Squadrons VFC-111, VFC-13, Current TOPGUN Adversary F-5 Pilot, Tactical Air Support, Aviation Hall of Fame 2018, Fighter Pilot of the Year, Adversary Pilot of the Year, UK Britannia Award Recipient, All-Military Rugby Team, All-Navy Rugby Team 1986-1994, Sr. Vice President, Wells Fargo Realty Finance; Director, Colliers International, Former President, San Francisco Grid Club; Former Member, UC Berkeley Foundation, Cal BA 1970, University of Chicago MBA 1978, CEO, Asurion, Worldwide; Managing Director, CEO, Bain & Company; Co-Founder, Focus; Board of Directors, Charles Schwab, Bridgespan Group, Cal Economics & History 1985, Stanford MBA 1990, Old Blues Player 1977-86, Head Coach 1987-91; USNT Captain 1985-86, Deputy Commissioner of Inland Revenue, Kingdom of Tonga (Retired), CEO & Secretary General, Tonga National Olympic Committee; CEO, Tourism Tonga, Vice President Business & Legal Affairs FOX Sports, Board Member, Sports Lawyers Association; Santa Monica Rugby Club Old Boy of the Year; Speaker Boalt Hall Sports and Law Conference, Cal AB History 1976, JD San Fernando Valley College of Law 1979, Attorney, Sedgwick, Detert, Moran and Arnold; In-House Counsel, NaviSite, Inc.; Attorney, Bradley Curley Asiano & McCarthey; Attorney, Jackson & Wallace, Rugby Player 1984-88, Assistant Coach 2000-01; Football Player 1983-86, Rugby All-America 1985-88, Captain 1988, Woodley Award Winner 1987, 1988); Football Co-captain, Honorable Mention All Pac-10 1986; Daily Cal Male Athlete of the Year 1988; USNT 1986-94; Rugby World Cup 1987, 1991, 1993; Captain 1993 Sevens RWC; Oxford Varsity Blue 1989, 1990; Inducted into Cal Athletic Hall of Fame 1997; Board Member, Glenn T. Seaborg Award; Board Member, Lamorinda Rugby Club; Coach, Lamorinda RFC, Cal BA Social Sciences 1988, Masters/JD Oxford 1991, Teacher and Coach, Glendale (AZ) Union High School District, Football Player, NFL Washington Redskins and Baltimore Colts, USFL Birmingham Stallions and Arizona Wranglers, Rugby Player 1972-75; Football Player 1973-74, Member Old Blues Rugby Club, 1979 National Club Champions; Arizona Big Schools High School Football Coach of the Year; Sunnyslope High School Achievement Above All, Teacher of the Year Chaparral High School; on staff of two Arizona State High School Football State Championship Teams, Cal 1972-75, ASU BS Sociology 1989, Northern Arizona Masters in Education Leadership 2002, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs & Co., New York, Board Member, Buying Time Foundation; Board Member, Part of the Solution, Commercial Builder/Developer, Principal, Hornaday Development, LLC, Vice President, Resident Manager, Coldwell, Banker & Company 1974-78; Partner, Samuelson/Hornaday 1978-Present, Founder, Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. join. Berkeley - Ruggers Team Stores The final score is 33-12. Berkeley Mens Polo Shirt $34.99 Berkeley Social Jersey $60.00 Berkeley Knit Hat $15.99 Information. It wasn't like this when Loren Hawley played in the 1960s or Head Coach Jack Clark played in the 1970s. Cal is the only men's rugby team with full varsity status among 327 Division I schools. "I would say there must have been 15 or 20 of us off the football team who would just go right to rugby," recalls Clark, an offensive lineman. Mike Kane / The Chronicle CQ LOUIS STANFILL, Cal rugby number 8 Louis Stanfill and teammates congratulate the University of British Columbia from Vancouver Canada after their match in Berkeley, CA, on Wednesday, February, 21, 2007. Berkeley All Blues Rugby is a fiscally sponsored project of P.A.S.S. The Old Blue Rugby Football Club's initial impact forty four years ago in official Eastern Rugby Union league play proved to be an even more auspicious beginning than that of the championship Columbia College RFC (Est. An excellent performance for OBs start to the season, as the 2s also had a convincing win at home. Combine as many ads as you wish for one flat rate. Founded in 1963. 1994: Old Blues Rugby (CA) 1995: Old Mission Beach Athletic 1996: Northern Virginia Rugby 1997: San Mateo Rugby . "An honor to be a part of such a legacy.". As a defender, he'll tackle by grabbing a jersey and pulling. 194 Following. Mike Kane / The Chronicle, Tom Rooke, right, freshman, from Bloomfield Hills, MI, plays flanker versus UC Davis at Berkeley, CA, on Saturday, January, 27, 2007. photo taken: 1/27/07 Berkeley, CA berkeleyallblues.com Joined October 2010. The event is streamed online annually, typically on YouTube or The Rugby Channel. In l910, a combined Universities team from Cal, Stanford, and the University of Nevada (the Wolf-Pack) toured Australia and New Zealand. Once again Rugby slid into oblivion as architects designed football stadiums seating up to 100,000.Rugby rebounded, however, in 1932 when US Olympic teammates Ed "Mush" Graff, Lefty Rogers, and a few others incorporated theNorthern California Rugby Football Union. The San Diego State program has served as a feeder program to OMBAC. For the past few years, OMBAC has worked in a methodical and organized fashion to strengthen its team, turning it into one of the countrys top rugby organizations. As many as 26,000 flocked to Rugby's Big Games between Cal and Stanford. 18 00 18.00. Student Clubs and Orgs: Where to Begin? - Life 1991; Oxford PPE 1992, Financial Advisor Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner, & Smith, Inc. Chairman and Founder, Integration Solutions, Inc. As of the 20/21 season the 1st XV competes in RFU Surrey 2 and the 2nd XV competes in Surrey Combination 1 North. Cal Rugby Jerry Figone Retires A hot shower is calling, but first there is the reserve-grade game, to watch in its entirety. The culmination of that work occurred April 17, when OMBAC beat the defending national champion, Old Blues of Berkeley, coming back from a 16-3 deficit to score 25 unanswered points for a 28-16 victory. The All-Blacks won again but by a score of 53 - 6. 1989 BMW 3-Series Red Car Old Blues Rugby Club Berkeley Original Color Print Ad $10.99 + $5.49 shipping 1989 BMW 3-Series Red Coupe Old Blues Rugby Club Photo Original Color Print Ad $10.99 Free shipping First Legacy Final Bf5 Touring Wagon Advertisement Blues Willis A3 Size Check Po $39.20 + $19.99 shipping Picture Information The Old Blues Rugby Club competes in the first division of the Northern California As a visual aid, Stanfill is the only one with gold shoes and Hawley is the only one with blue long sleeves. Sold Out. In the late nineties and early years of the new millennium, Rugby in Northern California has seen a vast increase in the number of Polynesian rugby players (Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji). "We don't want anything we can't pay for ourselves.". Both sides play home matches in Motspur Park, South West London. The loss of varsity status for men's rugby on many of the campuses meant the loss of scholarship football players who easily adapted to the physical challenges of rugby. The game ended in a tie 7 - 7. One could say that that remains true even today with such a great many players and fans who come from Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, France, and other rugby playing countries.Living far from home in a frontier city, these British souls attempted to develop some semblance of the game they knew and loved so well. Game/Practice Field Location : Tom Bates Regional Sport Complex. The rugby dressing room sits right on the fault line and is where they stick the visiting team for football games, to get them rattled. By the time the US Rugby team arrived in Europe, Czechoslovakia and Romania had withdrawn from competition, and France, having won the European championship, was reluctant to play such a rag tag group of inexperienced Californians. The Golden Bears came from behind to win 32-17. photo taken: 2/21/07 Still woozy, he gets up and walks among the Cal parents, looking for his dad. Member Old Blues Rugby Club, 1979 National Club Champions; Arizona Big Schools High School Football Coach of the Year; Sunnyslope High School Achievement Above All, Teacher of the Year Chaparral High School; on staff of two Arizona State High School Football State Championship Teams "Show support" is all he has to say, and stiff muscles ease onto cold aluminum benches, including Hawley with a possible concussion. For up to date information as to practice times and locations, as well as game times and locations, please call the Old Blues Hotline at (510) 601-9986. Fun atmosphere with a great selection of local beer, including" more Delivery Takeout 8. A well-organized team is a successful team. When Stanfill comes along, he expresses himself another way, with a bear hug. On November 3, 1877, the freshmen of the University of California at Berkeley challenged the sophomores to a game of "football." Old Blues RFC - Wikipedia 1996 - 2000 The earliest Blues logo reflected the original name of the team. Cal and Notre Dame also staged some epic battles, which could also have laid claim to a national championship. Old Blues Rugby Club | Founded 1873 Excellent Title Chasing Rugby + Superb Social based in Motspur. Jon Jones vs Ciryl Gane MMA Betting Odds & Lines | DraftKings Sportsbook Shouting. Ran on: 02-22-2007 The Old Blues, an outgrowth of the University of California's highly successful program, has won the national club championship seven times in the nine years it has been held. Men DIII & Women DII. Only a rugby player would be caught dead in these "Oski sweaters," as Stanfill calls them. Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. Next, Cal nipped the Phoenix club 7 - 6 and humbled the Allies 13 - 0. It isn't a perfect pitch, like Stanford's, where the Final Four will be played in May. The Starry Plough Both Stanfill and Hawley plan to do that. No further treatment necessary. Games were played in the winter mud in the deserted stadium, and nobody seemed to notice. In the early 1970s, rock musicwhich had been central to the counterculture of the '60swas becoming an ever-more massive business. Women's rugby clubs began springing on many college and university campuses across the nation. Founded in 1978, the Berkeley All Blues are one of the country's top women's rugby teams. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Just before half-time OWs answered with a try of their own, to bring the scoreline to OBs 15-10 OWs and provided a warning to the Blues not to settle into complacency. . This kind of disorganized football foolishness continued for four years. When you meet players they will wear out your hand shaking it before, during and after a conversation. It is an awkward up-and-down commute, but nobody complains. The Junior Pelicans team was established in l979 and defeated the Southwestern Ontario Union Rep. team in its first game. Because it is governed not by the NCAA, but by USA Rugby, they are eligible to play five years. All Blues Rugby (@AllBluesRugby) / Twitter Affiliations. In 1884, Cal beat the Merions and Wanderers 19 - 0 and 9 - 0 respectively. Devised in New Brunswick, New Jersey on Nov. 6, 1869, when Princeton played Rutgers, this game was what we know today as American gridiron football. Beginning with the season of 1906, the high schools and colleges of California dropped American-style football in favor of Rugby. Digging in deep, OBs managed to turn over a scrum and force a penalty. Individuals can donate on PayPal or shop online at Amazon Smile (select Performing Arts Social Society (P.A.S.S., Inc.)! OBs were under pressure at times with some interesting clearance kicks (Davey) not quite finding their mark. *Some pundits have suggested (lightheartedly) that this meaning could be applied equally to all those who play referee and administer the sport of rugby. In Memorium: Bailey fought hard to the whistle all of his life He may have a concussion. Berkeley All Blues Rugby is a competitive, member-run team of USA Rugby. Our website uses cookies to give you a better website experience, by using this website you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Blane Warhurst - United States Rugby Foundation | Growing Grassroots This ended Rugby as an Olympic event. Welcome to the Bedford Blues Official Club Shop Search. Eagles Brian Vizzard, from Michigan State, and Kevin Higgins, from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, came to OMBAC last season. The growth and development of the game in Northern California owes a great deal to all those contributors, too numerous to put on one page, who have left such a great legacy. A tournament in Pebble Beach mixed club and college teams to crown an unofficial national champion, then they drained some kegs and sang some songs. Bigger, better, and bluer since 1978! In 1775, the Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de Ayala was the first to sail into what is now known as San Francisco Bay - his expedition mapped the bay, and named one of the three islands, Alcatraces, and over time the name was Anglicized to Alcatraz. If a new player needs a job or a place to live, he can plug into the clubs existing network. The Americans had won the gold medal. The Keystone Berkeley, which hosted performances between 1972 and 1984 at 2119 University Avenue, was a nightclub where experimentation was the order of the day, and musicians and music lovers alike could come together to experience music for music's sake.. Unfortunately, the French fans rioted in the stands after their defeat. themaestroofrock.com Informacin detallada del sitio web y la empresa "Cal rugby is a one-of-a-kind experience," says Hawley. But beyond the apparent disorder, there is a form and a structure to the game of rugby. BRFC have a competitive A-side team, but also field: a B side for part-time/less experienced players, an Old Boys team (the "BOBs.") Over summer, BRFC play touch rugby twice a week, and have a rugby 7s team. When the match starts, it becomes obvious why football and rugby have drifted apart. Stanfill, 21, a two-time All-American and reigning MVP of the national championships, is building a legend that will be right up there with Hawley Sr., 42 seasons later. Cart 0. Powered By. Maximum 5 items per day. CEO, James Properties; Land and Cattle, LLC; Rugby Partners Inc. CEO, BEAR Data Solutions, Inc.; Managing Partner & Cofounder, Nimble Epitech LLC; Managing Principal, SC Wireless Solutions and SCMSP; EVP of Sales and Marketing; VP Sales, CAT Technology; Director, US & Canada West Region Channel Sales, AppDynamics; CEO, Pacific Rim Environmental, Rugby Player 1981-85; Football Player 1981-84, All-Pac-10 1983; Japan Bowl 1984; Four-time Rugby All-American, USNT 1987-94, Oxford Varsity Blue, Old Blues two-time National Club Champion; Cal Athletic Hall of Fame, Inducted 2010, Cal BA Political Science 1985, Oxford Diploma Legal Studies 1991, CEO & Founder, ONEHOPE; Partner & Board Member, Booshaka, District Manager, Gallo Wine; Supervisor, Stanford Student Storage, President, Film, TV, & Branded Entertainment, Rabbit Content; Sr. VP, Film Development & Production, Feature Films, Icon Productions, Cal BA Political Economy 1986, MSc. But the l924 Olympics ("Chariots of Fire") caused France to challenge the US to defend its title. (select Performing Arts Social Society (P.A.S.S., Inc.)! Back then the rugby roster was filled out after the last football game. With five minutes left, a St. Mary's forward takes a pass and comes straight at Hawley. Mike Kane / The Chronicle, RUGBYMAGXX_3312_MBK.JPG The All Blues were founded in 1978, and have since supported female athletes and promoted women's rugby at all levels across the Bay Area. The Northern California RU has been one of the most successful of all the Local Area Unions in many respects. 6 in the nation, is the first test of the No. Mike Kane / The Chronicle **Tom Rooke, Cal rugby number 8 Louis Stanfill takes a hit while carrying the ball against UC Davis at Berkeley, CA, on Saturday, January, 27, 2007. photo taken: 1/27/07 The Old Blues have recently invested heavily in new playing and social facilities, with a balcony overlooking the pitches completed in 2022. During the off season the club tours annually and enters several 7's tournaments in the Surrey and South London area. "St. Mary's is out there waiting to ambush you right now.". With regular guest coaches from across professional game. bristol rugby players 1960s The actual ad you are buying is the one pictured above. He and other members who have been with the club from its early days in the late 1960s--including OMBACs current coach, Bing Dawson, and club president, Pat Boyle--decided around 1980 to work to build OMBAC into a team of national prominence, capable of attracting top talent. Colon de Santa Fe. American football was fierce, and as time went on and injuries mounted, the public became alarmed at its brutalities. Location Old Blues Rugby Berkeley, California All-Time Tournament Statistics All-Time Record: 10-3 Men . Best Winning Percentage (Minimum 30 games played): Most Appearances (Overall and Consecutive): Largest margin of victory in a Cup Final: 54, by Old Mission Beach Athletic (54-0; 2002 Club 7s), This page was last edited on 18 January 2023, at 00:30. Serving the East Bay, the Berkeley RFC is a nonprofit Rugby Club that brings together rugby lovers from across Bay Area. The Northern California Rugby Union has had to make many modifications and adjustments in the new era of professional rugby. Founded in 1873, Old Blues RFC is an English rugby union club. Love, Poverty And War: Journeys And Essays [PDF] [5qkamljh8p80] In l913, the New Zealand All-Blacks came to the West Coast, completing a successful European tour winning all thirteen of their games. That's what makes it a little bit of a cathedral, like Fenway Park.". The USA Rugby Union was not founded until 1975, and up until that time, the biggest event of the rugby season was the annual California North-South game, largely dominated by the strong Northern California teams.