Boston RFC (United States)
Boston Rugby Football Club (BRFC) is a Super League rugby union team based in Boston, Massachusetts. The club is competes in, and is governed by, the New England Rugby Football Union (their LAU), the Northeast Rugby Union (their TAU), and USA Rugby.
History
1960-1998
BRFC was formed in 1960 but was not considered a nationally competitive club until 1996 when Beacon Hill Rugby Football Club, a spawn of BRFC that separated from the parent club in 1968, rejoined BRFC to ensure depth and competitiveness [1]. Prior to the merge, the club had been one of the top regional clubs in New England. From 1970 through 1998, the club won twenty-two New England Rugby Football Union championships, but it was never able to attain consistent success at the national level. During that same time period, it reached the national competition four times and earned fourth place finishes in both 1983 and 1985[1].
USA Eagles
During the 1970s and 1980s, Boston RFC was the home club for many forwards, particularly locks, who played for the USA Eagles in international tests.
1998-present: The Super League Years
The Super League was formed in 1996 by USA Rugby to create a national competition amongst the premier clubs in the United States. During its first expansion in 1998, Boston RFC was one of two teams invited to join the competition (the other being Philadelphia Whitemarsh RFC). Since joining the competition, Boston has been one of the weakest clubs in Super League play. The club has amassed a 19-40-2 record as of the beginning of the 2007 season. From 2004 through 2006, Boston recorded a 2-18-0 record, and was outscored by 598 points (an average of thirty points per game). Other clubs that compete in the Premier Division have fared much better than Boston against Super League clubs during that period[2][3][4]. Despite failing in the Super League competition, BRFC has remained one of the better clubs in regional competitions and tournaments since entering the Super League. They have won four New England Rugby Football Union Division I Championships since becoming a member of the Super League. The club fields four sides, which compete at various regional and national levels. The third XV has been met with some success at the national level, having won the USA Rugby National Third Division Championships in 2000.
International Tours
Since 1977, BRFC has embarked on several international tours, the most recent being to the Cayman Islands in 2000. They have also toured Great Britain (twice), Ireland (three times), Wales, France (three times), New Zealand, and Australia[5].
Honors
Sponsorship
The SuperLeague's primary sponsor is Michelob Amber Bock and as such, each individual team receives a portion of those revenues. In addition to Amber Bock, Boston RFC has individual sponsorships. These consist of several secondary sponsorships from local and regional businesses. [6]
Notable Players
The following is a list of former and current BRFC players that have earned caps for international tests[7]
Australia
Bob Egerton, scrum-half [8]
Canada
- Jim Yeganagi, flanker, two international caps [9]
England
- Frank Sykes
USA
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Wales
External links
References
- ^ a b Official BRFC history
- ^ Official Statistics - 2004
- ^ Official Statistics - 2005
- ^ Official Statistics - 2006
- ^ BRFC International Tours
- ^ Official BRFC Sponsors
- ^ List of BRFC players with international caps
- ^ Bob Egerton Player Profile on Classic Wallabies
- ^ Jim Yeganagi Player Profile on scrum.com
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Player Profiles on usarugby.org
- ^ WRU - "International Legends Celebrate WRU Landmark" 15 December 2005
- ^ Mike Roberts Player Profile on SportsStat