EPRU Newsletter
Club Men
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The EPRU currently has 12 teams participating in intra-union divisional play and 2 teams as a non-divisional (at-large) members. The EPRU Division III teams compete each fall in a league matrix with the top three teams advancing to the MARFU Division III championships in the Spring. The EPRU Men's Division III Club Coordinator is responsible for all facets of the Division III and At-Large Men's Club programs. |
The Blackthorn Rugby Football Club was founded in 1971 by Marshall Sturm, John Galante, and Bob Kirkpatrick. Sturm had been a member of the Penn State Rugby Club and then played for Whitemarsh R.F.C. After playing several seasons for Whitemarsh, Sturm decided to form a club.
The team was mainly formed on the basis that we were starting many players at WCU that were no longer in school or were just living in West Chester (our founder being one!)(Rudy, Jack, Yacco, Litch, etc). This was obviously not fair to the college players. I think that there was also a desire to create something for the future. We still haven't met the goals of our own clubhouse and permanent pitch close to West Chester, but these are things we can strive for in the future.
A Rugby Club whose heart and soul were established in 2011 by a small group of rugby fanatics. We began to build on the dream of a full-on club and it has come to fruition! The club became a Recognized Member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union in September 2012.
The Doylestown Rugby Football Club (Men's Division) was formed in December of 1974 by Jo Stefano, Tony Stefano, Matt Tysinski, Gary Mount, and John Tomlinson(JT). Through the Doylestown Maennerchor Society, they gained access and built a rugby pitch on Cold Spring Creamery Road, Buckingham Township. In January of 1984, John Tomlinson was again instrumental in the formation of the Doylestown Junior Rugby Football Club (High School Boys). JT continues to coach today.
Harrisburg RFC, established in the autumn of 1969, now moves into its fifth decade. Club growth now includes men's, women's, old boys, old girls and high school teams.
The Hibernian Rugby Football Club was founded on January 21, 1976 by former Blackthorn RFC players along with some enthusiastic novices to the game. The club’s name is derived from Latin “Hibernia”, which the Romans called the wild and unconquerable island now know as Ireland.
The seeds of what would become the Jersey Shore Rugby Football Club were first sown during the summer of 1986. Three members of the South Jersey RFC, Roger Howell, Bill Regotti and your ever-faithful narrator, became tired of the long trips to Cherry Hill and beyond for practices and matches and were considering rugby retirement. After the spring season, and before retirement, the 3 amigos and assorted other rugby enthusiasts began practicing and playing touch rugby at the school field on the corner of 18th and Bay Avenue in Ocean City.
The Lehigh Valley Rugby Football Club is a non-profit corporation. Founded in 1998, the Club represents men's and women's rugby in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas. The Club also takes an oversight role for the High School and Youth teams. The men's team are full members of the EPRU. The LVRFC teams are also members territorially through the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union (MARFU) and nationally through USA Rugby.
Media Rugby Men’s Football Club played its first game in the spring of 1978. Three high school friends who were returning to the Media, PA area from college and had played collegiate rugby started the club. In the mid 1980’s Media assimilated Marple Rugby football club into its fold and continued to grow. Into the 1990’s and early 2000’s Media grew into a regional powerhouse.
The North Penn Men's Team currently fields two competitive side for player 18 and older. Players of all skill levels, from beginner to seasoned player are welcome to play.
The Northeast Philadelphia Rugby team, also known has the Irish, was founded in 2011. In a short time they have taken part in numerous tournaments including the Donnybrook Cup in early 2012 and were admitted to the EPRU as Recognized Members on February 6, 2012. They are still developing as a team but have high hopes for the future.
Old Gaelic RFC was formed in the winter of 1975 and became a Full Member of the EPRU in February 1987. The club participated in the Division 3 National Club Championship Series in 2010 and 2011.
The Philadelphia Gryphons Rugby Football Club (RFC) is a sports organization dedicated to encouraging participation, building athleticism, and improving our community through the sport of Rugby. We work to foster a diverse environment that welcomes all athletes, regardless of age, race, fitness level or sexual orientation. We are a member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union, competing in Division III play. phillygryphons@aol.com
Philadelphia Rugby Club was founded in 1961 in Philadelphia. The Whitemarsh Rugby Football Club started in 1967 in Whitemarsh Township Montgomery County Pennsylvania.The spring of 1985 brought the merger of the two clubs. Both clubs were seeing a decline in membership with Philadelphia having a secure pitch in Fairmount Park and Whitemarsh having a clubhouse with a club liquor license in Conshohocken and a dedicated coach in George Betzler. The decision was made!
Established in 1978 the Reading Rugby Football Club competes in the Eastern Penn Rugby Union. Currently the team competes at the Division III level against teams from the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S.
The Roses Rugby Football Club, (Roses RFC), is a rugby union team based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania that was founded in 2000. The club competes in, and is governed by, the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union, the Mid Atlantic Rugby Football Union, and USA Rugby.
Even though the Roses RFC plays in the city of Lancaster, the team formally extends its player membership and marketing to the nearby city of York. The team plays most of its home matches at Centerville Middle School in Lancaster, and at the York College of Pennsylvania.
Schuylkill River Exiles Rugby Club was founded in 1995 and is the only Men's Division I club that trains and plays in Philadelphia. Since its inception in 1995, the club’s accomplishments are a source of pride and the foundation on which it builds its future.
The legacy began in 1999, with the club securing the EPRU Division III championship and advancing to the final 8 in the Division III national playoffs.
Men's Division III Rugby Club located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. We play our home matches at the Phelps School in Malvern, PA. Practices are held at behind the Haverford Skatium. Most of our debauchery occurs at our sponsor, PJ Henry's in Havertown.
South Jersey RFC is in the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union and the Mid Atlantic Rugby Football Union. We are located in Cherry Hill, NJ, a ten-minute drive from Philadelphia and a 40 minute drive from the Jersey Shore resort beaches and Atlantic City Boardwalk Casinos. We are always looking for new players.
For over 30 years, the Wharton Rugby Football Club has represented the University of Pennsylvania on the pitch in heated competition against American rivals such as the Harvard Business School, Stanford University GSB, and the Kellogg School at Northwestern, as well as international competition such as the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM), the Smurfit School of Business at University College-Dublin, and the London Business School.
White Horse Rugby Football Club is a Division III Senior Mens Rugby team. New players of all skill levels are always welcome!
The Widener Rugby Football Club consists of approximately twenty-five members. Our club is a member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union, which is the second largest rugby union in the nation.
The Wilkes-Barre “Breakers” Rugby Football Club began back in 1973. The Breakers got our name due to this region of the United States that we live and play rugby in. The Wyoming Valley region of Pennsylvania was at one time famous for mining coal. The Breakers adopted the heritage of this region and our colors are black and red. The black symbolizes the coal from the mines and the red stands for the blood of the miners who died in the mines. Our logo shows the skull of a miner with his hardhat on, and the crossed pickaxe and sledgehammer symbolize the tools of his trade.
We are a Division II Men's Club competing in the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union. If you are interested in playing or learning more about rugby, contact us by clicking here, or just stop by a practice or game. Feel free to browse the site to learn more about the team.
