Baton Rouge Rugby Football Club

The Baton Rouge Rugby Football Club (also known as BRRFC), founded in 1977, is a men's rugby union team based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States. The club competes in and is governed by the True South and USA Rugby.[1]

BRRFC
Full nameBaton Rouge Rugby Football Club
UnionUSA Rugby
Founded1977
LocationBaton Rouge, Louisiana
Ground(s)Highland Road Park
League(s)True South
Official website
www.batonrougerugby.net

History

Founded in 1977, the club has been a cornerstone of the rugby community boasting healthy numbers and excellent play. Being in Louisiana provided the club distinct advantages with food and culture in the southern region - rugby has been an excellent addition to the Baton Rouge Area. BR RFC has attracted diverse players over the years boasting Men who have worked in Oil/Chemical, Engineers, Lawyers, Doctors, Nurses, Beer Distributors, Semi-Pro Athletes just to name a few.

Many players are from the surrounding areas: Lafayette, Mandeville, Hammond and New Orleans but also international invites have had players from Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.

Up until 1991, Baton Rouge played as a Division I Rugby Team, where they secured many national invites, namely the 1985 National Championship game vs Philadelphia Whitemarsh. The club has had a myriad of success throughout the years even after transitioning to Division II rugby in 1992. The Club participates in many local Baton Rouge Charities; most notably Toys for Tots, the BR Women's Shelter, Youth Rugby and the Red Cross.

Notable Matches and Accomplishments
  • 1979: ERU National Championship Game
  • 1980, 1982, 1984: Regional Finals Qualifier
  • 1985: ERU National Championship Game
  • 1993: ERU National Championship Runner-up
  • 1994: ERU National Championship Runner-up
  • 2013: True South Rugby - West Champions
  • 2014: True South Rugby - West Champions

Founding Members

Founding members include: Hookers, Phil Siccone and Tyrone Yokum; props, Jim Brugh, Reggie Davis, Steve Hazel, and Bob ‘Santa’ Lundsford; locks, Bob Causey and Tom Gagneaux; loose forwards, Barry Haney, Rob Wright, Gary Meyers, and Wayne Fontanelle; No. 8, Mark Lawson and Rick Odom; back, Frank Perkins, Johnny Mclean, Clay Mahaffey, Paul Lachin, Phil Lachin, Bob Dow, Les Bratton, Bill Bratton, Donnie Bratton, and the Hammond connection; Bob Tuminello, Gene Hampton, Bobby Guidera, and Jim Morris.

Tournaments

Baton Rouge Rugby puts on two tournaments every year - The Redfish Sevens Tournament and the Ho-Ho-Ho Tournament for Charity.

Redfish Sevens

The Redfish Tournament is a Rugby Sevens round-robin game. All clubs of any age group, male and female may participate. The tournament usually boasts 25-40 teams every year for the sevens non-qualifier sometime between June and July.

Ho-Ho-Ho Tournament

The Ho-Ho-Ho Tournament is a co-ed scrimmage that occurs every year in December to raise money for Toy-for-Tots, the BR RFC's target charity work every year. In 2016, the club donated 200+ Toys and $400 to the local area Toys for Tots at Happy's Bar. The Scrimmage is unique as players dress up in santa themed outfits and play a toned-down game of rugby so injuries can be avoided. Players come from around the state of Louisiana to participate as ages 17+ are welcome.

Rugby Union Memberships

The Baton Rouge Rugby Football Club was originally a member of Deep South Rugby Football Union.

In the late 1990s, the club moved to the Texas Geographical Union where they competed against other TGU Division 1/2 teams such as: Dallas, Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Shreveport. Baton Rouge later returned to the Deep South Rugby Union in 2009, converting back to a Division 2 squad.

In 2013, the Deep South Rugby Union became a subdivision of the True South Geographical Union, later becoming True South Rugby where Baton Rouge currently competes against its main rivals:

  • Birmingham RFC
  • Jackson RFC
  • Memphis RFC

Practice/Field Location

Currently, BR RFC practices and plays at Highland Road Park located in Baton Rouge, LA

See also

References
  1. "USA Club Rugby: Geographical Unions". usarugby.org/. Archived from the original on 2014-02-13. Retrieved 2014-03-04.
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