Kutztown Rugby Football Club

History

The Kutztown Rugby Football Club was founded in 1984, by Kutztown University student Andrew Lewis. The newborn rugby club was coached two years by Ernie Galgon, a member of the Bethlehem Hooligans RFC and resident of Kutztown, Pennsylvania.

In the fall of 1986, Dr. Gregg Jones (Doc) became the club's full time head coach after playing eighteen years of top flight, division one, representative rugby. The 1986 campaign was the first winning season in the club's history. The Golden Bears went 9-1, with their only loss, being a 6-0 loss to Temple University, played in monsoon conditions. In the spring of 1986, Kutztown went undefeated and won their first of five consecutive Temple Invitational Tournaments

As an associate member (trial period) of the EPRU, the club could not yet compete in the EPRU playoff system until it was finally admitted to the Union as a full-bodied member, in 1988. The club continued with outstanding on-field accomplishments. 1988 and 1989 were highlighted by a victory over University of Buckinghamshire 22-0, which was a touring side that stopped at Kutztown for a midweek warm-up match before playing powerhouse Lehigh University. Kutztown was the only team to defeat the team on their tour of the Eastern seaboard.

In 1988, the Kutztown Rugby Club participated in their first international tour when the club traveled to the Freeport Rugby Club to participate in their spring break tournament. The one-week tour saw the Golden Bears come home unblemished, with victories over Florida State, Tulane and Williams College. The side finished the home campaign with only four losses in two calendar years. [url=http://eteamz.active.com/kurugby/news/index.cfm?cat=302962]

Initial Success

In 1989, the Bears traveled to the Tucson Desert Classic. The Golden Bears defeated their first nationally ranked, top ten team when they took down the University of Wisconsin (# 10) in their opening match. The club dropped their next match to nationally ranked, University of Arizona (#4).

The years of 1990 and 1991 saw the club flourish with an excess of seventy players reporting to practices and two undefeated regular seasons the EPRU Collegiate Division. In 1991, Kutztown played in their first EPRU Championship, losing to nationally ranked University of Pennsylvania. The next seven consecutive years, Kutztown University Rugby reached the finals of the EPRU Championship game, winning in 1995 and 1997.

In 1993, the club was once again thrust onto the national scene, when Brian Dettling became the first Kutztown player ever named to the USA Rugby, All-American 1st Team. Also in 1994, two Golden Bears, Brian Donnelly and Mark Weibner, were named to the USA Rugby All-American 1st Team. [url=http://eteamz.active.com/kurugby/news/index.cfm?cat=302962]

Wales Tour

In 1995, the club, consisting of seventy players, 1st side, 2nd side and alumni side, traveled to Wales for their second international tour. The team was trying to prepare for their first upcoming MARFU Final Four appearance at George Mason University. The Golden Bears finished thirteenth in the nation and defeated the U.S. Naval Academy in the late spring at home. Mark Wiebner was once again named to the All-American Team in 1995. [url=http://eteamz.active.com/kurugby/news/index.cfm?cat=302962]

Tournament Appearances

The years from 1996 to 2000, the club gained victories in the prestigious Savannah Rugby Tournament and the Clemson Invitational Tournament over The University of Georgia, The University of Arkansas and Clemson University. The Bears won the EPRU Championship in 1997 and 2000, along with a MARFU Final Four appearance in the year 2000.

The club won the following tournaments in the spring of 2005: Austin Texas Classic, Pittsburgh Classic, Big Apple Classic, finishing the spring season with a 17-2 overall record. The Bears went undefeated in the fall season of 2005, culminating with another EPRU Championship and qualified for their twelfth consecutive MARFU Tournament appearance. The Golden Bears have not had a losing season since Dr. Jones took over the reins in 1986. [url=http://eteamz.active.com/kurugby/news/index.cfm?cat=302962]

Current Success

The Kutztown Rugby Football Club most recently participated in the USA Rugby 2008 collegiate championship. They won their first match, beating Bowling Green, before losing to St. Mary's in the Elite 8 match-ups. The KU Rugby team finished the 2007/2008 season ranked 8th in the nation. [url=http://www.eteamz.com/kurugby/news/index.cfm?cat=302958]

References