New Orleans Rugby Football Club

The New Orleans Rugby Football Club (also known as NORFC), founded in 1973, is a men's rugby union team based in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. The club competes in and is governed by the Deep South Rugby Union (LAU), USA Rugby South (TAU), and USA Rugby.

NORFC

Full name	New Orleans Rugby Football Club
Union	USA Rugby
Founded	1973
Location	New Orleans, Louisiana
Ground(s)	Gretna Park
President	Mike Kerrigan
Coach(es)	Jerry Malina
Captain(s)	Jeff Reuther
League(s)	Deep South Rugby Union
2010–11	1st
Team kit
Official website
www.nolarugby.com

History

The New Orleans Rugby Football Club is a member of the Deep South Rugby Union. New Orleans Rugby plays distinguished clubs such as: Baton Rouge, Jackson, Battleship, Houston Athletic Rugby Club, Memphis Blues, Little Rock, Atlanta Renegades, Okaloosa, Pensacola, Shreveport, Tampa Krewe, Old White, and Nashville. ^[1] NORFC won the USA Rugby South Division II Deep South Pool in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. In 2011, NORFC fielded a 2nd XV in the D3 competition. This team won the Deep South Pool and advanced to the South Finals. New Orleans won the 2011 D2 Club Rugby National Championship, defeating defending champions Tampa Krewe. For the 2011-2012 season, New Orleans will compete in Division 1.

Current players

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under IRB eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-IRB nationality.

Player Position Union Tony Breaux Hooker United States Adam Massey Hooker United States Wes Eustis Hooker United States Mike Gibbs Hooker New Zealand Sean Malek Prop Trinidad and Tobago Matt Upton Prop United States Mason Briant Prop United States Ian McNulty Prop United States Jimmy Courtenay Lock United States Ben Benvenutti Lock United States Matt Lytle Lock United States Matt Oertling Lock United States Chris Beacher Lock United States Bogdan Negulescu Lock Romania Chase Donaldson Lock United States Michael Guarisco Lock United States Jimbo Hotard Lock United States Jerry Zifodya Lock Zimbabwe Kevin Kern Flanker United States Robbish Hoffman Flanker Japan Ryan Fitzgerald Flanker United States Corey Lesassier Flanker United States Timur Alptunaer Flanker Seth Magden Number 8 United States Will Barrett Number 8 United States Gary Giepert Number 8 United States Jarrett Falcon Number 8 United States Paul Bode Number 8 United States Nick Benvenutti Number 8 United States

Player Position Union Kevin Smooch Delaney Scrum-half Ireland Joel McLain Scrum-half United States Todd Fitzgerald Scrum-half United States Casey Mackintosh Scrum-half United States Ricky Decastro Fly-half United States Geoff Orsmby Fly-half United States Jeff Reuther Fly-half United States Will Traylor Fly-half United States Jeff Ahlemeyer Centre United States Joe Palermo Centre United States Eric Mackintosh Centre United States Jeremy Boyce Centre United States Seyi Aiyegbusi Centre Nigeria Mauricio Urrutia Centre Chile Pat Kennedy Centre United States Andrew Quackenbos Wing United States Alex Phillpot Wing United States Joey Nieto Wing United States Brad Guarisco Wing United States Nick Raziano Wing United States Mike Freeman Wing United States Seth Stevenson Wing United States Blake Hosli Fullback United States Trip McCormick Fullback United States Buck Buckingham Fullback United States Saade Bou-Mikael Fullback United States Screech Bellaci Fullback United States

Practice/Field Loaction

Currently the NORFC practices at the Gretna Rugby Pitch located on Gretna Blvd, just off Belle Chase Hwy. in Gretna, Louisiana. New players as well as experienced ones are always welcome to come out and join. Practice starts at 7:00 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays. See NORFC's Home Page for contact info about practice.

Notable alumni players

Gary Giepert, Tim Falcon, Bob Olsonowski (USA Eagles), Chip Curtis (USA Eagles) and countless others.

Coaches

Dr. Jerry Malina is the current head coach of NORFC. Seyi Aiyegbusi is the assistant coach.

Sponsorship

New Orleans Rugby Football Club is actively seeking sponsorship. NORFC is able to display logos on team jerseys and paraphernalia as well as on the playing field during games and tournaments. Contact the team through the home page for more information.

High School Rugby Program

NORFC created the Louisiana High School rugby program, with clubs such as the Jesuit Blue Jay Rugby Club, the Brother Martin Crusader Rugby Club, Rummel Raiders Rugby Club, Shaw Eagle Rugby Club, and ESA Rugby Club.

External links

• Official site
• USA Rugby South
• USA Rugby

References

1. ^ Gambit Weekly: Scrum Club