LA Rugby Club

Rugby team

teamname = Los Angeles Rugby Club (LARC)
location = South Bay, Los Angeles, California, USA
imagesize = 90px


fullname = Los Angeles Rugby Club
nickname = LARC
union = USA Rugby
country

url = www.LArugby.com
founded = 1958
president = Julian Bristow
coach = Marty Jones, Jax Roeper (IRANZ)
league = SCRFU (US)|Southern California Rugby Football Union]
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[http://www.larugby.com/ The Los Angeles Rugby Club] is a premier First Division amateur rugby team that competes in the Southern California Rugby Football Union (SCRFU) that reports to USA Rugby--the national governing body for the United States Rugby Union.

History

Competing continuously for 50 years, [http://www.larugby.com/ The Los Angeles Rugby Club] is the second oldest club in the Southern California Rugby Football Union (SCRFU). The Club was founded in 1958 as the Universities Rugby Club. Founding members included Al Williams and Dick Hyland, members of the Gold Medal winning 1924 USA Olympic Rugby Team.

Los Angeles Rugby Club (LARC) has contributed extensively to the development of the game of Rugby Union Football on the Pacific Coast and the USA. Many teams can trace their beginnings to the direct effort of the Los Angeles R.C. or to former members who have relocated and founded clubs in their respective areas.

In 2004, LARC forged an informal partnership with the [http://www.mbtykesrugby.com/ Manhattan Beach Youth Rugby Club] a member of [http://www.socalyouthrugby.org/ Southern California Youth Rugby] an autonomous subset of [http://scrfu.org/ SCRFU] .

For many years prior to professionalism, LARC waged very heated competition with long-time rivals Santa Monica Rugby Club, Old Mission Beach Athletic Club (OMBAC), and Belmont Shore RFC all of which are now in the Rugby Super League . In 1984, the club was the Pacific Coast RFU Territorial Champion and Division 1 National Finalists. The 2007 road to the National Championship title ended just short bringing home the DII 3rd place Cup, and a Southern California Championship. LARC returned to Division 1 in 2008 where they had an enormously successful season defeating OMBAC, Santa Monica, San Mateo and others on their way to the National Playoffs and a Division 1 #9 National Ranking. LARC met Life RFC in Austin, TX in the National Playoffs. LA came up short to Life RFC who went on to win the Divsion 1 National Championship.

Notable Players

On the pitch, LARC players have distinguished themselves at the highest levels. Our USA International players include: Barry Williams (Wing); Boyd Morrison (Center); Bill Brown (Hooker); Ray Nelson (Fullback); Steve Gray (Captain & Flyhalf); John Mickel (Scrumhalf); Joe Clarkson (Flyhalf); John Jelaco (Prop); Michael Skahan (Wing); Rob Duncanson (Wing); Jamie Grant (Hooker). Ray Nelson, capped 25 times, is the eighth leading scorer in US history.

Other International LARC players are: Doug Rollerson, Gary Cunningham (New Zealand); Ray Mordt (South Africa); Ernesto Ure (Argentina); Paul McNaughton (Ireland), Mick Jackman (Ireland A).

The current USA Rugby Sevens Head Coach is former longtime LARC player Al Caravelli. Other notable former LARC players now coaching include: Head Coach Marty Jones and Joe Katoa with LARC. Barry Williams with The San Pedro Rhinos; Steve Gray at U.C. Davis; Tim Hock & Larry Docimo at Loyola Marymount University.

Current notable players include Senirusi "Bruce" Racque (Fiji and Australia 7's), Gabe Mazzone (Captain '07, '08), Kana Fakava (Southern California MVP '07), Aran Delaney, Dave Lockridge (Rookie of the Year '06), James Hemkin, Marcus Pigrom, Bozho Deranja (Captain '06), Joe Clapp, Hunter McGee, and longtime LA back-row standout Tim "concrete" Culloton (captain '05).

Tournaments and Tours

The Club currently hosts the popular [http://www.catalinarugby.org Catalina Island Rugby Festival] the first weekend in May. The tournament is administered by Tom Hendrix and LARC Honorary Life Member Joe Hendrix. These tournaments have raised funds for charitable contributions from LARC to The Special Olympics, The Wellness Community, and many others.

The Clubs tours and tournament play is an important part of their history. In 1967, LARC was the first mainland club side to tour Hawaii. In 1974 the Club had its first European trip - a two-week, five game tour of France and Belgium. Our host was French club Chateaurenard RFC, which we in turn hosted in 1975. In September 1977, the club toured Wales and Ireland and played eight matches. A five match tour to New Zealand followed in 1980.

LARC has played host to many quality rugby touring sides visiting the U.S. Pacific Coast. Recent matches have been against teams such as: Club Pueyrredon, St. Andrews F.P. (Argentina); Ponsonby, Kaierau, Paeroa West (New Zealand); Paris University Club, Chateaurenard (France); Old Wesley, Clontarf, Old Crescent (Ireland); Sale, Orrell, Richmond, and Osterley (England).

ponsors

* [http://www.michelob.com/ Michelob Ultra]
* [http://www.sharkeez.net/mb/home/ Sharkeez Manhattan Beach]
* [http://www.adidas.com/ adidas]
* [http://www.wcsportsmed.com/ West Coast Sports Medicine]

External links

* [http://www.larugby.com/ LARC Official Site]
* [http://www.scrfu.org Southern California Rugby Football Union]
* [http://www.usarugby.org USA Rugby]
* [http://www.catalinarugby.org Catalina Island Rugby Festival]

References

* [http://www.americanrugbynews.com/artman/publish/division_one/Vegas_on_top_in_Ganey_Cup.shtml/ LA Impresses in Ganey Cup - American Rugby News]