The 1977 National Rugby Championships featured USARFU's first installment of the Interterritorial championships while the Monterey National was in its 19th edition.
Program cover for 1977 Interterritorial tournament.
The National Selection Tournament involved the four regional rugby unions comprising the United States RFU: Pacific Coast RFU, Western RFU, Midwest RFU, and the Eastern Rugby Union. The region teams are formed from selected players from the sub regional rugby unions. Subsequently, the USA Eagles are selected from the four regional teams after the ITT concludes.[1] The selection committee was chaired by Keith Seaber representing the Midwest and also included Ray Cornbill of the East, Kevin Kitto from the West and Denis Storer for the Pacific Coast.[2] The 1977 tournament was the inaugural edition and was played as a round robin from May 14–15 at Jackson Field in Greeley, CO.[3] The Pacific Coast RFU were the champions and claimed the Governor's Cup.[4][5] Tom Beckman of the Midwest was named the MVP.[6] Results:
Try: David Stephenson David Bateman David Stephenson c David Stephenson c Con: Dennis Jablonski (2/4) Pen: Dennis Jablonski
Greeley, CO Referee: Alan Kitchener (Lancaster)
Team
W
L
F
A
1
Pacific Coast Grizzlies
3
0
55
37
2
Eastern Colonials
2
1
45
22
3
Midwest Thunderbirds
1
2
35
45
4
Western Mustangs
0
3
18
49
U.S. Eagles selection:[11] Jay Hanson (Pacific), Bruce Henderson (West), Mike Sherlock (East), Craig Sweeney captain(Pacific), Bob Casey (East), Tom Klein (Pacific), Jeff Lambard (Pacific), Tom Selfridge (East), Scott Kelso (Midwest), Rob Bordley (East), David Stephenson (Pacific), Dan Wack (East), Don Guest (Pacific), Mike Liscovitz (East), Dennis Jablonski (Pacific).[12] Alternates: Carl Muhler (Pacific), Brad Andrews (Pacific), Steve Grey (Pacific), Dick Cook (East), Boyd Morrison (East), Bill Brown (West).[13]
Monterey National Championships
Program cover for 1977 tournament.
The 1977 Monterey National Rugby Championship was the 19th edition of the tournament and was considered to be the de facto national championship.[14][15][16][17][18][19] This event took place at Pebble Beach, CA from March 19–20. The tournament MVPs were Terry Scott (UCLA) and Ann Fowler (UCLA), Bill Armstrong of the Old Blues won the Running Drop Kick contest while Kurt Huckaby of Chico was runner-up. Rudy Scholz of the Bald Eagles side from San Francisco and former Olympic gold medalist in 1920 and 1924 won the Oldest Player award at the age of 82.[20] Mr. Watson Luke won a special award for having attended all the previous tournaments the sponsors named the perpetual trophy after him.[21] The Santa Monica Rugby Club went 5–0 to take first place.[22][23][24][25][26]
Try: Bryan Kelly Greg Schneeweis 65' c Craig Sweeney Con: Rich Havard
Pebble Beach, CA Attendance: 6,500
Champions: Santa Monica Rugby Club Coach: Ron Nisbet Captain: Craig Sweeney Roster: Brad Andrews, Steve Auerbach, Dave Briley, Tim Desmond, Ron Guss, Richard Harvard, Jerry Kelleher, Brian Kelley, Vic Leopisto, Dennis Murphy, Greg Schneeweis, Jeff Smith, David Stephenson, Jeff Todd.
5th–8th
Fifth place
L33
San Jose State
4
L34
Stanford
4*
W51
Stanford
3
W52
Old Blues
17
L35
Old Puget Sound
0
L36
Old Blues
31
Seventh place
L51
San Jose State
3
L52
Old Puget Sound
19
* Advanced on kicks
Thirteenth
13th–16th
9th–16th
9th–12th
Ninth
Field 2 12:10PM
L17
OMBAC
13
Field 2 3:00PM
L18
UC Davis
3
Field 2 3:40PM
L37
UC Davis
9
W37
OMBAC
8
L38
Hawaii Harlequins
0
Field 2 12:50PM
W38
X.O. RC
3
L19
X.O. RC
11
Field 2 9:40AM
L20
Hawaii Harlequins
6
Field 2 10:50AM
W55
UC Davis
3
W53
OMBAC
7
W56
Los Angeles
15
Field 3 1:20PM
W54
Newport Beach
13
L21
San Francisco
4
Field 4 3:40PM
L22
Los Angeles
0
Field 3 3:50PM
Fifteenth
L39
Los Angeles
13
W39
San Francisco
3
Eleventh
Field 4 12:00PM
L40
Chuckanut Bay
6
Field 4 1:00PM
W40
Newport Beach
6
Field 3 12:00PM
L55
Hawaii Harlequins
0*
L23
Newport Beach
15
L53
X.O.
16
L56
Chuckanut Bay
0
L24
Chuckanut Bay
3
L54
San Francisco
9
* Won on kicks
Consolation Bracket
Second Round March 19
Quarterfinals March 19
Semifinals March 19
17th place March 20
L1
USC
0
L2
St. Mary's
3
W25
St. Mary's
0
W26
Portland
8
L3
Norwich
14
L4
Portland
18
W41
Portland
6
W42
Palo Alto
3
L5
Coronado
6
L6
Davis City
3
W27
Coronado
0
W28
Palo Alto
13
L7
Palo Alto
7
L8
U. of Oregon
4
W57
Portland
12
W58
Capitol
12*
L9
Sea Hawks
0
L10
Bakersfield Area
21
W29
Bakersfield Area
6
W30
U. of Washington
0
L11
Hastings
6
L12
U. of Washington
10
W43
Bakersfield Area
0
W44
Capitol
6
L13
Monterey
0
19th place
L14
Capitol
13
W31
Capitol
6
L57
Palo Alto
8
W32
Chico State
3
L58
Bakersfield Area
37
L15
Olde Gaels
0
L16
Chico State
3
* Won on kicks
21st–24th
21st place
L41
St. Mary's
0
L42
Coronado
3
W59
Coronado
29
W60
Chico State
6
L43
U. of Washington
0
L44
Chico State
12
23rd place
L59
St. Mary's
16
L60
U. of Washington
15
29th place
29th–32nd
25th–32nd
25th–28th
25th place
Field 4 11:40AM
L25
USC
20
Field 4 3:00PM
L26
Norwich
0
Field 4 4:20PM
L45
Norwich
3
W45
USC
12
L46
U. of Oregon
12
Field 4 12:20PM
W46
Davis City
0
L27
Davis City
6
Field 3 8:30AM
L28
U. of Oregon
3
Field 1 8:30AM
W63
U. of Oregon
12
W61
USC
8
W64
Monterey
10
Field 4 2:20PM
W62
Olde Gaels
16
L29
Sea Hawks
0
Field 3 5:10PM
L30
Hastings
4
Field 4 5:00PM
31st place
L47
Sea Hawks
0
W47
Hastings
0
27th place
Field 4 8:30AM
L48
Monterey
3
Field 4 1:40PM
W48
Olde Gaels
4
Field 2 8:30AM
L63
Norwich
6
L31
Monterey
3
L61
Davis City
17
L64
Sea Hawks
51
L32
Olde Gaels
7
L62
Hastings
7
Exhibition matches:
B.C. Whoi Whoi 9-14 Bald Eagles
UCLA Women's RC 8-0 San Francisco Women's RC
References
↑ "Rugby Stars Open Tourney In Colorado". (May 14, 1977). San Francisco Chronicle, p.41 col.6
↑ Fleener, Terry; Seaber, Keith (April 1977). "Where Is The Best U.S. Rugby Played?". Rugby. Vol.3, no.2. p.6.
↑ "U.S. National Rugby Trials Program Set". (May 12, 1977). Greeley Tribune, p.35 col.1
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