Chicago Griffins RFC

Last updated
Chicago Griffins
Chicago griffins rugby logo.png
Full nameThe Chicago Griffins
Union USA Rugby
Nickname(s)Griffins, Griffs
Founded1973;52 years ago (1973)
Ground(s) Riis Park Stadium
PresidentCharlie Jacobson
Coach(es) Paddy Ryan
Captain(s)Eric Jacobson
League(s) Midwest Rugby Premiership (US)
Kit left arm redbluehoops.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body blackred stripes.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm redbluehoops.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks hoops red.png
Kit socks long.svg
Team kit
Official website
chicagogriffins.com

The Chicago Griffins RFC rugby union team was founded in 1973. The team competes in the National Division I Midwest League, USA Rugby's top tier, after the demise of the USA Super League and play their home games at Riis Park in Chicago, Illinois, US.

Contents

History

The Chicago Griffins was founded in 1973 by Bob "Doc" Kelly along with Brian Bourke, Mike Elliot, John Carmody, Rick Grigutis, and Tom Powers.

2015/16 season

Chicago Griffins Men's Team 2016 Midwest Championship Runners Up Chicago Griffins Mens Team 2016 Midwest Final.jpg
Chicago Griffins Men's Team 2016 Midwest Championship Runners Up

The Chicago Griffins finished fourth in the regular season but beat top seeds the Chicago Lions in the semi-finals of the Midwest Championship. The Griffins lost the Midwest Championship final by two points to Metropolis 29–27.

In finishing Runners Up the club qualified for the 2016/17 Gold Cup, a competition played between some of USA Rugby's elite rugby clubs, including current National Champions Mystic River, National Champion Runners Up the Austin Blacks and National Championship Final 8 teams Dallas reds, Rocky Gorge and Metropolis.

Midwest League National Division 1 2015-16 season

TeamPldWTLBonusTotal
1Chicago Lions141301961
2Metropolis1410041353
3Kansas City Blues149051046
4Chicago Griffins14806739
5Columbus145091130
6Cincinnati Wolfhounds1440101026
7Palmer College Dragons144010926
8Milwaukee143011921

Rugby 7s

Men's

The Chicago Griffins Men's Sevens yearly participate in the Midwest Men's 7s national qualifiers.

Women's

Chicago Griffins Women's 7s Team 2016 Midwest Champions Chicago Griffins Womens 7s team 2016 Midwest Champions.jpg
Chicago Griffins Women's 7s Team 2016 Midwest Champions

In 2016 the Chicago Griffin's formed their first Women's Sevens team. The team was an instant success, winning both the Iowa City Ducks' Sevens tournament, the Grand Rapids Hard Rock Sevens tournament, and the Midwest Sevens Championship.

In doing so the team won one of 16 places in the 2016 Club Sevens National Championship held in Denver in August 2016. The Chicago Griffins Women's Sevens team won the Shield trophy at the National Championship tournament in Denver.

(In the photo, starting from the left: Top- Cydney Grannon, Kadie Sanford, Rafika Faci, Jess Dombrowksi, Linda Guiner, Christy Bravo, Kayla Enriquez. Bottom-Lauren Trout, Brittany Klimek, Lizzy Bristow, Brittany Biedenbender, Amanda Graziano)

Current 1st XV squad

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

PlayerPositionUnion
Sean Cooney Hooker Flag of the United States.svg United States
Scott Finlay Hooker IRFU flag.svg Ireland
Joe Kafatolu Prop Flag of Tonga.svg Tonga
Feao Teutau Prop Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Dan Steck Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Trey Henley-Lewis Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Tommy Finnegan Lock Flag of the United States.svg United States
Lucas Giraud Lock Flag of France.svg France
Erik Jacobson Lock Flag of the United States.svg United States
Matt Najor Flanker Flag of the United States.svg United States
Ryan McBride Flanker Flag of the United States.svg United States
Dan Perrino Flanker Flag of the United States.svg United States
Nicholas Walcott Flanker Flag of the United States.svg United States
John Luhrsen Number 8 Flag of the United States.svg United States
Scott Peterson Number 8 Flag of the United States.svg United States
PlayerPositionUnion
Luke Stringer Scrum-half Flag of the United States.svg United States
Nate Jensen Scrum-half Flag of the United States.svg United States
Peter Smith Fly-half Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
Brian O'Shea Fly-half Flag of the United States.svg United States
Brennan Martin Centre Flag of the United States.svg United States
Ryan Beecher Centre Flag of the United States.svg United States
Josh Allen Centre Flag of England.svg England
Sam Seymour Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Brendan Brown Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Patrick Marek Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Matthew Crabtree Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Corey Quaglia Fullback Flag of the United States.svg United States
Jordan Anderson Fullback Flag of the United States.svg United States

References

    Newspaper articles