In March 1972, Larry Marfechuk and Jim Keener became the founding members of the Flint Rogues Rugby Football Club when they gathered a group of male athletes and taught them the game of rugby football. Back in 1972, the game was not as widespread in the State of Michigan as it is now and the Rogues were one of the first senior men's rugby teams in the state. The original uniform was red/white/blue in color but was replaced with the current colors of red/white/black.
In 1976, the Flint Rogues were a top contender in the State of Michigan. The club traveled to many tournaments out of state as far as Missouri and Louisiana. In 1980, the club brought home the B Division Championship for the Michigan Rugby Union in 1980 and also a Consolation Trophy for the B Division at the Great Lakes Rugby Tournament in Detroit. In 1984, the Flint Rogues won the Michigan Cup, First Division state title. In 1990, the Rogues won the Division II Michigan Cup, winning it again in 1992. In 1993, the Rogues won the Battle Creek 7's tournament and qualified for the Midwest 7's for the only time in club history.[citation needed]
The club experienced a good run from the late 1990s and into the early 2000s, being promoted to Division II of the Michigan Rugby Union. The club won the Division II Michigan Cup consecutively in 2002 and 2003. After a winless season in 2008, the Rogues rebounded, posting a 5-1 record in the 2009 spring season. The Rogues had a perfect fall 2010 season, going 7-0, winning Midwest Rugby's Northern League championship and earning a playoff berth for the first time in several seasons.
Battle of the Rogues: Flint Rogues RFC at halftime against Windsor Rogues RFC
The Rogues gathering for a scrum against the Tri-City Barbarians RFC
The Rogues securing a lineout against Detroit RFC
The Rogues after the annual game against Detroit RFC at the Saline Celtic Festival
Paul "Cujo" Canjar laying the smackdown on a Michigan RFC player
The Rogues in a scrum with Fort Wayne RFC
The Rogues after the 10 October 2009 game against Fort Wayne RFC
The Rogues team after the last game of the year against Traverse City
Sponsorship
The Flint Rogues Current Uniform
After over a decade with Budweiser as their primary sponsor, the Rogues named Shea Automotive their primary sponsor prior to the Fall 2023 season; The Rogues also have several secondary sponsorships from many local businesses as well.[citation needed]
Club Honors
1980 - Michigan Rugby Union B Division Championship
1980 - Consolation Trophy, B Division, Detroit Great Lakes Tournament
1984 - Division I Michigan Cup
1990, 1992, 2002, 2003 - Division II Michigan Cup
1993 - Battle Creek 7s Tournament Champions
1993 - Qualified for USA Rugby Midwest 7s Tournament
1997, 2000 - Kalamazoo Snowball Tournament Champions
Rogues Cup (played for annually against the Windsor Rogues RFC) Winners - 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011
Victory Cup (played for annually against the Tri-City Barbarians RFC) Winners - 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011
2010 - Midwest Rugby Union Northern League Champions
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Rob Moquin
