Mystic River Rugby Club

Last updated
Mystic River Rugby
Mrrc logo.PNG
Full nameMystic River Rugby Club (MRRC)
Union USA Rugby
Founded1974;49 years ago (1974)
Ground(s) Pine Banks Park (Capacity: 1,000)
Coach(es) Flag of New Zealand.svg Kayne Bubb
Flag of the United States.svg Thomas Clark
Flag of the United States.svg Kareem Affifi
Flag of the United States.svg Mike Bozza
Flag of the United States.svg Alex Brussard
League(s) American Rugby Premiership
NERFU Division 1
NERFU Division 2
Kit left arm thinwhiteborder.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body whitearc.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm thinwhiteborder.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
1st kit
Kit left arm thinwhiteborder.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm thinwhiteborder.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
2nd kit
Official website
www.mysticrugby.com

The Mystic River Rugby Club, sometimes called Boston Mystic, [1] is a New England Rugby Football Union (NERFU) club, founded in 1974, located in Malden, Massachusetts, and Melrose, Massachusetts, who field teams in Division 1 American Rugby Premiership and Division 2 Rugby Union in the United States and are the current 2018 USA Rugby D1 National Champions. [2]

Contents

Their home field is located at Pine Banks Park. Their primary sponsor is Coors Light.

History

The early years (1970s)

The Mystic River Rugby Club was founded in 1974 by 32 members of the Boston Rugby Club, who in true revolutionary spirit, took a great step forward in exercising their independence. These men had long since functioned as a ‘club within a club’ and had developed a distinct style of play both on and off the field. These members were experienced rugby players and immediately the Mystics established a schedule within the first division of New England. They soon became a sought after fixture by teams from all over based on a reputation for hard, fast rugby and an aggressive “joie de vie”. [3]

The club evolved throughout the 1970s with the influx of younger players and Tours to Wales and the former Soviet Union highlighted these years. In 1978, the Mystics became the first American rugby team to be invited to play rugby in the Soviet Union. [4] In the early 1980s the club saw a major turnover, a somewhat generational change, when several new players were attracted from local colleges. Old Boys rugby began to take shape and several of the original Mystics began playing a schedule of "over 30s" rugby. In 1986 the Mystics returned to Malden, Massachusetts, where they were originally incorporated in 1976. [3]

The 1990s: The birth of a dynasty

With several of the club's players regularly representing New England and the East Coast in representative side play, the Mystics were committed to championship level rugby. Their reputation earned them respect overseas as well, with touring sides, such as the Glamorgan County RFC, seeking a challenge at top level rugby.

In 1989, Mystic River defeated their parent club Boston to win the first of seven straight New England championships. They would go on to win the Northeast Championship that same year. In 1992 the Mystic finished second in the US, losing to the Old Blues from California in the National Finals. [5] The Mystics had established themselves as a force within the national rugby community. [6]

The 2000s

In 2000 and 2001, Mystic River competed in the short lived Major League Rugby (a former amateur club competition not to be confused with the current professional Major League Rugby competition). Set up in the manner of the European Rugby Champions Cup, the MLR was designed to provide an additional competition structure for top division teams outside of their usual geographical unions and complement their USA Rugby competition schedule, [7] [8] however, it was never sanctioned by USA Rugby and the Mystics returned to competing solely in USA Rugby competition in the fall of 2001.

The 2007 season saw the Mystics win their first New England title after twelve years, moving on to take the Northeast Championship in 2008 and a spot in the National Division 1 Sweet 16. In their 2009–2010 season, Mystic River again took both the New England and Northeast Championships, making it through to the quarter-final round of the USA Rugby DI National Championship Series as well as making their first ever appearance in the National Sweet 16 in 7s competition. 2010 also marked the expansion of the Mystic River Youth Rugby Program and the addition of the U-19 Mystic Eagles, who saw success in both 15s and 7s tournaments in their inaugural season. [3]

2014 merger with Middlesex

In 2014, Mystic River merged with cross-town rivals, the Middlesex Barbarians, in an effort to develop the game of rugby in the area. While the details of the merger allowed the forty-year-old rugby club to retain their name, Middlesex coach Josh Smith took over head coaching duties for the combined club, with former Eagle prop Jake Sprague as forwards coach, and Glen Mannering directing the backs, [9] [10] with the club now competing in both Division 1 and Division 2.

As the 2014–2015 season came to a close, the newly formed Mystics went undefeated at the top of the Division 1 table going into the playoffs. Post season wins against White Plains RFC and Kansas City earned them their first trip to the USA Rugby D1 Final Four tournament since 1992, while in D2 the Mystic Barbarians took the NERFU D2 Championship against division rival New Haven, eventually losing to New York Rugby Club in the USA Rugby D2 Round of 16 beginning a new era for Mystic Rugby.

The Mystics also saw success in 7s, qualifying for the 2015 USA Rugby Club 7s (USARC7) Championship Series for the second time in club history, [11] losing in the Semifinal round to eventual tournament winners Seattle Saracens, but coming away with the bronze medal. [12]

American Rugby Premiership (2015—present)

Beginning in the 2015–2016 season, Mystic River became a "de facto" member of the American Rugby Premiership (ARP), joining Life Running Eagles and fellow Atlantic North D1 clubs Boston RFC, NYAC, Old Blue and the Boston Irish Wolfhounds in the reformatted elite competition. [13]

Though officially a member of the Atlantic North Division 1 Conference, the Mystics competed in the ARP and played all teams but Life. They finished their regular season with a record of 6 wins and 2 losses in their inaugural year in the elite competition, automatically securing a berth in the USA Rugby Championships quarter-final round as the number two seed in the Atlantic North Conference. [14] A win over the Midwest Conference's number one seeded team would put the Mystics in the Final Four for the second year in a row, against ARP rivals Old Blue. [15] [16] In the final match of the Eastern Championship Series, a 10–5 win put Mystic River in the Division 1 National Championship for the first time since 1992. [17] [18] The Mystics would go to play the Western Conference Champions, the Austin Blacks in the USA Rugby Emirates Airline Club Men's Division I National Championship. After a hard-fought match, Mystic River won their first ever National Title by a score of 45–33. [19]

At the beginning of the 2016–2017 season Mystic River became a full member of the ARP, making it through to the Eastern Division finals. However, they were knocked out by NYAC 14–24. The following season the Mystics were able shock the favored Norfolk Blues 36–22 to set up a revenge match with their New York rivals, beating NYAC 26—25 and earning a trip to the 2018 national championship game. [20] In the final match, Mystic River were able to stay ahead of their Western conference counterparts, Belmont Shore RFC and win their second national title by a score of 25–24. [2]

Boston Mystics and Major League Rugby

Mystic River, which was called Boston Mystic or Mystics in some press releases, were scheduled for several 2018 exhibition games in Major League Rugby (MLR). [21] Though they were merely exhibition, these matches were the first taste of the MLR professional era in the New England market. In late 2018, the New England Free Jacks were announced as a 2020 expansion team in MLR and Mystic River subsequently became a main source of talent for the initial Free Jacks roster including head coach Josh Smith. For the Free Jacks' first exhibition match against Ontario in October 2018, there were 15 former Mystic River players on their roster, including coaches Smith and Kareem Afifi. [22]

2018 season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
March 24 Rugby United New York AwayLost, 0–50
March 31Rugby United New YorkHomeLost, 24–42
April 21 Ontario Arrows HomeLost, 19–29
May 5Ontario ArrowsAwayLost, 8–77

National / representative players

USA Eagles

This is a list of players who currently or have at one time played for the Mystics and have represented their country with the United States national rugby union team, also known as the Eagles, in rugby fifteens or sevens. Not represented in this list are the many Mystics who have been named to the Eagles' player pools or Junior sides over the years. For Rugby sevens players, (*) denotes tournament appearances such as World Rugby Sevens Series.

Player NameRep Year(s)CapsPtsDebutDate
Dimitri Efthimiou 20101*0 2010–11 IRB Sevens World Series 21 January 2010
Pono Haitsuka 2013–20148*49 2013–14 IRB Sevens World Series 29 November 2013
Alec Montgomery 1986–198960United States v Canada 8 November 1986
Anthony Purpura 2010–201785United States v Russia 5 June 2010
Richard Tardits 1993–19992410United States v Australia XV2 October 1993
Marcus Satavu 20142*- 2014 Japan Sevens 22 March 2014
Jake Sprague 200910United States vs Uruguay 14 November 2009
Mitch Wilson 2022–315United States vs Kenya 6 November 2022

All-Americans (USA U-20/U-23)

Below is a list of players who have received Rugby All-American honors. The Collegiate All-Americans rugby team is considered the USA's U23 national team, while the Junior All-Americans are the USA's U20 national team.

Player NameCollege/ClubYear(s)XVs/7sTeamGradeRef
Alex Brussard Boston College High School 2008XVsFirst TeamU20 [23]
Kyle Ciquera St. Bonaventure University 2019XVsFirst TeamU23-
Steve Dazzo Dartmouth College 2015XVsHonorable MentionU23 [24]
Dimitri Efthimiou Northeastern University 20137sHonorable MentionU23 [25]
Chris Frazier Northeastern University 20157sFirst TeamU23 [26]
Pono Haitsuka Oregon State University 20137sFirst TeamU23 [27]
Martin Keuchkerian Mystic River U19 2017XVsFirst TeamU20 [28]
Ian Luciano New England College 2016XVsHonorable MentionU23 [29]
Dylan Lubbe Brigham Young University 2009, 2010,
2012
XVsFirst Team,
Honorable Mention
U23 [30]
Trevor McKenzieAmoskeag Youth Rugby2007XVsFirst TeamU20-
Akinola Raymond Maryland Exiles 20127sFirst TeamU20 [31]
John Sullivan St. Bonaventure University 2016XVsHonorable MentionU23 [32]
Erik Thompson UCLA 2013-2015XVsFirst TeamU20 [33]
Chris TofteAmoskeag Youth Rugby2005, 2006XVsFirst TeamU20-

Other Nations / Provinces

This is a list of Mystic River players who have represented other nations in rugby union fifteens or sevens, unless otherwise indicated. Players marked with a "♦" represented other nations in rugby league.

Provincial Representation

Championships

Fifteens (Division 1)

Playoff RoundAppearancesYear(s)
Sweet Sixteen81989, 1991, 2008 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015
Quarter Finals81992, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Semi Finals41992, 2015, 2016, 2018
National Finalist31992, 2016, 2018

Fifteens (Division 2)

Playoff RoundAppearancesYear(s)
Sweet Sixteen32015, 2016, 2017
Quarter Finals0
Semi Finals0
National Finalist0

Sevens

YearRoundResultSource
2010Sweet Sixteen13th [34]
2015Semifinals3rd Bronze medal icon.svg [35]
2016Quarterfinals8th [36]
2018Semifinals3rd Bronze medal icon.svg [37]
2019Sweet Sixteen14th [38]

U19/Youth rugby

Mystic River founded their Youth Rugby program in 2005. It was originally aimed more at introducing local children in the surrounding community to the sport of rugby, via American Flag Rugby (AFL) and later USA Rugby's newly developed "Rookie Rugby", a non-contact flag variant of the sport for younger children. In 2010, the Mystics expanded the program to include competitive U-17 and U-19 teams. Both levels saw immediate success, quickly becoming perennial contenders and medalists in such competitions as the Bay State Games. [39]

The Mystics also field a Collegiate Select Side which selects stand out local collegiate rugby talent and plays teams both in the United States and abroad. In 2015, several former members of the Mystic Youth program would go on to receive collegiate All Conference honors.

After an undefeated season in 2017, the Mystic River U19 7s team accepted an invitation to the National High School Invitational 7s tournament held in Minneapolis, MN, marking the first time any Mystic youth program was invited to play in a national championship. [40] The Mystics continued their undefeated record throughout the tournament and claimed their first ever national championship title.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston Irish Wolfhounds</span> Rugby team

The Boston Irish Wolfhounds Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team based in Canton, Massachusetts, US. The club competes in, and is governed by, the New England Rugby Football Union, the Northeast Rugby Union, and USA Rugby. In 2014 it joined the American Rugby Premiership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rugby union in the United States</span>

Rugby union in the United States is played at youth, high school, college, amateur, professional, and international levels and governed by USA Rugby. There were over 125,000 players registered with USA Rugby as of 2016. Over 2,500 rugby union clubs exist around the country, including those who are part of college rugby. Professional club competition has existed as Major League Rugby (MLR) since 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York Athletic Club RFC</span> Rugby team

The New York Athletic Club Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team based in New York City that is affiliated with the New York Athletic Club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belmont Shore RFC</span> American rugby union team

Belmont Shore Rugby Club is an American rugby union team named after the Belmont Shore neighborhood of Long Beach, California, which has a tradition of amateur rugby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kansas City Blues (rugby union)</span> Rugby team in Kansas, USA

The Kansas City Blues compete in the USA Rugby Division 1, the highest amateur level. They also field a Division 2 team that offers new and inexperienced players the opportunity to learn the game and advance to Division 1. During the summer, the Blues also feature one of the country’s most successful 7s programs. The Blues have been prominent regionally and nationally since their 1966 inception. They have a long history of success, with many tournament and league championships, including several National Championship and Final Four appearances. The club has produced many USA National Team players in both 15s and 7s, along with hosting dozens of National Team players from other countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volney Rouse</span> Rugby player

Volney Rouse is an American rugby union player. Rouse plays his club rugby for San Francisco Golden Gate Rugby Club, and also played for the San Francisco Rush in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northeastern University Rugby Club</span> Rugby team

The Northeastern University Rugby Football Club is a college rugby union team representing Northeastern University. The club competes in the Liberty Conference of Division 1-A Rugby and is governed by USA Rugby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collegiate Rugby Championship</span> US college rugby sevens tournament

The Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC) is an annual college rugby sevens tournament. The CRC is the highest profile college rugby sevens competition in the United States, with the tournament broadcast live on NBC from 2010 to 2017, on ESPN News and ESPN3 from 2018 to 2019, The Rugby Network in 2021 and 2023, and on CBS Sports in 2022. The CRC capitalized on the surge in popularity of rugby following the 2009 announcement of the addition of rugby sevens to the Summer Olympics. Beginning in 2021, the tournament has been organized by National Collegiate Rugby under license for the name and logo.

Alexander Magleby is the CEO of the professional rugby union team, The New England Free Jacks. He is a former professional rugby union coach, and former United States national team player and captain.

John Cullen is an American rugby union athlete who plays for the Chicago Hounds in Major League Rugby (MLR).

Alatasi Tupou is a Samoan professional rugby union player from Apia, Samoa. He has represented Samoa in both rugby fifteens and sevens and was also a member of Mystic River's the 2016 National Championship squad in the American Rugby Premiership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duncan Kelm</span> Rugby player

Duncan George Kelm is a former USA Rugby national team member, World Rugby Sevens Series competitor, and United States Olympic Training Center resident. As a prop and hooker, he played for the USA Rugby Men's Sevens team from 2011 to 2012, and appeared in four international tournaments. Prior to his full-time move into Sevens rugby, he had numerous appearances on the USA Rugby Men's Fifteens team from 2010 to 2011.

The Austin Huns Rugby Football Club is a Men's Rugby Club American rugby union team based in Austin, Texas. In June 2017 they became U.S. Division 1 National Champions beating New York Athletic Club RFC 27-23 in the final match.

Ryne "Pono" Haitsuka is an American professional rugby union player. He has played with such teams as Mystic River in the American Rugby Premiership and the San Diego Breakers in the PRO Rugby competition. He has also represented the United States as a member of the United States national rugby sevens team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rugby New York</span> Professional rugby union team from New York City

Rugby New York, formerly known as Rugby United New York and officially nicknamed the Ironworkers, was a professional rugby union team based in New York City that was a member of Major League Rugby (MLR). The team played an exhibition season in spring 2018 and joined MLR for its second full season in 2019. The team was founded by James Kennedy.

Nate Brakeley is an American former professional rugby union player who played lock and flanker for Rugby New York (Ironworkers) of Major League Rugby (MLR) and for the United States men's national team. Brakeley also played for the New York Athletic Club.

Malon Maurice Al-Jiboori is an American rugby union player who plays for the United States men's national rugby sevens team and the United States men's national team (XVs). He currently plays for Ealing Trailfinders and the Houston SaberCats in Major League Rugby (MLR).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New England Free Jacks</span> Professional Rugby Union Team from Boston, Massachusetts

The New England Free Jacks are a professional rugby union team in Major League Rugby (MLR) based in the Greater Boston area. They were announced in September 2018 and began to compete professionally in October 2018. They competed in their first season in MLR in the 2020 season. On July 8, 2023, they became the MLR Champions for the 2023 season, after defeating San Diego Legion in a closely fought match.

Chris Frazier is an American professional rugby union player currently with the New England Free Jacks. He plays both fifteens and sevens and has represented the United States with the USA Falcons 7s side. He is a former Collegiate All-American and previously played club level rugby for Mystic River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College rugby in the United States</span> Sport

College rugby is played by men and women throughout colleges and universities in the United States. Seven-a-side and fifteen-a-side variants of rugby union are most commonly played. Most collegiate rugby programs do not fall under the auspices of the NCAA and are instead governed by National Collegiate Rugby and USA Rugby, two nationwide governing bodies. 27 women's programs participate in the NCAA.

References

  1. "Boston Mystic Rugby Host Ontario Arrows". DJCoilRugby.com. April 20, 2018.
  2. 1 2 Bishop, Angus (3 June 2018). "Mystic River turns in a gritty performance Against a tough Belmont Shore side to win Men's Division I". usarugby.com. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 "Official Mystic River Rugby Website: Club History" . Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  4. "To Russia, with rugby". The Miami News . 24 July 1978. p. 5C. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  5. "Club Championships History: Men's D1 Past Champions". usarugby.com. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  6. Blake, Andrew (11 October 1998). "Rugby's Mass. appeal: Everyone's welcome to join the fun". The Boston Globe . Archived from the original on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  7. Lowe, Brian (18 October 2002). "MLR seeks USARFU sanction". ESPN.go.com . Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  8. Lueckemeyer, Chuck (18 October 2002). "MLR Cup Championship Preview". ESPN.go.com . Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  9. "Mystic River, Middlesex Merge". RugbyToday.com. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  10. Chipps, Issac (24 July 2014). "Mystic River Rugby and Middlesex Barbarians to merge". The Boston Globe . Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  11. Foley, Kerry (31 July 2015). "Mystic River Rugby Clinches Spot in USA Rugby Nationals Sweet 16". patch.com (Malden). Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  12. "Team finishes third in national championship". wickedlocal.com (Malden). 10 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  13. Reed, Curtis (10 September 2015). "ARP Begins Year Two This Weekend". This is American Rugby (www.thisisamericanrugby.com). Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  14. Lappen, Evan (18 May 2016). "Old Blue, Rocky Gorge, Metropolis, Mystic River ready for DI Natioanals". RugbyToday.com. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  15. Anker, Brett (21 May 2016). "East Club National Quarterfinal Breakdown". RugbyToday.com. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  16. Reed, Curtis (21 May 2016). "Club Playoff East Regional Update". This is American Rugby (www.thisisamericanrugby.com). Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  17. Reed, Curtis (22 May 2016). "Club Championship Finals Set". This is American Rugby (www.thisisamericanrugby.com). Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  18. Lappen, Evan (23 May 2016). "Mystic River edges Old Blue to advance to DI finals". RugbyMag.com. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  19. Wise, Chad (4 June 2016). "Men's DI Crown earned by Mystic River in heavy-hitting final against Austin Blacks". usarugby.com. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  20. Bishop, Angus (31 May 2018). "Belmont Shore and Mystic River face off for Division I National Championship". usarugby.com. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  21. "Mystic River Opens 2018 with 1st MLR Exhibition - Mystic River Rugby Club". Mysticrugby.com. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  22. "Mystics Selected for New England Free Jacks". Mystic River Rugby. October 20, 2018.
  23. "Rugby rules for Brussard". wickedlocal.com . 21 May 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  24. Wise, Chad (31 July 2013). "UMen's 2014-15 Collegiate All-American lists announced". USARugby.org. Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  25. RugbyMag Staff (10 August 2015). "USA Rugby Names Men 7s All Americans". RugbyToday.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  26. Reed, Curtis (11 August 2014). "All-Americans, Hawks, Falcons Name Serevi RugbyTown Sevens Rosters". This is American Rugby (www.thisisamericanrugby.com). Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  27. Goff, Alex (22 August 2013). "All-Americans Impress in Serevi Win". This is American Rugby (www.thisisamericanrugby.com). Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  28. Wise, Chad (23 May 2017). "AUG MJAAS selected for U20 trophy qualifiers against Canada". USARugby.org. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  29. RugbyMag Staff (5 July 2016). "USA Rugby names more than 130 players to 2015-16 Men's Collegiate All-Americans". USARugby.org. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  30. Beckstrom, Jarrod (28 June 2011). "MEN'S COLLEGIATE ALL-AMERICAN TOURING SQUAD ANNOUNCED". USARugby.org. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  31. Beckstrom, Jarrod (6 February 2012). "HSAAS to play in Las Vegas". USARugby.org. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  32. "USA Rugby names men's college All-Americans". www.goffrugbyreport.com. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  33. Wise, Chad (13 March 2014). "AIG MJAA squad announced for IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2014". USARugby.org. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  34. Staff (August 15, 2010). "2010 USA Rugby Emirates Airline Men's & Women's Club 7s Results" . Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  35. Staff (August 9, 2016). "2015 USA Rugby Emirates Airline Men's & Women's Club 7s Results" . Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  36. Staff (August 15, 2016). "2016 USA Rugby Emirates Airline Men's & Women's Club 7s Results" . Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  37. Bishop, Angus (August 12, 2018). "San Diego Surfers and Bulldog win 2018 USA Rugby Club-7s national championships" . Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  38. Staff (August 12, 2019). "2019 USA Rugby Emirates Airline Men's & Women's Club 7s Results" . Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  39. Clifton, Pat (24 July 2012). "Baystate Games Signal Growth in Youth 7s". RugbyToday.com. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  40. Rosen, Dustin (31 July 2017). "Mystic River U19 heads to first-ever National Tournament". Rugby 7s Magazine. Retrieved 17 August 2017.