Charlotte RFC
Contents |
[edit] Founding a Club
The Charlotte Rugby Football Club traces it's origin back to the fall of 1971, when a group of former college rugby players set up a men's club in Charlotte. As the club grew to three sides, so did the needs of individual players. In 1974, Stan Robinson, father of the Robinson brothers of The Black Crowes, left and started a new rival club, the Charlotte Gargoyles RFC. It was at this point in time that the Charlotte RFC adopted the nickname "Olde Originals" to distinguish itself from the newly formed club. There were some very spirited matches between the two clubs, but it would only last for five years. When the Gargoyles folded, the Olde Originals gladly welcomed their rugby brothers back and the Charlotte powerhouse was born.
[edit] Building a Home
In 1988, Tony Skillbeck initiated a land acquisition committee to purchase land for what is now the home grounds of the Charlotte Rugby Club, the Skillbeck Athletic Grounds. After four hard years of manual labor, American rugby got its first European style clubhouse and pitch. Even today, the Skillbeck Athletic Grounds remain a landmark in club facilities within the USA Rugby community and main focal point of our great club.
Skillbeck Athletic Grounds, which include a 5,800 square foot clubhouse, complete with locker rooms and showers for home and visiting teams, a large bar room for social gatherings, a 900 square foot deck which overlooks our beautifully maintained, regulation size rugby pitch, and a three bedroom apartment rented to players.
[edit] Club Acomplishments
Today, the club is enjoying success with players from South Africa, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and all over the United States. Over the past two years, the club has traveled quite far in the playoffs, finishing 9th nationally in the Division II playoffs in Texas in 2000, 13th nationally in Division I in 2001 (losing to eventual National Champion San Mateo), and 7th nationally in Division I in 2002. Also CRFC has finished 11th, 7th, and 12th nationally in 7s, over the past three years. A very high standard of play now exists, with invitations for various tournaments and venues coming from all over the country.
As the club continued to grow, so did its dominance over Southern rugby. Starting in 1980, they captured nine consecutive state championships, several undefeated seasons, a ranking as high as fourth in the nation, and was selected as hosts to the Wales Rugby Football Union National side during their 1997 US tour.
Currently we are competing in USA Rugby Division I and we regularly compete against the likes of Life, Washington, PAC, Chicago Lions, Maryland Exiles, Dallas Harlequinns and Scioto Valley to name a few. Over the past several years the CRFC has a winning percentage of over .800.
[edit] Guiding the Youth
The Charlotte RFC is leading the way in the Southeast in the areas of Youth Rugby. Paul Maxwell, a Charlotte RFC member was recently appointed USA Rugby Youth Development Officer for the Southeast. He has completed a very impressive clinic and camp for his U-15 team at the 2001 & 2002 Cape Fear 7s tournament. His next projects include the addition of youth teams in the Charlotte area and high school programs in key areas in the Carolinas, as well as Virginia and Georgia.
