Huntington Beach RFC
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[edit] The Founding
The Huntington Beach Unicorn Rugby Football Club is a sports and social club located in Huntington Beach, California. The club was formed in 1970 solely for the purpose of playing Rugby Union football. The club is a current member club of the Southern California Rugby Football Union, one of seven (7) territorial unions which comprise the United States of America Rugby Football Union (or USARFU ). USARFU is a member of the International Rugby Board, based in Dublin, Ireland and is affiliated with USA Olympic Committee.
[edit] The Early Days
The club has its roots back to members of the Los Angeles Rugby Club and Eagle Rock RFC. Many of these founding members lived in Orange County and wanted to play closer to home. The Unicorns set many precedents during the seventies and eighties. The club had the first ‘clubhouse’ in Southern California, in downtown Huntington Beach, were the first club to embark on an international tour ( Wales - 1972 ) and have played if front of the largest crowd to see Rugby in the USA - half-time at a Rams vs. Browns pro football game, with nearly 70,000 fans present. The Unicorns have continued their long tradition of international contact, having hosted Northcote RFC (N.Z.) in 1993 and the University of New South Wales RFC (Australia) in 1995. The club also took their show on the road for the Rugby World Cup in Wales in 1999..
[edit] Acomplishments on the Field
In 1997 and 1998, the Unicorns competed in the National Second Division championships, finishing second and fifth respectively in the nation. The club was elevated to First Division competition beginning in November, 1998. The Southern California Rugby Union features one of the most competitive leagues in the US, with five time National Champion, OMBAC from San Diego and 1998, 2003 and 2004 Harp Super League Champions, Belmont Shore from Long Beach, as well as 2005 First Division National Champions, Santa Monica and runner-up Back Bay.
[edit] Building a Club
Whilst the Huntington Beach Unicorns have proven themselves on the rugby field over the years, the development of the club off the field has been just as impressive. The club is currently in the process of incorporating to strengthen its administrative base. The club ranks third from Southern California in players registered with USA Rugby, and is one of the few clubs which can boast dedicated training and game fields. We have a full schedule of 15’s, 7’s and touch football play. We have also formed the Old Frothonian Cricket Club where any cricketer in the local area can play some social cricket in the off season. The Unicorns famous social camaraderie, known round the world, keeps the atmosphere fun.
