Santa Monica Rugby Club

Rugby team
teamname = Santa Monica Rugby Club
location = Santa Monica, California, USA
fullname = Santa Monica Rugby Club
nickname = Dolphins
union = USA Rugby
country

url = www.santamonicarugby.com
founded = 1972
ground = webster middle school a.k.a. "The Dolphin Pit"
president =
coach = flagicon|USA Stuart Krohn
league = Rugby Super League
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=_thinwhitesides|pattern_ra1=|leftarm1=000000|body1=008000|rightarm1=000000|shorts1=000000|socks1=008000
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=|leftarm2=|body2=_bluehoops|rightarm2=|shorts2=|socks2=

Santa Monica Rugby Club is a rugby union club from Santa Monica, California. The team, also known as the "Dolphins", were recently accepted into the Rugby Super League, which is the top level of club rugby in the United States. The club is a part of the Southern California Rugby Football Union (SCRFU), and also has men's, women's and youth teams.

History

The Santa Monica Rugby Club was established in 1972 by rugby graduates of UCLA, USC and St. Mary's College. The club went undefeated in the SCRFU Division I, taking the championships in both the San Diego/OMBAC Tournament and the Monterey National Invitational. Santa Monica continued their winning ways since their inaugural season in 1972/73, going onto win the SCRFU Division I five seven times. The club has since produced numerous players for national team, some of which have skippered the USA.cite web | title=Club History | work=santamonicarugby.com | url=http://www.santamonicarugby.com/history.html | accessdate=31 August|accessyear=2006]

The Santa Monica Rugby Club has won the SCRFU Division I league title seven times fact|date=May 2008, captured top spot at the San Diego/OMBAC Tournament seven times fact|date=May 2008, been to the national championships 8 times — winning on five occasions fact|date=May 2008, and even won at the Santa Barbara International Tournament fact|date=May 2008.

Twenty Santa Monica Rugby Club players have represented the United States in international competition as USA Eagles — three of them captained the national side fact|date=May 2008. Three additional Club players have represented the USA on the World XV. Former Club and USA Eagle captain Craig Sweeney is honored by the Club's Craig Sweeney Fund, tax-deductible contributions go to support the long-term goals of Santa Monica Rugby.

Every year, notable club members from past seasons are honored at the Hall of Fame dinner following our annual Golden Dolphins old boys match on Club Day. The Club's most recent evolution has garnered national attention fact|date=May 2008.

The current coach is Stuart Krohn, an American whose international rugby pedigree includes captaining Hong Kong as well as stints in France, Australia and South Africa.

The Lady Dolphins were formed in 2005 and officially accepted into the union in 2006.

Begun as a co-ed non-contact program for U-8s, U-12s and U-14s, the Club now sponsors youth rugby all the way up to U-19 tackle for boys and girls, as well as rugby programs at four local public schools.

In 2006, Santa Monica made a third consecutive final four appearance, defeating the Boston Irish Wolfhounds, 57 points to 19 fact|date=May 2008. After the 2006 Super League season an invitation was sent to Santa Monica to join to Super League for the 2007 season. The Board of Directors voted to accept the invitation to join the Rugby Super League. Santa Monica will play in the Western Division. The Boston Irish Wolfhounds also accepted the invitation to join the expanded competition.cite web | title=Boston Irish Wolfhounds To Join USA Rugby Super League | work=rugby-rugby.com | url=http://www.planet-rugby.com/Teams/USA/story_53411.shtml | accessdate=31 August|accessyear=2006] Numerous Eagles and rep side players have dotted the Club's roster over the years. Beginning in 2003, the Club has paired its annual Club Day and Old Boys Game with a Hall of Fame banquet, honoring notables from all decades.

hawn Lipman

* Represented the United States National Team in over 20 matches
* Named as one of Best 50 US internationals by a national sports publication
* Played in 1991 World Cup for the United States National Team
* Played against best Rugby playing nations in the world including,
* [New Zealand All Blacks
* [www.england-rugby.com England]
* [http://www.francerugby.fr/ France]
* Captained the US Maccabiah Team at the 1997 and 1993 Maccabiah World Games, winning Gold 1997 , Silver 1993.
* Represented the US Maccabiah Team at the 1989 Maccabiah World Games, winning Bronze and South Africa in 1985, winning Gold
* Selected Most Valuable Player of the Games in 1989, 1993 and 1997
* Flag Bearer for the United States delegation at the 1997 Maccabiah World Games
* Inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2004, with others such as Sandy Koufax, Mark Spitz, Sean Greene
* Represented Transvaal Under 20 provincial representative side in South Africa
* Selected as MVP of the Santa Monica Rugby Club in seven seasons
* Represented US representative side at the Melrose Sevens, one of the premier tournaments in the world
* Represented the US all over the world against international sides ,including Russia, Japan, Canada, South Africa, France, England, Israel, Scotland, Bermuda

References

External links

* [http://www.santamonicarugby.com Official site]
* [http://www.scrfu.org/ SCRFU website]
* [http://www.westvalleyrugby.com/default.aspx Wolverines website]