Boston RFC

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Boston RFC
Full name	Boston Rugby Football Club
Founded	1960
Union	USA Rugby
Ground	Franklin Park
Capacity	~500
President	Dennis Gaffney
Coach	Bill Good
League	Rugby Super League
Home colours		Away colours
Official Website
www.brfc.org

Boston Rugby Football Club (also known as BRFC) is a rugby union team based in Boston, Massachusetts. The club competes in, and is governed by, the New England Rugby Football Union (their LAU), the Northeast Rugby Union (their TAU), and USA Rugby.

The club was established in 1960, but they would not be recognized as a nationally competitive club until they were accepted into Super League, the premier division of club rugby in the United States. The club has also contributed numerous international players to the United States national side.

History

1960-1998

BRFC was formed in 1960 but was not considered a nationally competitive club until 1996 when Beacon Hill Rugby Football Club, a spawn of BRFC that separated from the parent club in 1968, rejoined BRFC to ensure depth and competitiveness . Prior to the merge, the club had been one of the top regional clubs in New England. From 1970 through 1998, the club won twenty-two New England Rugby Football Union championships, but it was never able to attain consistent success at the national level. During that same time period, it reached the national competition four times and earned fourth place finishes in both 1983 and 1985. During the 1970s and 1980s, Boston RFC was the home club for many forwards, particularly locks, who played for the USA Eagles in international tests.

1998-present: The Super League Years

The Super League was formed in 1996 by USA Rugby to create a national competition amongst the premier clubs in the United States. During its first expansion in 1998, Boston RFC was one of two teams invited to join the competition (the other being Philadelphia Whitemarsh RFC). Since joining the competition, Boston has been one of the weakest clubs in Super League play. The club has amassed a 19-40-2 record as of the beginning of the 2007 season. From 2004 through 2006, Boston recorded a 2-18-0 record, and was outscored by 598 points (an average of thirty points per game). Other clubs that compete in the Premier Division have fared much better than Boston against Super League clubs during that period. Despite failing in the Super League competition, BRFC has remained one of the better clubs in regional competitions and tournaments since entering the Super League. They have won four New England Rugby Football Union Division I Championships since becoming a member of the Super League. The club fields four sides, which compete at various regional and national levels. The third XV has been met with some success at the national level, having won the USA Rugby National Third Division Competition in 2000.

International Tours

Since 1977, BRFC has embarked on several international tours, the most recent being to the Cayman Islands in 2000. They have also toured Great Britain (twice), Ireland (three times), Wales, France (three times), New Zealand, and Australia.

Honours

Boston RFC has been recognized with many regional honours. In the club's forty-six year history, Boston has won twenty-five NERFU championships. They have also attained moderate national success, reaching the USA Rugby Premier Division Competition four times, most recently in 2000.

Sponsorship

The SuperLeague's primary sponsor is Michelob Amber Bock and as such, each individual team receives a portion of those revenues. In addition to Amber Bock, Boston RFC has individual sponsorships. These consist of several secondary sponsorships from local and regional businesses.

Notable Players

The following is a list of former and current BRFC players that have earned caps for international tests

Australia

Bob Egerton, scrum-half

Canada

• Jim Yeganagi, flanker, two international caps

England

• Frank Sykes

USA

Wales

• Mike Roberts, lock, eight international caps.