History of Rugby in Florida

The earliest recorded rugby records in the state of Florida show that in the Spring of 1969, Father John Howles, an Episcopal priest attached to the University of Miami, and Mr. Jeff Peterson, a teacher at the University of Miami, posted on billboards information inviting interested parties to show up for rugby practice.

At the same time, at the University of Florida, a group of Australians, not knowing what was happening at the University of Miami, were busily starting up a rugby club of their own.

The first organized rugby match was played in Key West, Florida when Dad Pap took a team down to play a British frigate. The outcome of that match sent the University of Miami team back to Miami wondering if they should not leave well enough alone and go back to playing football, baseball and other very American sports. Well, a few weeks later, after their ego re-inflated, they were on the road again visiting the University of Florida. Little was known about the rugby camp in Gainesville.

In a role reversal, the boys from the South came marching up from Miami and the boys from Gainesville were hiding behind rocks and trees. As you might have guessed, history was written that day when the University of Miami beat the University of Florida in the first interstate [sic] rugby match that is considered the “great grandfather” of our present day competition leading to a state champion.

From 1969 to early 1974 not much happened in Florida, but during that time at the grass roots level, small groups of players were banding together to form clubs and starting to talk about a Union.

In 1973, there were several meetings held in Orlando attended by Jacksonville, Orlando, Tridents, University of Florida, University of Miami, and University of South Florida. The outcome of these meetings was the formation of the Florida Rugby Football Union in 1974. John Clements, a Welshman of long standing rugby experience and one of the driving forces behind the development of the Union, was elected President. The Union was very small at the time and the only other officers elected were Roy Brewer (Univ. of FL) as Secretary/Treasurer and Peter Gibson (Univ. of SFL) as Vice President.

During 1973-74, rugby on the field was developing slowly while administration was advancing rapidly. Florida clubs were regularly being beat by visiting ships and clubs from the Georgia Rugby Union.

The following year, the Florida Union put together a 35 man traveling squad and went to Athens, GA where the Florida and Georiga first and seconds played. The Florida first team won overwhelmingly 32-9 and the seconds rose to the occasion by beating Georgia 21-12.

In 1976, still under the leadership of John Clements, who by this time had also become involved in the ERU, the Florida Rugby Union sent two teams on tour at the same time. The first team was off to Philadelphia to play in the bicentennial tournament that was made up of four US sides and four top ranked British sides. At the same time, the second team was playing the Saracens in the Bahamas. From 1975 to 1980, rugby flourished in the State of Florida going from eight clubs to twenty-two.

During that period, the Union was gifted with three strong presidents: John Clements (1974-77), Bill Cusselle (1977-78) and Kevin Kitto (1978-82), who helped give the Union direction and a degree of professionalism.

While still very strong in 1980 on and off the field, the Florida Union and its member clubs started to feel the natural attrition which is to be expected in any organization. The players of 1969 & 1970 were 10 years older and 10 years slower, the number of clubs declined but surprisingly the level of play remained high and in many clubs increased markedly.

After a stagnant period (1980-82), there seems to be a resurgence in the state. Rugby is moving again, new clubs are forming, the Florida side is traveling and winning. Florida players are playing on the South and ERU squads. Our fourth president, Jim Millar, has taken on the task to build an even stronger administration for the Union. At the same time, Florida coach Tony Casserely, a fairly new face in Florida rugby but with a longstanding career in first class play, has committed himself to the task of piloting the Florida side to National prominence.

Taken from the Hammerhead Rugby 1st Annual Beerfoot Beach 7’s Tournament program, 2003; transcribed by Rick Comisky

 

 

Men’s 15s Champions (top division only*)

1972 Miami
1973 Miami
1978 Miami
1979 Miami
1980 Miami
1981 Miami
1982 Miami
1983 Miami
1984 Miami
1985 Iron Horse
1986 Boca Raton
1987 Miami
1988 Saint Petersburg
1989 Fort Lauderdale
1991 Fort Lauderdale
1992 Fort Lauderdale
1994 Fort Lauderdale
1995 Miami
1996 Miami
2008 Miami
2010 Miami
2013 Tampa
2014 Miami
2015 Orlando
2016 Trident
2017 Trident
2018 Trident
2019 Trident
2020 Covid
2021 Trident

Men’s 7s Champions

2013 Miami
2016 Miami
2020 Covid
2021 No competitive series

Men’s Florida Cup

1972 Miami
1973 Florida State University
1974 Florida State University
1975 Florida State University
1976 Miami
1977 Tallahassee
1978 Old Smugglers
1979 Orlando
1980 Miami
1981 Orlando
1982 Miami
1983 Miami
1985 Orlando
1986 Boca Raton
1998 University of Florida
2002 Fort Lauderdale
2003 Bay Area
2004 Miami
2005 Daytona Beach
2007 University of South Florida
2008 Tampa
2009 Boca Raton
2011 University of Florida
2012 Boca Raton
2013 Tampa
2018 Trident
2020 Covid

Women’s 15 Champions

2013 Fort Miami
2014 Fort Miami
2015 Fort Miami
2016 Fort Miami
2017 Fort Miami
2018 Fort Miami
2019 Fort Miami
2020 Covid
2021 Orlando

 

Please email the FRU secretary with additions to these records

*In 2012, USA Rugby demanded that certain organizational changes be made and the Florida Rugby Union became the Florida Rugby Union Geographical Union. At that point, the men stopped competing in Division 1.

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