The 1988 National Rugby Championships were a series of tournaments organized to determine a national champion in several divisions for United States rugby teams. The divisions included men's/women's club, college, high school, military, sevens, and inter-territorial.
Men's Club.
The 1988 National Club Rugby Championship took place at Windhover Park in Albany, NY from May 14–15. The teams featured in the tournament were the champions of the four sub unions of USARFU. The Old Mission Beach Athletic Club of San Diego, CA won the title for the first time. OMBAC made it to the National championship by defeating seven-time winner Old Blues of Berkeley in the Pacific Coast Final. Washington placed third. Rick Crivellone of OMBAC was Most Valuable Forward and Mike Saunders of OMBAC was Most Valuable Back.
Final.
Champions: Old Mission Beach Athletic Club<br>
Staff: Bing Dawson (Coach), Pat Boyl (President)<br>
Captain: Mike Saunders (Scrumhalf)<br>
Roster: Colin Cole (Flyhalf), Rick Crivellone (Flanker), Carl Crumpacker (Lock), Pete Deddeh (Flanker), John DeWitt (Fullback), Graham Downes (Prop), Dave Granfors (Flanker), Johnn Hastings (Prop), Kevin Higgins (Center), Mike Johnson (Wing), Jon Lee (Wing), Pat Lenihan (Fullback), Bill Leversee (Lock), Roger Mein (Flanker), Charles Montgomery (Fullback), Dave Ochs (Prop), Dennis Panish (Center), Dwayne Parker (Hooker), John Phillips (Flyhalf), Gary Stasco (Prop), Sam Vaka (Center), Warren Van Zyl (Center), Brian Vizard (#8), Kent Weyand (Hooker).
Women's Club.
The 1988 Women's National Rugby Championship was a tournament was played on May 28–29 in Naperville, IL. The University of Minnesota won the title by defeating Florida State 18–0. Beantown took third place. University of Minnesota scrumhalf Tracey Diedrich was MVP.
Final.
Champions: University of Minnesota
College.
The 1988 College championship was won by California. Dartmouth was runner-up.
Military.
The 1988 National Military Rugby Championship was a twenty–seven team tournament in two divisions that took place at Wright Patterson Air Force base in Dayton, OH from May 11–15 and was won by Camp Lejeune Misfits with a 23–10 win over the Davis Monthan Mandrills in the Club Division while Pensacola Old Boys won the Open Division defeating The Mike Stephenson's President's XV 16–6 in the final. A 'boot competition' was played by teams finishing third in their group and Camp Pendleton were the winners among them. In the Chairman's Cup competition for kickers Bourke Milligan of Pensacola won the drop kicking contest, and Brett Bowlin of Camp Lejeune was the best place kicker.
Path to championship:<br>
Camp Lejeune 18–6 Wright-Patterson AFB<br>
Camp Lejeune 10–0 Camp Pendleton<br>
Camp Legeune 17–7 Fort Carson<br>
Camp Lejeune 12–4 Pensacola
Path to final:<br>
Davis Monthan 12–6 Hawaii ORCAS<br>
Davis Monthan 11–0 Fort Leonard Wood<br>
Davis Monthan 18–0 Fort Bragg<br>
Davis Monthan 6–4 Fort Campbell<br>
Davis Monthan 10–0 Fort Sill
Final.
The 1988 Interservice Rugby Championship was held at Fort McNair in Washington D.C. from 10 to 11 September. The teams involved were select sides of each service branch. From these teams a selection was made to field the Combined Services Rugby team for tours.<br>
Round robin
Third place
Championship<br>
1. Marines (4–1) 2. Coast Guard (3–2) 3. Navy (3–2) 4. Air Force (2–3) 5. Army (0–4)
Sevens.
Club<br>
The 1988 National Club Seven–a–side championship, was played at the Milwaukee Polo Grounds in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 4 September. There were eight teams featured which included two representatives from each of the four territorial unions. Akron and QC Irish qualified from the Midwest. Maryland Old Boys and Duck Brothers qualified from the Eastern regional. Santa Cruz Rebels and Old Puget Sound represented the Pacific Coast. Denver Barbarians and Dallas Reds represented the West. Old Puget Sound defeated the Denver Barbarians to win the championship. Duck Brothers finished third.
First round:
Second round:
Third round:
Final.
Champions: Old Puget Sound<br>
Coach: Jeff Docter<br>
Roster: David Bateman, Jon Knutson, Ty Adams, Mike Telkamp, Tony Ridnell, George Foster, David Carpenter, Jay Herron, Mathew Pleis. Chuck Depew.
All Star<br>
The 1988 National All-Star Sevens Rugby Tournament was an eight team tournament with two representatives from each territory. Similar to the ITTs, the other purpose of the tournament was to select members for the U.S. Eagles Seven–a–side team. This years tournament took place at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, AZ on 5 November as part of the 14th Annual Michelob Continental Rugby Classic. The East A team won the final over the Pacific B team. East B came in third.
First round:
Second round:
Third round:
Consolation semifinals:
Consolation final<br>
West A 32–6 West B
Third place<br>
East B 16–10 Pacific A
Final.
Champions: East A<br>
Coach: Emil Signes, Mr. Davis, Mr. Betzler<br>
Roster: Paul Sheehy, Freutenberg, Brewer, Will Brewington, Rory Lewis, Charlie Wilkinson, Dave Karovski, Miller, Bill Fisher.
ITT.
The Inter Territorial Tournament involved the four regional rugby unions comprising the United States RFU: Pacific Coast RFU, Western RFU, Midwest RFU, and the Eastern Rugby Union. The region teams are formed with players selected from the sub regional rugby unions. Subsequently, the USA Eagles are selected from the four regional teams after the ITT concludes. In 1988 the tournament took place at Windhover Park in Schenectady, NY from May 28–30. The Pacific Coast Grizzlies won the tournament for the eleventh time.
Results:<br>
Champions: Pacific Coast Grizzlies<br>
Coach: Bing Dawson<br>
Roster: Rick Crivellone-Lock (OMBAC), Tony Flay-Hooker (Old Puget Sound), Kevin Higgins-Center (OMBAC), King Holmes-Scrumhalf (Old Puget Sound), Don James-Prop (Los Angeles), Jon Knutson-Center (Old Puget Sound), Bill Leversee-Lock (OMBAC), Shawn Lipman-Flanker (Santa Monica), Chris Lippert-Prop (OMBAC), Rick Mayfield-Flanker (Portland), Dan Morrison-Flyhalf (San Francisco), Ray Nelson-Fullback (Los Angeles), Joe Nickerson-Prop (Old Puget Sound), Chris O'Brien-Flyhalf (Hawaii Harlequins), Tim O'Brien-Center (Old Blues), Jeff Peter-#8 (Santa Monica), Tim Peterson-Prop (San Francisco), Mike Purcell-Wing (BATS), Tony Ridnell-Lock (Old Puget Sound), Al Robertson-Lock (Old Puget Sound), Mike Saunders-Scrumhalf (OMBAC), Mike Smith-Wing (Old Blues), Dave Surdyka-Flanker (Los Angeles), Brian Vizard-#8 (OMBAC), Kent Weyand-Hooker (OMBAC), Barry Williams-Wing (Los Angeles), Mark Williams-Center (Santa Monica).
Junior ITT<br>
The 1988 Junior ITT tournament took place at Windhover Park in Schenectady, NY from May 28–30. The Pacific won for the third time in five years.
Champions: Pacific Coast Junior Grizzlies<br>
Coaches: Briley, Hastings, Spinella, Waldron<br>
Captains: Dwayne Parker–Hooker (OMBAC), John Wilmore–#8 (Back Bay)<br>
Roster: Sean Allen-Hooker (San Diego State), Jay Boyle-Fullback (Tucson Magpies), Chris Celsi-Wing (Los Angeles), Colin Cole–Flyhalf (OMBAC), Dave DeMay-Lock (Arizona U.), Jim Dreyfuss-Prop (Santa Monica), Merrick Firestone-Center (Tucson Magpies), Steve Forster-Flyhalf (San Diego State), Doug Giles-#8 (San Francisco), Dennis Gonzales-Flanker (San Diego State), John Hastings-Prop (OMBAC), Ben Hough-Flanker (UC Santa Cruz), Greg Hulbert-Lock (Old Blues), Ryan Kelly-Flanker (Arizona U.), Dean Klisura-Wing (Old Blues), Dennis Panish-Center (OMBAC), Robert Salabar-Fullback (Old Blues), Ramon Samaniego-Scrumhalf (Old Blues), Tony Samaniego-Scrumhalf (Old Aztecs), Greg Stoehr-Flanker (Old Blues), John Tellenbach-Fullback (UC San Diego), Chuck Tunnacliffe-Lock (Belmont Shore), Brian Walgenbach-Prop (Old Blues), Eric Whitaker-Wing (St. Mary's).
Women's ITT<br>
The second edition of the Women's ITT was played from January 30–31 in Metarie, LA and held in conjunction with the Battle of New Orleans tournament. The tournament ended in a three-way tie.
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
High School.
The 1988 National High School Rugby Championship was an eight team tournament took place 21 May at the Fort Logan complex in Washington, DC. The Highland squad from Utah won the championship by defeating Burlingame of California in the final. Doylestown of Pennsylvania took third.
Seventh place
Fifth place
Final.
Rosters:<br>
Highland– Mike Oifanakis (Prop), Shane Siatanga (Hooker), Mike Marriott (Prop), Justin Hawes (Lock), David Young (Lock), Mark Holmstrom (Flanker), Steve Jones (Flanker), Brett Harris (#8), Paul Brinton (Scrumhalf), Mike Moe (Flyhalf), Sione Lau (Wing), Glen Hubert (Center), Siope Hafoka (Center), Mark Conn (Wing), Matt Parkin (Fullback).<br>
Burlingame– Marcus Tongamoa (Prop), Jamie Bianchini (Hooker), Tony Penterio (Prop), Matt Mason (Lock), Darren Guion (Lock), Shane Quivey (Flanker), Fred Faivuilo (Flanker), Viliami Mahoni (#8), Anore Bachelet (Scrumhalf), Isi Fehoko (Flyhalf), Jim Gough (Wing), Adrian Mansbridge (Center), Ian Gurll (Center), James Vere (Wing), John Eke (Fullback).