The 1983 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 Interterritorial.

Men's Club The 1983 National Club Rugby Championship was sponsored by Michelob and took place in Chicago, Illinois at Winnemac Park Stadium from May 14–15."Other Events". (May 13, 1983). Chicago Tribune, Sec.2 p.5 col.3 The teams featured in the tournament were the champions of the four sub unions of USARFU. Boston RFC represented the Eastern Union after winning their regional final 34–9 over the Norfolk Blues. The Chicago Lions represented the Midwest Union by winning the Mid America Cup with a 30–15 win over Akron. The Dallas Harlequins earned the right to represent the Western RFU by defeating the St. Louis Falcons 35–4. The Old Blues defeated Old Puget Sound 20–6 to win the Pacific Coast Championship. The Berkeley Old Blues won the National title defeating Dallas Harlequins in the final 23–0."Old Blues Take Rugby Title In National Finals". (May 16, 1983). The Berkeley Gazette, p.18 col.1

Semifinals

Third place

Final

Champions: Old Blues RFC of Berkeley, CA Coach: Jeff Hollings, Steve Ponder, Leo Fracess(Pres.) Captain: Whit Everett (Flanker) Roster: Bill Armstrong (Fullback), Rick Bailey (Prop), Mark Bass (Flanker), David Bateman (Scrumhalf), Drew Brooks (Hooker), Randy Coste (Prop), Duke Dapper (Lock), Mark Deaton (#8), John Everett (Hooker), Roy Helu (Center), Chuck Hextrum (Lock), Mark Hoffman (Lock), Dean Landry (Prop), Jeff Lucas (Prop), Tim Mascaroni (Fullback), Bo Meyersieck (Flyhalf), Ken Meyersieck (Scrumhalf), David Morrison (Flanker), Tim O'Brien (Center), Mark Richter (Wing), Mike Smith (Wing), Matt Taylor (Wing), Art Ward (Lock), Blane Warhurst (Flanker), Jeff Westcoff (Wing).

Women's Club The 1983 Women's National Rugby Championship was a tournament that took place on May 28–29 at the Ned Brown Forest Preserve in Schaumburg, IL."Rugby Tournament". (May 30, 1983). Daily Herald, sec.3 p.4 col.8 Beantown of Boston, MA won the championship with an 11–10 win over Florida State. Beantown advanced to the championship with wins over Chicago and Denver."FSU Moves Closer To Women’s Rugby Title". (May 29, 1983). St. Petersburg Times, p.6C col.2-4 Mary Ellen Moynihan of Beantown was MVP.

Final

Lineups: Beantown– Moynihan, Money, Kimball, Girouard, Rubarth, Heffernan (Captain), Bridi, Rutkowski, Cepko, McClure, Keith, Moran, Morrissey, McVann, Malinowski. Florida State– Kalman, Kossman, S. Hill, Kojm, C. Hill, Bonakar, Morton, Flores, Holmes (Captain), Jakubcin, Cooper, Rosen, Orsini, Bowlin, Jamison.

All Tournament Team Props– Sheila Hill (Florida State), Mary Ellen Moynihan (Beantown) Hooker– Linda Whitehead (Chicago) Second Row– Donna Groman (UCLA), Kathy Kojm (Florida State) #8– Kathy Flores (Florida State) Flanker– Sharon Fields (Houston), Connie Bridi (Beantown) Flyhalf– Polly Foureman (Madison) Scrumhalf– Mary Holmes (Florida State) Inside Center– Andrea McKenzie (UCLA) Outside Center– Candi Orsini (Florida State) Wings– Vicki Bowlin (Florida State), Micky McVann (Beantown)

College

The 1983 College championship was won by University of California at Berkeley. Air Force was runner-up.

Military The 1983 U.S. Armed Forces Rugby Championship was an 18 team event that took place at Honor Field in Fort Polk, LA from May 6–8 and was won by Uniformed Services University Hospital Services with a 6–0 win over Fort Stewart. The Health Sciences School of Medicine team from Bethesda, MD made it to the championship with shutout wins against Fort Hood, Camp Pendleton, and Wright Patterson. Championship Bracket

Final

Consolation Bracket

Additional games May 7 Black Sheep 26–14 Coast Guard May 8 Ft. Polk B 16–27 Fort Campbell // Parris Island 15–10 PACAF Black Sheep 10–4 Davis Monthan // Coast Guard 4–7 Fort Sill Camp Pendleton 10–0 Black Sheep // Scott AFB 16–0 Coast Guard

Sevens The 1983 National Sevens Rugby Tournament was a ten team tournament hosted by the Hartford Wanderers and took place on June 18, 1983, at Sterling Field in West Hartford, Connecticut. The University of Rhode Island Old Boys were the champions. Path to championship: URI Old Boys 18–12 Charles River URI Old Boys 24–0 West Hartford Yahoo's URI Old Boys 16–0 Bethlehem URI Old Boys w/o N.Y.A.C.

Path to final: Duck Brothers 34–0 Beacon Hill Duck Brothers 24–0 Syracuse Harlequins Duck Brothers 22–12 Banshees Duck Brothers 18–4 Big Apple Aces

Final:

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. The 1983 ITT took place in Oak Brook, IL from May 28–30. The Pacific Coast RFU repeated as tournament champions for the seventh time. Results:

TeamWLFA1Pacific Coast Grizzlies3048212Midwest Thunderbirds2131403Western Mustangs1249414Eastern Colonials032248

Champions: Pacific Coast Grizzlies Staff: Nesbit (Coach), Dawson (Coach), Parnell (Doctor), Batt (Coach), Rod Sears (Coach), Dan Hickey (Manager) Roster: Dave Bateman–Scrumhalf (Old Blues), Bobby Blahnik-Center (Newport), Buster Bustanabe–Flanker (Newport), Pete Deddeh-#8 (OMBAC), John Everett-Hooker (Old Blues), Whit Everett–Flanker (Old Blues), John Fowler–#8 (Santa Monica), Ian Gunn–Fullback (Old Puget Sound), Jay Herron–Flanker (Valley), John Jelaco–Prop (BATS), Ian Loveseth–Lock (BATS), John Marston–Lock (Portland), Floyd McGaughey-Scrumhalf (Seahawks), Peter McLaughlin-Prop (Seahawks), Mike Schaub–Wing (Belmont Shore), Tom Schnebeck-Center (Snake River), Denis Shanagher-Center (BATS), Tom Smith-Flyhalf (Santa Monica), Mike Tortorica-Hooker (Old Puget Sound), Gary Townsend–Fullback (Seahawks), Terry Whelan–Prop (BATS), Peter Wood–Wing (Old Puget Sound).

High School The 1983 National High School Rugby Championship took place at Lincoln Field in Washington, D.C. May 30. Langley High of McLean, Virginia were the champions.Elfin, David (May 31, 1983). "Langley Wins High School Rugby Title". Washington Post, p.D3 col.2 Langley had a season record of 12–0. Serra of San Mateo, California had a season record of 25–3–4.

Championship

Lineups:Langley– Brooks H. Lowery (Coach), David Robertson (Prop), Ivan Lopez–Muniz (Captain/Hooker), Dail, J.P. Forest (2nd Row), Colwell, John Lucidi (Flanker), Chris Cavicke (Flanker), Scott Lucidi (#8), Michael Brenois (Scrumhalf), Bourscheid, MacLaury(Captain), John Holden, Pierson, Kim, Aros. Serra– Fred Forester (Coach), Latu Tamuoepau (Prop), Brian Mifsud (Hooker), Valentine Connolly (Prop), Rossi, Lococo, Walter Bugler, Paul Fazzio, Frank Lux, Kaneaiakala, Stephen Forester (Captain/Flyhalf), William Caldarelli, Mahoni, Chris MacCari (Wing), Holland, Wigney.

References