Amoskeag Rugby Club
Encyclopedia
The Amoskeag Rugby Football Club is a rugby
club in Manchester, New Hampshire
. They play in Division I of the New England Rugby Football Union
(NERFU).
Founded in 1984, they play at the Northeast Athletic Club in Pembroke, New Hampshire
. The club's colors are red and black.
Amoskeag started play in the Third Division of the New England Rugby Football Union (NERFU). After capturing the Third Division Championship several times, the Club moved into the Second Division and captured the Division Championship in both the Spring and Fall of 1990 and the Spring of 1991.
In addition to capturing the New England Division Championship in 1990, Amoskeag went on to win the United States Rugby East Territory's Northeastern and East Coast Second Division Titles.
In the fall of 1991, Amoskeag moved into the NERFU's First Division, considered by many to be one of the most competitive in the Nation. Initially the club competed against the perennial power clubs like Boston and Mystic River; by the fall of 1993, the club moved itself into the fifth position in the eight-team league. In the fall of 1994, NERFU formed the Premier League, encompassing Clubs from throughout the Northeast United States. In the fall of 1995 Amoskeag finished third in its ten team Division with a 6-3 record.
1996 & 1997 saw Amoskeag compete in the Northeast Inland Division (a middle division between Premier and Second Division), challenging for playoff spots each season. In the fall of 1998, Amoskeag placed third in the Inland Division, and was awarded a bid to the Second Division National Tournament, where the club reached the Sweet 16 in Dallas, Texas (played in the Spring of 1999).
Amoskeag now competes in the First Division of the New England Rugby Football Union (NERFU). The Northeast Rugby Union is comprised NERFU and MetNYRFU Division 1 teams. The team continues to go from strength to strength.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club in Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
. They play in Division I of the New England Rugby Football Union
New England Rugby Football Union
The New England Rugby Football Union is a stand-alone union for rugby union teams in New England.NERFU had been a local area union , and part of the Northeast Rugby Union , which is the governing body for three LAU's The New England Rugby Football Union (NERFU) is a stand-alone union for rugby...
(NERFU).
Founded in 1984, they play at the Northeast Athletic Club in Pembroke, New Hampshire
Pembroke, New Hampshire
Pembroke is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 7,115 at the 2010 census. Pembroke includes part of the village of Suncook. The center of population of New Hampshire is located in Pembroke.- History :...
. The club's colors are red and black.
History
The Amoskeag Rugby Club was formed in 1984 by members of the Concord Rugby Club. Based in Manchester, New Hampshire, the club draws members from throughout central and southern New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts.Amoskeag started play in the Third Division of the New England Rugby Football Union (NERFU). After capturing the Third Division Championship several times, the Club moved into the Second Division and captured the Division Championship in both the Spring and Fall of 1990 and the Spring of 1991.
In addition to capturing the New England Division Championship in 1990, Amoskeag went on to win the United States Rugby East Territory's Northeastern and East Coast Second Division Titles.
In the fall of 1991, Amoskeag moved into the NERFU's First Division, considered by many to be one of the most competitive in the Nation. Initially the club competed against the perennial power clubs like Boston and Mystic River; by the fall of 1993, the club moved itself into the fifth position in the eight-team league. In the fall of 1994, NERFU formed the Premier League, encompassing Clubs from throughout the Northeast United States. In the fall of 1995 Amoskeag finished third in its ten team Division with a 6-3 record.
1996 & 1997 saw Amoskeag compete in the Northeast Inland Division (a middle division between Premier and Second Division), challenging for playoff spots each season. In the fall of 1998, Amoskeag placed third in the Inland Division, and was awarded a bid to the Second Division National Tournament, where the club reached the Sweet 16 in Dallas, Texas (played in the Spring of 1999).
Amoskeag now competes in the First Division of the New England Rugby Football Union (NERFU). The Northeast Rugby Union is comprised NERFU and MetNYRFU Division 1 teams. The team continues to go from strength to strength.
Honors
- 2005 Finalist in the Premier Division of the CANAM Rugby tournament held in Saranac Lake (the largest tournament in the Western Hemisphere).
- 2006 Cup winner in the Premier Division of the CANAM
- 2006 Runner-Up in NERFU Division One, finishing just 2 points behind New Haven Old Black RFCNew Haven Old Black RFCThe New Haven Old Black Rugby Football Club is a rugby club in New Haven, Connecticut. They play in Division I of the New England Rugby Football Union ....
.