Hartford Wanderers
Encyclopedia
Hartford Wanderers is a Rugby union
club, from Hartford, Connecticut
, United States
.
Over its history, the club has toured Ireland
, England
, Scotland
, Wales
, Bermuda
, New Zealand
, and The Bahamas. It has also hosted numerous international touring sides that have come to and through the Hartford area.
The club has produced four players who have played for the United States Eagles
, the National Rugby Team. In 1987, Wanderer Tom Vinick represented the United States in the inaugural Rugby World Cup
in New Zealand. While captaining Hartford, Al Dekin also represented his country by captaining the Eagles in Italy
and Portugal
, and later at the famous Hong Kong Sevens
. Wanderers Tom Brewer
and Glen Judge have also represented their country while wearing the Wanderer colors.
The club's success on the field are equaled by its success off the field. The Hartford Wanderers are committed to developing rugby's stature in the community by being involved in various charities and fund-raisers. Because of the club's past success, Hartford is always a possible site for international matches, such as the 1991 US Eagles v. Scotland
match. A portion of the proceeds were donated to local charities and the 2003 Wales
v US Eagles
The Hartford Wanderers R.F.C. continues its commitment to excellence.
The Hartford Wanderers are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
The Hartford Wanderers recently qualified for the National Division 2 Playoffs in Austin, TX where they were eliminated the first round.
In 2011, The Hartford Wanderers were promoted to NERFU Division 1
or Central Connecticut State University
respectively.
. They are former 2006 Division 2 Champions. Most recently, they have finished 3rd in their 2007 Fall Season and advanced to the Northeast Rugby Unions Playoffs. They play other clubs such as Old Gold Rugby Football Club, Newport RFC, Providence RFC, Burlington RFC, Springfield RFC, Charles River RFC, South Shore RFC and Portland RFC.
Al Dekin (Former USA Eagles Captain)
Tom Brewer
(USA Rugby Select)
Glen Judge (USA Rugby Select)
Rob Chudzik (USA Rugby Select)
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, from Hartford, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
The Hartford Wanderers Rugby Football Club, Inc. was founded and established in 1966 by a small group of men from the UConn Law School seeking to establish a quality athletic and social rugby club in the Hartford area.Over its history, the club has toured Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and The Bahamas. It has also hosted numerous international touring sides that have come to and through the Hartford area.
The club has produced four players who have played for the United States Eagles
United States national rugby union team
USA Rugby's men's national rugby union team, nicknamed the Eagles, represents the United States in the sport of rugby union. The Eagles are currently ranked 17th by the IRB World Rankings. Their highest ranking was from November 2, 2006 – September 10, 2007 at the 14th position...
, the National Rugby Team. In 1987, Wanderer Tom Vinick represented the United States in the inaugural Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
in New Zealand. While captaining Hartford, Al Dekin also represented his country by captaining the Eagles in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, and later at the famous Hong Kong Sevens
Hong Kong Sevens
The Hong Kong Sevens is considered the premier tournament on the IRB Sevens World Series in rugby sevens—a variant of rugby union....
. Wanderers Tom Brewer
Tom Brewer
Thomas Austin Brewer is a former baseball player. A right-handed pitcher, he played for the Boston Red Sox from 1954 to 1961....
and Glen Judge have also represented their country while wearing the Wanderer colors.
The club's success on the field are equaled by its success off the field. The Hartford Wanderers are committed to developing rugby's stature in the community by being involved in various charities and fund-raisers. Because of the club's past success, Hartford is always a possible site for international matches, such as the 1991 US Eagles v. Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
match. A portion of the proceeds were donated to local charities and the 2003 Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
v US Eagles
The Hartford Wanderers R.F.C. continues its commitment to excellence.
The Hartford Wanderers are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
The Hartford Wanderers recently qualified for the National Division 2 Playoffs in Austin, TX where they were eliminated the first round.
In 2011, The Hartford Wanderers were promoted to NERFU Division 1
Current squad
The Hartford Wanderers consist of a wide age range of players most of them from the Hartford Area. Most players played for a regional school such as University of ConnecticutUniversity of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
or Central Connecticut State University
Central Connecticut State University
Central Connecticut State University is a state university in New Britain, Connecticut, United States.The school was moved to its present campus in 1922...
respectively.
Sponsorship
The Hartford Wanderers are sponsored by Ten Penny Ale which is made by Burnside Brewery, Pro Rugby Shops, Irwin Mortgage, The Law offices of Stephen Morelli, Systematics Incorporated and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.Division
The Hartford Wanderers are a part of the New England Rugby Football UnionNew 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...
. They are former 2006 Division 2 Champions. Most recently, they have finished 3rd in their 2007 Fall Season and advanced to the Northeast Rugby Unions Playoffs. They play other clubs such as Old Gold Rugby Football Club, Newport RFC, Providence RFC, Burlington RFC, Springfield RFC, Charles River RFC, South Shore RFC and Portland RFC.
Recruitment
The Wanderers are always looking for new and experienced players, foreign or domestic. For more infortmation, visit The Wanderers HomepageNotable players
Tom Vinick (1987 World Cup)Al Dekin (Former USA Eagles Captain)
Tom Brewer
Tom Brewer
Thomas Austin Brewer is a former baseball player. A right-handed pitcher, he played for the Boston Red Sox from 1954 to 1961....
(USA Rugby Select)
Glen Judge (USA Rugby Select)
Rob Chudzik (USA Rugby Select)