Old Mission Beach Athletic Club RFC
Encyclopedia
Old Mission Beach Athletic Club Rugby Football Club is a rugby union
team based in San Diego, California
. OMBAC RFC is directly affiliated with the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club. The rugby team plays at The Little Q Rugby Field, adjacent to Qualcomm Stadium
(hence the name).
OMBAC began sponsoring a rugby team in 1966. The club was founded by several OMBAC members who also played rugby and wanted to have a San Diego team. Fed by alumni members of the SDSU rugby team, OMBAC RFC was playing in first division competitions by 1968. Since that time, OMBAC RFC has remained at or near the top of the rankings for USA RUGBY men's club teams. OMBAC RFC has won 7 USA Rugby Sevens and 8 USA Rugby Fifteens Championships. The club has dominated its league and region.
Over the years, OMBAC has contributed many players to County, Southern California, Pacific Coast and United States All-Star teams. OMBAC players Mike Saunders, Brian Vizard, Kevin Higgins, Steve Gray, Chris Lippert and more recently, Dan Lyle
, and Dave Hodges, have captained the United States National Team in international competition. OMBAC has also contributed administratively as well with President Bing Dawson having served as coach of the Pacific Coast Grizzlies as well as the United States National Team. Former OMBAC coach Jim Perkins was the head coach of the 1991 United States World Cup Team. Klaus Mendenhall served as treasurer for the SCRFU for eight years and Bob Watkins held several positions in the United States of America Rugby Football Union, including President.
practice facility. It is now a nationally renowned rugby pitch that has hosted the USARFU National Championships, the USA Eagle NA4 developmental matches, and a host of other youth and collegiate matches.
, Tui Osborne and Dan Payne
.
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...
team based in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. OMBAC RFC is directly affiliated with the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club. The rugby team plays at The Little Q Rugby Field, adjacent to Qualcomm Stadium
Qualcomm Stadium
Qualcomm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in San Diego, California, in the Mission Valley area....
(hence the name).
Club History
Founded in 1954 by Mike Curren and some of his friends, The Old Mission Beach Athletic Club (OMBAC) is the parent affiliation of OMBAC Rugby Football Club. The Athletic Club has approximately 500 active members and supports numerous athletic, social and charitable associations.OMBAC began sponsoring a rugby team in 1966. The club was founded by several OMBAC members who also played rugby and wanted to have a San Diego team. Fed by alumni members of the SDSU rugby team, OMBAC RFC was playing in first division competitions by 1968. Since that time, OMBAC RFC has remained at or near the top of the rankings for USA RUGBY men's club teams. OMBAC RFC has won 7 USA Rugby Sevens and 8 USA Rugby Fifteens Championships. The club has dominated its league and region.
Over the years, OMBAC has contributed many players to County, Southern California, Pacific Coast and United States All-Star teams. OMBAC players Mike Saunders, Brian Vizard, Kevin Higgins, Steve Gray, Chris Lippert and more recently, Dan Lyle
Dan Lyle
Daniel Joseph Lyle is an American rugby union footballer. A 1992 graduate of Virginia Military Institute, he took up rugby union aged 23 in an attempt to keep fit. He had been invited to train with American football team Minnesota Vikings and had a trial with the Washington Redskins...
, and Dave Hodges, have captained the United States National Team in international competition. OMBAC has also contributed administratively as well with President Bing Dawson having served as coach of the Pacific Coast Grizzlies as well as the United States National Team. Former OMBAC coach Jim Perkins was the head coach of the 1991 United States World Cup Team. Klaus Mendenhall served as treasurer for the SCRFU for eight years and Bob Watkins held several positions in the United States of America Rugby Football Union, including President.
Tours
In the past, OMBAC Rugby has toured Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, England, Scotland and Wales. OMBAC has also hosted a number of foreign touring sides including the French National Champions of 1991, Toulouse; and Llanelli, the runner-ups to the Welsh Club Champions of 1990 and Welsh Club Champions in 1992 and '93. 1993 saw OMBAC battle Northern Transvaal powerhouse club, Roodeport, to an 18-17 narrow defeat. Roodeport went on to dismantle several other clubs and rep sides in the region. In 1994 OMBAC hosted and defeated such world powers as the Orrell Rugby Football Club from England and the Brothers RFC from Brisbane, Australia. In 1995 OMBAC was on the losing side in a very physical game with another top English side, the Sale Rugby Club. In 1996 OMBAC played host to one of Argentina's top club sides, Ciudad Universidad de Buenos Aires (CUBA).Venue
In 1991 OMBAC raised funds to build a new clubhouse joining only a handful of teams in the United States to have such a facility. Currently OMBAC plays its home matches at the "Little Q". This site was previously the NFL San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
practice facility. It is now a nationally renowned rugby pitch that has hosted the USARFU National Championships, the USA Eagle NA4 developmental matches, and a host of other youth and collegiate matches.
Staff
OMBAC has a complete and dedicated coaching, management and medical staff of trainers and physicians who attend all OMBAC practices and matches. OMBAC also has a public relations director, responsible for all media releases, match recaps and the team newsletter.Notable players
OMBAC was well represented in the 2007 World Cup by team members Todd CleverTodd Clever
Todd Stanger Clever is an American rugby union player. He is currently the Captain of the USA rugby union team. His current club is Suntory in Japan. In rugby Clever plays as a flanker, but while playing for the USA Sevens side he plays as a prop.-Club career:Todd joined Suntory of Japan in June...
, Tui Osborne and Dan Payne
Dan Payne (rugby union)
Dan Payne is an American rugby union number eight. He is a member of the United States national rugby union team and participated with the squad at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He is now the coach of Life University.-References:...
.
National Championships
OMBAC Rugby has distinguished itself with the following accomplishments:- 2010 U.S.A. D3 National Champions
- 2006 Rugby Super League Champions
- 1996 U.S.A. National Champions
- 1994 U.S.A. National Champions
- 1993 U.S.A. National Champions
- 1991 U.S.A. National Champions
- 1989 U.S.A. National Champions
- 1988 U.S.A. National Champions
National 7s
- 2006 U.S.A. 7's National Champions
- 2002 U.S.A. 7's National Champions
- 2001 U.S.A. 7's National Champions
- 2000 U.S.A. 7's National Champions
- 1995 U.S.A. 7's National Champions
- 1985 U.S.A. 7's National Champions
National Placement
- 2003 Super League Runners-Up
- 2002 Super League Semi-Finalists
- 2001 Super League Runners-Up
- 2000 Super League Semi-Finalists
- 2000 Third Place U.S.A. National Club Championships
- 1997 Third Place U.S.A. National Club Championships
- 1995 Runners-Up U.S.A. National Club Championships
- 1996 Runners-Up U.S.A. 7's National Club Championship
First XV Honors
- USA RugbyUSA RugbyUSA Rugby is the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in the United States. It is divided into seven territorial Unions: Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, Pacific Coast, Southern California, South, and West...
Division I Champions - 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996- Second place - 1995
- Third place - 1997, 2000
- USA RugbyUSA RugbyUSA Rugby is the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in the United States. It is divided into seven territorial Unions: Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, Pacific Coast, Southern California, South, and West...
National Club Sevens Champions - 1985, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006- Second place - 1996, 2005, 2007
- Third place - 1997
- USA RugbyUSA RugbyUSA Rugby is the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in the United States. It is divided into seven territorial Unions: Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northeast, Pacific Coast, Southern California, South, and West...
Division III Champions - 2010 - Rugby Super League Championship
- First place - 2006
- Second place - 2001, 2003
- Fourth place - 2000, 2002