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FALL 2010 SCHEDULE |
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- 7/31-8/1
- 9/4
- 9/11
- 9/18
- 9/25
- 10/2
- 10/9
- 10/16
- 10/23
- 10/30
- 11/6
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- CAN AM 15's
- Monmouth
- Bye Week
- NYRFC
- Bayonne
- Morris
- Monmouth
- Bye Week
- NYRFC
- Bayonne
- Morris
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- NY
- Home
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- Away
- Away
- Home
- Away
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- Home
- Home
- Away
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The Long Island Rugby Football Club (LIRFC) was founded in 1972 as the Smithtown Rugby Club by St. Anthony and Chaminade alumni. Among the individuals instrumental in its creation were Mike Scott, an expatriated Englishman, Mike Cotter and John McDermott. The name was changed to the Long Island Rugby Football Club shortly thereafter. The club was incorporated in 1979. The moniker of the Rhino was suggested by then president, Gareth Brancato, in the early 1990's. He felt that the rhino's qualities of strength, endurance, and capacity for rage espoused the makeup of the players. The club continued as the Long Island Rugby Rhinos until 1998 when it merged with the Rockville Centre Rogues.
The Rockville Centre Rugby Club was founded in the Spring of 1992 through the efforts of Fred Hunt and Johnny Profitlich. The club, nicknamed "The Rogues", centered around a nucleus of players formerly with the Amityville RFC and grew to over 50 dues paying members in its first year. RVC joined the Metropolitan NY Rugby Union's Division III in the Fall of 1992. RVC improved on the field each year falling 6 points shy of winning the Division III Championship (to Long Island) in just its second year, but going undefeated to win the crown in its 3rd League season and being promoted to Division II the following year. It was that year, 1994, when Coach John Collins joined the club and provided guidance and leadership. In 1997, Coach McDonald strengthened the coaching staff by adding his own vast experience.
After competing with local rival, Long Island, on the field and with recruiting, it was decided that it would be best for both clubs to join forces to put forth one strong, unified Rugby Club in the region. RVC and Long Island merged in the Spring of 1998 to form LIARS. Both clubs decided to cease competing for players and resources and combine to enhance both teams ability to compete. The LIRFC have now become the focus of rugby on Long Island in Nassau and western Suffolk Counties. The team has competed in Division's I, II, and III. They are currently in Division I of the Met Union. They are coached by John Collins and Jerry Mirro.
The club's premiere event, The Annual Mother's Day Tournament began in 1982. Initially the tournament was only open to teams which had a home field on Long Island. Later it was open on an invitation-only basis. Now it has expanded to become one of the larger 15's tournaments in the Northeast.
Teams from all over the Northeast come to compete as well as touring sides from the United Kingdom. Under the recent stewardship of tournament director Bill Coughlin it has become the team's largest fund raiser.
The club travels extensively outside the New York area, playing in tournaments in Washington, Georgia, Alabama, New Orleans, Connecticut, and Saranac Lake. The team has fared well enough in these tournaments to bring home various trophies. The LIRFC has also staged road trips to Florida, Rhode Island, Maine, and Pennsylvania in recent years. The LIRFC also field a strong 7's side. They have appeared in all the major Mid Atlantic and NE area tournaments.
The 7's side is a regular Northeast contender as well, earning a trip to the Nationals in 2001. In addition, several Long Island players have been named to the Northeast Select Side to compete for the All-Star 7's Championship in the past few years.
Over the years, many foreign nationals have made this club their choice during their stays in the U.S. Among the countries represented have been Australia, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Uruguay, Argentina, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, Tonga, Samoa, Belarus, Trinidad and Jamaica. The club has also shown a commitment to international touring, traveling abroad every third year. Recent stops have included England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, the Cayman Islands and most recently Argentina in the fall of 2008. The club has reciprocated by hosting English clubs several times over the years.
The club has played extremely competively in Metropolitan Division II in from 1998 to 2005, earning trips to the Northeast playoffs in 2000 and 2002. Recent successes in tournaments include finals appearance at the Can Am Rugby Tournament in four out of the last five years, with a championship in 2003 and the B-division championship in the Savannah Tournament in 2002. In 2005 the club made the Final 16 for the National Championships for Division 2.
In the Fall of 2005, the club moved up to Division 1 of the Met Union. It has enjoyed tremendous success there, twice making the Final 16 for the National Championships in 2007 and 2008. The club presently fields 2 sides and is still a major competitor in Summer 7’s.
The main goal of our club is to provide competitive rugby for all who wish to play, to provide a high level of training that in turn provides a high level of personal fitness. We seek to establish friendships within our organization and also with other clubs from US and outside.
Over the years we have participated in many charity operations, like blood drives, helping the homeless and fixing and painting shelters for single moms. We have helped organize fundraisers for the victims of 9/11 and for those who have suffered paralyzing injuries from rugby or other sports.
Our Club has become a brotherhood where no player of any level is turned away.
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