Connecticut Yankees RFC
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| Connecticut Yankees RFC | |||
| Full name | Connecticut Yankees Rugby Football Club | ||
| Founded | 1975 | ||
| Union | New England Rugby Union | ||
| Ground(s) | Andrews Field | ||
| President | Duncan Forsyth | ||
| Official website | |||
| www.ctyankeesrugby.org | |||
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The Connecticut Yankees Rugby Football Club is a division 1 men's rugby club based in Norwalk, Connecticut. Founded in 1975, the club has fielded teams in the Metropolitan New York Rugby Union as well as the New England Rugby Football Union (NERFU). The Yankees won the USA Rugby Division II Men’s Club National Championship in 2004.
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[edit] History
[edit] Origins
The Ct Yankees RFC began their first season back in September 1975, when a number of players answered a newspaper advertisement. The advertisement read "Wanted: Rugby Players and Beer Drinkers", and was placed by club founder, Frank Sinnott (President 1976). That Fall the Club had one scrimmage against Yale University and lost 28-4. The Yankees officially joined the MetNY Union in the Spring of 1978 as an independent club with one side. The youthful and inexperienced Yankees posted a 10-2 record that Spring and a 6-5-1 record in the Fall. Due to life's impediments (age, careers, family resposibilites, etc) this one group of dedicated ruggers dwindled & in the Fall of 1988, the Yankees merged with their cross Fairfield County rivals, the Stamford Wombats. The red stripe within the club shield represents the jersey color associated with the former Wombats RFC. In the fall season of 1992, the Yankees A and B sides combined for a 22-2 record, won the Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament, and qualified as one of the final four teams in the East Coast finals. In 1994, under the guidance of Coach Stephen Cain, the Yankees completed the season in first place in Division II of the Met Union.
[edit] The Dark Years
Between 1995 and 1999 the Yanks did not post a single winning season and despite establishing a clubhouse, numbers waned, interest fell and the club was in danger of folding. Sensing the danger, many old boys, including Tommy Kubic, Beave Kubic, Duncan Forsyth, Kevin Black, Kenny Seakas, Mark Holzner, Scott Pressler and others answered the call. These old boys, and others, recruited many new faces to fill the ranks of the 1st XV.
[edit] Rebirth
In that rebuilding year of 1999, the Yanks lost the first game to Monmouth by 10 points and many members had to play two matches because the team failed to travel with sufficient numbers. The second game of that season against Montauk, a longtime rival, saw only 17 players travel and the game started with just 14 players against Montauk's full side. Something happened at that game and the Yanks managed to win by 5 points. From that moment, the Yanks understood that they could accomplish anything and indeed they did, winning all of the remaining matches that season. With that turnaround, our finish in 1999 was sufficient for a bid to the USARFU Men's Div. II Sweet Sixteen in Fort Worth, TX. While falling to national powerhouse Fort Worth RFC in the first round at their home pitch, the Yanks learned that they could compete at the highest levels of Division II national rugby and that championship rugby was something they should take seriously. In 2000, capitalizing on three years of practice, team work, and sacrifice brought the Yankees to win Division II of the Met NY Union, undefeated in league play. The Yanks completely dominated Division II, beating long time rivals Monmouth RFC, Montauk RFC and Long Island RFC. Returning to USARFU Men's Div. II Sweet Sixteen playoffs in Spring 2001, the Yanks received a berth in the playoffs which were held locally by New Haven "Old Black" RFC in New Haven, CT. After defeating Buffalo RFC in the first round, the 2001 championship series saw the Yanks enter the Elite Eight for the first time in club history. Unfortunately, the Yanks progressed no further, falling again to Fort Worth RFC. In the fall 2001, the Yankees remained focused on their winning ways, posting a 7-1 record in league play. Another tough regional playoffs turned the Yanks to face Springfield (MO) RFC in the first round of the playoffs. The Yanks fell to Springfield (MO) RFC in the Round of 16. However, this was the 3rd consecuative appearance in the "Sweet Sixteen" over the previous three years.
[edit] Move to NERFU
In 2002,the Yanks changed their affiliation from the Met Union to the New England Rugby Union. Instead of travelling to New York, New Jersey and Long Island, the Yanks schedule moved to include Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont. In the first season with NERFU, the Yanks announced their presence with authority, posting a 6-1-1 record.
[edit] 2004 Men's D2 National Champions
In 2004, the Yanks defeated Nashville RFC to win the D2 National Championship.
[edit] Current
Since 2005, the Yanks have competed in the NERFU D1 Men's league.
[edit] Notable Players
Kevin Nealon, actor and comedian, played rugby with the club for several years.[citation needed]
