Founded as a Youth Rugby side in the Spring of 1988, North Penn RFC is one of the only rugby organizations in the world to have emerged from a Youth rugby side into a full-fledged athletic fraternity offering rugby to players of all ages. The club was founded on the premise that rugby can and should be built "from the ground up".  

FOUNDING FATHERS

Our founding fathers included Alan Marjoram, Brian Pickersgill, Barry Ward, Rick Schmilewske and Ron Zeigler. These gentlemen had all played rugby in their younger days, and became involved in coaching Youth Rugby teams sponsored by neighboring rugby clubs. An advertisement for High School and U-15 rugby teams was placed in a local newspaper in January 1988. Recruiting meetings were held at North Penn schools. The club's numbers expanded dramatically, as young athletes were drawn to a new and exciting sport. 

EARLY YOUTH TEAMS SCORE BIG IN FIRST YEAR

The first team ever to take the field for North Penn RFC earned a berth in the USA National High School tournament in 1988, finishing eighth overall in the USA. Mini and Junior rugby sides also flourished during that first year. Several of the club's original High School and U-15 players are presently on our senior side roster, including Sean Covelens, George Hockman, Stuart Marjoram, Will Morrow, Dan Pickersgill, Toby Pickersgill, and Bryan Reimel. The North Penn community began to take notice of rugby. A second advertisement was placed in the summer of 1988, this time calling for adult players. A North Penn Old Boys rugby side was formed in the fall of 1988, competing under the name "Ruckin' Ducks". This side consisted mostly of NPRFC's Youth Rugby coaches and parents, and a few local expatriates with rugby backgrounds. The North Penn "Old Boys" team continued to compete and socialize until approximately the fall of 1992. North Penn fielded its first senior club team in the spring of 1989, and also attained Full Member status with the East Penn Rugby Football Union. This original senior side consisted of a mix of graduates from the 1988 High School side, some college-aged players, and a small handful of the younger Old Boys. The team competed in the EPRU's Division IV, and struggled to find players and matches. The average player age of the first senior team to take the field was under 22 years old.  

EARLY 1990's - GETTING ORGANIZED AND GROWING UP

The club became a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation in 1991, and began to conduct organized fundraising and recruiting activities. Membership grew during the years 1991-94 at all levels. The High School side qualified for the USA National Tournament in 1992, finishing fifth. The senior club side won the EPRU Division IV championship in fall 1992, and challenged Allentown RFC (now defunct) for Division III status. The senior side gradually began to establish itself as a competitive side during this period, winning a championship at the Bryn Mawr 7's tournament and a surprise second place finish at the annual Amishland Ruggerfest, among other successes. A college scholarship award program was established to benefit deserving High School side players. 

MID -1990's GROWING PAINS

The club experienced a decline in membership at all age levels in 1994, 1995 and 1996. A rift of sorts developed between a few of the club's founding members. Many of the original High School team players left the area to attend college or enter the military. Others got married and started families. Several key players left to play for neighboring senior club teams. At the Youth level, the football coach at North Penn High School issued a "ban" on rugby, ordering all High School football players to stay away from rugby upon penalty of being banned from the football team. This coach subsequently left North Penn High School. NPRFC has since been successful in recruiting athletes from North Penn as well as Lansdale Catholic, LaSalle, Methacton and Souderton High schools.  

LATE 1990's - ONWARD AND UPWARD

1997 saw a sharp increase in membership and club activities both on and off the pitch. Organized recruiting programs at all age levels brought new members and new ideas to the club. The High School team finished third at the EPRU tournament, after barely fielding a side in 1996. The senior team began to defeat opponents who had previously dominated NPRFC. The senior team also distinguished itself at Summer Sevens tournaments. The club entered into promotional relationships in 1998 with key sponsors such as Boddingtons Pub Ale and Yoo-Hoo Chocolate Beverage. The club also became very active in fundraising activities, such as an Annual 5K Race, a Program and Yearbook, and the now famous "Cow Chip" event. The club also became affiliated with the Hatfield American Legion in 1998, thereby gaining access to a practice pitch and permanent clubhouse facilities. The standard of play increased dramatically in 1998 at both the High School and senior side levels. North Penn RFC's reputation as a competitive, organized, and well-funded club began to grow. Increased numbers meant players had to start competing for positions. The club hosted the inaugural Boddingtons North Penn Sevens event in 1999, which greatly enhanced relations with its major sponsor and also its status within the rugby community. NPRFC worked to solidify its reputation as being among the most organized and best-administered rugby organizations in the region. NPRFC also made plans to acquire ground adjacent to the clubhouse for a permanent match pitch. The senior side won the prestigious Baltimore Rites of Spring tournament, and returned to the championship final at the Bryn Mawr Sevens. The High School team captured the 1999 East Penn RFU championship, with thrilling victories over both Wilmington and cross-town nemesis Doylestown. The High School side went on to represent the EPRU at the USA East Championship Tournament.

THE NEW MILLENIUM - MATURE, ORGANIZED, AND PRIMED FOR SUCCESS

The year 2000 brought the return of several key players to North Penn RFC. Recruiting programs intensified, and new players began to fill out the rosters at both the senior and High School levels. A Guest Player Program was instituted, and the club began to host players from New Zealand, Argentina, and Spain. A gym was secured for off-season training, and individual fitness became a priority. The "Rugby House" on Sumneytown Pike near North Wales became a combination home and social center for many of senior team's bachelor members, and also Overseas Guest Players. NPRFC strengthened its relationship with the Legion during the year 2000, with the performance of several major service projects on the clubhouse grounds. Thanks to the generosity of the Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation, the club broke ground for a new match pitch on land adjacent to the Legion property. The club hosted an EPRU Referee's clinic, and a USA Rugby coaching clinic in 2000. The High School side hosted the 2000 EPRU tournament, and placed third in the EPRU. The club organized and sponsored a college side at Penn State's Abington campus, and established a reciprocal recruiting relationship with Penn State University. North Penn RFC played very good rugby in the year 2000. The senior team finished the year with an overall record of 32 wins, four losses and one tie. Most of the wins were by very wide margins. North Penn won the Baltimore Rites of Spring for the second year in a row. The senior teanm went undefeated in the fall, finishing with seven wins and zero losses. A total of 47 tries were scored, and the senior side set a "points for/against ratio" of 239. This is believed to be an EPRU Division III record. Unfortunately, the club's hopes for elevation to Division II were dashed in the closing seconds of a 29-29 tie against Doylestown RFC in a memorable challenge match on November 11, 2000. However, the senior team was later promoted to MARFU Division II, and completed it inaugural season at the higher level in fall, 2001.

2001 MEN'S TEAM MOVES UP TO DIVISION II  

NPRFC hosted Justin Tito and Nick Percy, two guest players from New Zealand, and Jeremy Malherbe, a guest player from South Africa. In May 2001, the senior side competed as the top seed in the Middle Atlantic RFU Division III Championship tournament. By then NPRFC had already been promoted to MARFU Division II. Activities in 2001 included the completion of the new Match Pitch at the clubhouse, refurbishment of the clubhouse, and the beginning of an effort to erect lights at the clubhouse practice pitch. The club successfully hosted its Third Annual Boddingtons North Penn Sevens, and also the EPRU High School tournament.  

2001 BOY'S HIGH SCHOOL TEAM TRAVELS - GIRLS TEAM EMERGES

2001 brought the establishment of the first ever North Penn High School Girl's rugby team. The girls team played very well in its inaugural season under the direction of coaches Rich L'Ecuyer, Jane Lisko, and Pete Burns. In 2001 the Boy's High School team went on tours to the prestigious Jesuit Showdown Tournament in Dallas, Texas and also the International High School Rugby Festival in Washington D.C. The boys finished in second place in Texas, and third place in Washington. The boys team also partook in a memorable "Road Trip" to the Penn State University Development Camp. The Boys High School team finished with an overall record of 10 wins and four losses in 2001, and placed third at the EPRU High School tournament in April. 

2002: SUCCESS FOR SENIOR TEAM IN DIVISION II; CLUB HOSTS LARGEST COACHING CLINIC IN U.S. HISTORY; DAWN OF THE BETZLER ERA; SOPHISTICATED FUNDRAISING EFFORTS

North Penn RFC organized and hosted a USA Rugby Coaching Accreditation Program in late January 2002. The event drew rave reviews, and turned out to be the largest such clinic ever held in the USA with over 130 coaches certified. Attendees were also treated to a "Coaches Dinner and Social" at the clubhouse. Also in January 2002, the NPRFC Board of Directors announced the hiring of former USA National team coach George Betzler, as Head Coach of the club's senior team. Coach Betzler set to work immediately, with the stated goal of helping the team to capture the MARFU Division II (North) Championship in the fall of 2002. The NPRFC senior team captured First Place honors in the prestigious Washington Irish St. Patrick's Day Tournament, and also in the Baltimore Rites of Spring Tournament. The annual "Saranac Tour" ended with a second place finish for the NPRFC team, after a close loss (10-5) to the Schenectady Reds, a team that included seven current or former USA Eagles on its roster. The NPRFC senior side went undefeated on the fall of 2002, capturing the MARFU Division II (North) Championship, and earning a #2 seed in the 2003 MARFU Division II championships. The club's bid to host the MARFU Championship event was accepted by the MARFU Board. 2002 also saw the return of the acclaimed annual "Night at Races", "Cow Chip Festival" and Cancun "Vacation Sweepstakes". Hosted and organized by NPRFC, these "fun" fundraising events were operated in conjunction with other area rugby clubs and community organizations. New events in 2002 included a "Comedy Night" event, and a "Kids Fest" Community Carnival fundraiser was also held on our clubhouse grounds. Proceeds from Kids Fest benefited the Indian Valley Foundation. Also in 2002, the NP Girls High School team made it to the Grand Final at the East Penn Rugby Union's High School Championships. The club applied for and received a substantial grant for the installation of a well to serve the new pitch.

2003: TWO NEW HIGHSCHOOL TEAMS LAUNCHED, SENIOR TEAM HOSTS MARFU CAHMPIONSHIPS AS NUMBER TWO SEED

In 2003, NPRFC launched teams for both male and female students at Lansdale Catholic Senior High School. Mike Hall agreed to serve as the Chief Administrator for the fledgling Girls team, and Karen Rosenburg, a player and club executive from Keystone Women's Rugby Club, stepped up as Head Coach for the Crusader Girls. The Crusader Boys team was organized and coached by Stuart Marjoram, Sean Covelens and Mike Burns. April 19-20, 2003 was set for the MARFU Division II Championship Tournament, with number two seeded North Penn RFC as host.  

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