HISTORY OF THE DALLAS RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB
The Dallas RFC was conceived by Dr. Bill Woodfin in 1968, and officially christened on January 18, 1969. The club is a charter member of the Texas Rugby Football Union, and Major League Rugby. Dallas RFC is one of only seven first division clubs in the Texas Rugby Union, whose membership now numbers 67 clubs.
From the beginning, Dallas RFC has been recognized as a leader in developing rugby, with three of the current seven clubs in the Dallas area owing direct linkage to Dallas RFC. Dallas RFC is the third oldest club in Texas, and the oldest in the North Texas area.
Plans are underway to celebrate the club’s upcoming 35th anniversary. The club celebrated its 30th anniversary with a tour of Ireland. The 25th anniversary was celebrated with a gala dinner and dance at City Place. The 20th anniversary was celebrated with a two week tour of Australia. The club has traveled extensively in the United States and overseas. Dallas RFC was the first Texas team to tour overseas, with the 1978 tour of England and Wales. The club again toured England and Wales in 1982, toured Canada in 1986, Australia in 1988, and Ireland in 1999.
In 1995 and 1996, Dallas RFC hosted the Texas Rugby Union Club Championship Tournament. This past June, the club hosted its 23rd Annual 7’s Tournament, which was also a USA Western RFU National Qualifier.
Dallas RFC has a long history of success in major and minor tournaments. The club has twice won the Texas Rugby Union First Division championships, and has qualifier for the National Seven-a side Club Championships on three occasions.
Former club member Mika Sika represented the United States Eagles, the national team, on 17 occasions as fullback. Thaddeus Hill has represented the U.S. Eagles 7-a-side team as a winger in 25 matches.
The membership includes many past and present administrators, referees, coaches, and representative players in the North Counties, Texas Rugby Union, and the Western Rugby Union. With this solid base of experience and a influx of new members, the club field three sides, plus a “old boys” side.
The future of the Dallas RFC continues to look bright as new tours are planned, with this years goal set to win the Texas Rugby Union Club Cham
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