DALLAS RUGBY

About Us

The Dallas Rugby Football Club was established in 1968 and is the premier USA Rugby Club in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.

We currently field FOUR Men’s sides and a Women’s side. Our teams compete in USA Rugby’s Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, and Division 4. We also help manage the Dallas Youth Rugby Club.

Dallas Rugby Logo- Pegasus

Training

Johnson’s Outpost YMCA
3325 Valley View Ln.
Dallas, TX 75234

Post-Match Socials

Yogi’s Home Plate
6770 Abrams Rd Suite 180
Dallas, TX 75231

175+

Registered Club Members (as of 2019-2020 season)

5

Adult Sides

52

Years of Dallas Rugby

15+

Countries Represented

Quick Facts

  • Founded in 1968
  • 175+ registered players in 2019-2020 season
  • Compete in Divisions I, II, III, and IV of the USA Rugby Men’s club national competition
  • Compete in Division II of the USA Rugby Women’s club national competition
  • 501(c)(3)
  • Average Player Age: 28 years
  • Player Age Range: 21-61
  • Geographic Area of Conference (Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas)
  • 2017 Gold Cup Champions (regional cross-over competition).
  • Countries represented: Argentina, Australia, Canada, England, Fiji, France, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, U.S.

Our Staff

Dallas Rugby's Club Officers

Executive Committee

President: Jeff Robertson
Vice President: Bobby Cannell
Treasurer: Richard Stevens
Secretary: Alek Hernandez

Directors Emeritus: David Dodge, Jeff Kolberg

Director of Rugby Fil Keuppens

Coaching

Director of Rugby: Fil Keuppens

Men’s Head Coach: Stuart Morrison

Women’s Head Coach: Steph Schooling

Sevens Coach: Chris & Lynn Howard

Youth / HS Head Coach: Basilio Torres 

Our Story

Over the Years

^
1968

Founded

The Dallas Rugby Football Club 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 a member of the USA Rugby Football Union. Dallas Rugby was the third rugby club established in Texas, and the first in the North Texas area. Three of the seven clubs in the Dallas area are direct descendants of the Club.

^
1978

First Overseas Tour

Dallas Rugby was the first Texas team to tour overseas, taking a tour of England and Wales in 1978. The Club again toured England and Wales in 1982, toured Canada in 1986, Australia in 1988, and Ireland in 1999.

^
1980

Inaugural Lone Star 7s
Tournament

Dallas Rugby hosts the Annual TOLA Lone Star 7s Tournament in Dallas, TX. Every year, teams from far and wide come to play in the tournament. Today, the tournament hosts various men’s brackets, women’s brackets, and high school brackets.

^
2017

USA Rugby 7s
Bowl Champions

 In 2017, Dallas Rugby traveled to Minnesota, MN to compete in the USA Rugby National 7s Tournament and won the Bowl Championship. Our 7s team has placed in the top 10 in the nation every year since then. 

Outstanding Players and Culture

5

Success On the Pitch

Dallas Rugby has a long history of success. Most recently, our Division I team has consistently placed in the top of their conference for the past several years, and is the only Dallas rugby team to do so.

As the country’s largest rugby club, we have over 170 active players– both men and women. We continue to support the efforts of Dallas Youth Rugby- a club aimed at bringing rugby to underprivileged youth in Dallas.

5

Success Off the Pitch

As the country’s largest rugby club, we have over 170 active players– both men and women.

We also continue to support the efforts of Dallas Youth Rugby- a club we started aimed at bringing rugby to underprivileged youth in Dallas.

5

MLR Success

Several of our players have played with Major League Rugby teams such as the Houston Sabercats and NOLA Gold. Pitcured here are a few of our players: Chris Saint, Chris Slater, Kelly “Spike” Kolberg, Chad Joseph, and Connor Murphy.

Dallas Rugby looks forward to developing a partnership with the Dallas Jackals organization in an effort to promote rugby in the DFW area and develop quality players who can compete at the professional level.

5

Local & Global Connections

Several of our players have played with Major League Rugby teams such as the Houston Sabercats and NOLA Gold. Pitcured here are a few of our players: Chris Saint, Chris Slater, Kelly “Spike” Kolberg, Chad Joseph, and Connor Murphy.

Dallas Rugby looks forward to developing a partnership with the Dallas Jackals organization in an effort to promote rugby in the DFW area and develop quality players who can compete at the professional level.

5

Dallas Rugby Women

Several of our players have played with Major League Rugby teams such as the Houston Sabercats and NOLA Gold. Pitcured here are a few of our players: Chris Saint, Chris Slater, Kelly “Spike” Kolberg, Chad Joseph, and Connor Murphy.

Dallas Rugby looks forward to developing a partnership with the Dallas Jackals organization in an effort to promote rugby in the DFW area and develop quality players who can compete at the professional level.

Join Today

If you’re interested in playing rugby or would like to know more about us, please click the button below and one of our Club members will be in contact with you as soon as possible.

Don’t be shy, no experience necessary!

Alex Elali dodges the would-be tackler from Fort Worth
Chad Joseph is lifted by his teammates in a lineout

Become Part of Our HISTORY

Dallas Rugby 1970s team posing after winning Championship
Boogie gets excited after scoring a try.
Dallas Rugby Lineout. Circa 2014

Club Accomplishments

Dallas Rugby has a long history of success. Below is a list of the club’s recent success.

  • 2019 USA Rugby 7s National Tournament – Bowl Champions (Kansas City, MO)
  • 2019 TOLA (TX, OK, LA, AR) 7s Series Runners-Up
  • 2018 USA Rugby 7s National Tournament- Plate Champions (New York City, NY)
  • 2018 TOLA (TX, OK, LA, AR) 7s Series Champions
  • 2017 USA Rugby 7s National Tournament – Bowl Champions (Minneapolis, MN)
  • 2017 TOLA (TX, OK, LA, AR) 7s Series Champions
  • 2017 Red River Rugby Conference 7s Champions
  • 2017 USA XV’s Rugby Gold Cup Champions – Division 1
  • 2016 USA XV’s Rugby Gold Cup Runners Up – Division 1
  • 2016 USA XV’s Rugby Championship Series National Quarterfinalist – Division 1
  • 2016 XV’s Red River Rugby Conference Champions – Division 1
  • 2016 TOLA (TX, OK, LA, AR) 7s Series Champions
  • 2015 7s USA Rugby National Tournament Qualifier (Des Moines, IA)
  • 2015 TOLA (TX, OK, LA, AR) Sevens Tournament Series Runner-Up
  • 2015 USA XV’s Rugby Championship Series National Semifinalist – Division 1
  • 2015 XV’s Red River Rugby Conference Runner-Up – Division 1
  • 2015 USA XV’s Rugby Championship Series National Quarterfinalist – Division 2
  • 2015 XV’s Red River Rugby Conference Champions – Division 2
  • 2014 TOLA Sevens Tournament Series Champions
  • 2014 USA XV’s Rugby Championship Series National Semifinalist – Division 1
  • 2014 XV’s Red River Conference Runner Up- Division 1
  • 2014 XV’s Red River Conference Wild Card- Division 2, USA Rugby Play-Offs
  • 2013 TOLA Sevens Tournament Series Champions
  • 2013 Men’s Division 1 and Division 3 Round of 32
  • 2012 Men’s Division 1 Round of 16
  • 2011 Men’s Division 1 Round of 16
  • 2010 Men’s Division 1 Round of 32
  • 2008 TOLA Sevens Series Champions
  • 2007 Texas Rugby Union Runner Up – B side
  • 2005 Texas Rugby Union Champs – A Side
  • 2005 Texas Rugby Union Champs – B Side
  • 2005 Western Rugby Union Champs
  • 2004 Heart of America Premier Division – 3rd Place
  • 2003 Texas Rugby Union Champs
  • 2003 Western Rugby Union Champs
  • 2001 Major League Rugby Cup Finalist
  • 1998 Major League Rugby Plate Champions

Hall of Fame

2017: Jerry Hawkins, Anthony Mattacchione, Kevin Sumners

2016: Glenn Allan “Fitzy” Forrester

2015: Michael Xuereb, Filip Keuppens

2014: Rhys Ball, Ross Clary, Alan Noel

2013: David Evans, Kevin Clark, Donna Kolberg

2012: Grant Kreft, Joe Carter

2011: Glyn Heatley, John Munson

2010: Gandolf Burris, Bruce Clark, Blake Holman, Greg Schragin

2009: Nelson Spencer, Lou Molvin, 

2008: Boyd Adams, Pat Grazioli, Tim Ryan, Frank Van Leer

2007: Gene Killian, Harry Mack, Dean Robinson, Richard Walden

2006: Joe McKenna, Stewart Nolan, Danny Polcari

2005: Mark (Mel) Brooke, Dr. Kelly Hester, Brad Lamb, Richard Prim

2004: Joe Borgerding, Tom Donohue, Charle (Carlos) Johnson, Griff Owen, Derley Tijerina

2003: Mark Fischer, George Getschow, Doug Lueckemeyer, Bruce McGregor, Rick Mendenhall

2002: Chris Chefchis, Dee Claybrook, Jeff Kolberg, Dr. Peter Raven, Steve Lindley

2001: Chuck Lueckemeyer, Dr. Willie Manton, Barrie Neller, Darrell Rasmussen, Henry Summerall, Paul Williams, Dr. Bill Woodfin