The New Orleans Rugby Football Club (also known as NORFC), founded in 1973, is a men's
rugby union
Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In its m ...
team based in
, United States. The club competes in and is governed by the
True South Geographical Union
The True South Geographical Union is the Geographical Union (GU) for rugby union teams playing in the Southern United States for USA Rugby.
True South Rugby Football Union is responsible for governing the following Local Area Unions (LAU's):
* De ...
(GU), and
USA Rugby.
Chalie Baleirara is the current head coach. Joe Rolf is the assistant coach.
The NORFC practices twice weekly at the
Gretna Rugby Pitch located on Gretna Blvd, just off Belle Chase Hwy. in
Gretna,
Louisiana
Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...
.
History
The New Orleans Rugby Football Club is currently a member of the True South Rugby Union, Division II. New Orleans Rugby competes against other TSRFU teams such as: Birmingham Rugby Football Club, Memphis Blues Rugby Club, Knoxville Rugby Football Club, Chattanooga Rugby Football Club, Baton Rouge Rugby Football Club and Nashville Rugby Football Club.
NORFC won the USA Rugby South Division II Deep South Pool in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
In 2011, NORFC fielded a 2nd XV in the DIII competition. This team won the Deep South Pool and advanced to the South Finals. New Orleans won the 2011 DII USA Rugby National Championship, defeating defending champions Tampa Krewe. In 2012, New Orleans' DI side won the South union, but lost in the DI national playoffs to the Chicago Lions. That same year, New Orleans' DIII side went 22-0 and won the USA Rugby DIII National Championship. In 2013, the DI side finished third in the 2013 USA Rugby DI Championship, losing in the semi-finals to Seattle/Old Puget Beach, but then beating the Denver Barbarians for third place. In 2014, the DI side finished as runner-up to Life University at the 2014 USA Rugby DI Championship.
Former Players of Note
High School Rugby Program
NORFC created the Louisiana High School rugby program,which includes the following Clubs:
* Jesuit Blue Jay Rugby Club
* Brother Martin Crusader Rugby Club
* Barbarians Rugby Club
* Bayou Hurricanes Rugby Club
* St. Paul's High Rugby Club.
See also
*
True South Geographical Union
The True South Geographical Union is the Geographical Union (GU) for rugby union teams playing in the Southern United States for USA Rugby.
True South Rugby Football Union is responsible for governing the following Local Area Unions (LAU's):
* De ...
*
Deep South Rugby Football Union
The Deep South Rugby Football Union (DSRFU) is a Local Area Union (LAU) for rugby union teams in the Southeastern United States. The DSRFU is part of the True South Geographical Union, one of the Geographical Unions (GUs) that comprise USA Rugby. ...
*
USA Rugby
*
Rugby union in the United States
References
External links
Official siteUSA RugbyIRB Official Site
Rugby union teams in the United States
Rugby union teams in Louisiana
Sports teams in New Orleans
Rugby clubs established in 1973
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