1985 National Rugby Championships

The 1985 National Rugby Championships were a series of tournaments organized to determine a national champion in several divisions for United States rugby teams. The divisions included Men's/Women's Club, college, high school, Military, Sevens, and Interterritorial.

Men's Club
The 1985 National Club Rugby Championship was sponsored by Michelob and took place in Chicago, IL at Winnemac Stadium from May 11–12. The teams featured in the tournament were the champions of the four sub unions of USARFU. Milwaukee rugby club won the title for the first time.

Women's Club
The 1985 Women's National Rugby Championship was a tournament that took place at Golden Gate Park Polo Fields on May 25–26 in San Francisco, CA. Florida State won back to back titles and fourth overall after defeating San Diego Surfers 12–6 in the final. Minnesota took third place with a 8–0 win over Chicago.

College
The 1985 College championship was won by California. Maryland was runner-up.

Military
The 1985 National Military Rugby Championship was a sixteen team tournament that took place at Fort Sill, OK from May 11–12 and was won by Fort Ord of Monterey, CA with a 22–12 win over the Medical School of Maryland.

Championship Bracket

Final
Consolation Bracket

Open Division May 11 Wheeler/Scott 9-3 Black Sheep Coast Guard 34-3 Campbell/Bliss Black Sheep 14-3 Campbell/Bliss Coast Guard 32-0 Wheeler/Scott May 12 Coast Guard 30-0 Black Sheep Wheeler/Scott W-L Campbell/Bliss

Sevens
The 1985 National Sevens Rugby Tournament was an eight team tournament sponsored by Michelob and took place on February 17, 1985, at Robb Field in San Diego, California. The eight teams played two rounds of games and then were paired off in placement matches. The Pacific Coast A team won the final over the Eastern A team. Similar to the ITTs, the other purpose of the tournament was to select members for the U.S. Eagles Seven–a–side team.

First round:
 * Pacific A 14–4 Midwest B
 * Western A 20–10 Eastern B
 * Eastern A 18–0 Pacific B
 * Midwest A 16–4 Western B

Second round:
 * Eastern B 20–4 Midwest B
 * Pacific A 17–10 Western A
 * Pacific B 16–4 Western B
 * Eastern A W–L Midwest A

Seventh place

Fifth place

Third place

Final
Champions: Pacific Coast A Roster: Dave Bateman (Old Blues), Gary Bunce (Old Blues), Pete Deddah (OMBAC), Steve Gray (OMBAC), Willie Jefferson (Harlequins), Mike Purcell (BATS), Denis Shanagher (BATS), Blane Warhurst (Old Blues).

At the club level the National Seven–a–side championship was played as part of the 11th Annual Michelob Continental Rugby Classic at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, Arizona on November 2nd. There were eight teams featured which included two representatives from each of the four territorial unions. The Old Mission Beach Athletic Club defeated the Northern Virginia Duck Brothers 26–12 to win the championship. Bethlehem finished third by defeating Quad City 10–6 in OT.

A second All Star Sevens Tournament sponsored by Michelob took place in Orlando, Florida on December 7. The format was the same as the February event. Three rounds are played with winners and losers advancing to play each other respectively in the next round with the third round determining placements. Mark Gaetjen of the Eastern A team was MVP.

First round:
 * West A 14–10 Pacific B
 * East A 28–10 Midwest B
 * Pacific A 18–10 West B
 * East B 16–6 Midwest A

Second round:
 * Pacific B 18–10 Midwest B
 * East A 24–4 West A
 * Midwest A 14–22 West B
 * Pacific A 20–14 East B

Seventh place: Midwest A 24–12 Midwest B Fifth place: West B 18–6 Pacific B

Third place

Final
East A: Mike Caulder(c)(Life College), Mark Gaetjen (NOVA), Hoover, Gary Lambert (Life College), Dan Parris (NOVA), Pete Peluso (Bethlehem), Joe Taranto (Union County). Pacific Coast A: Dave Bateman (Old Blues), Del Chipman (OMBAC), Pete Deddeh (OMBAC), Mike Purcell (BATS), Denis Shanagher(c)(BATS), Lin Walton(OMBAC)(subbed M. Smith), Blane Warhurst (Old Blues).

ITT
The Inter Territorial Tournament involved the four regional rugby unions comprising the United States RFU: Pacific Coast RFU, Western RFU, Midwest RFU, and the Eastern Rugby Union. The region teams are formed with players selected from the sub regional rugby unions. Subsequently, the USA Eagles are selected from the four regional teams after the ITT concludes. In 1985 the tournament took place at Miller Park in Sacramento, CA from May 25–27. The Pacific Coast RFU won the Junior Tournament for players under the age of 25.

Results: Saturday May 25
 * Western 22-16 Midwest
 * Pacific 17-11 Eastern

Sunday May 26
 * Pacific 16-8 Midwest
 * Eastern 33-15 Western

Monday May 27
 * Western - Pacific
 * Eastern - Midwest

High School
The 1985 National High School Rugby Championship took place at the Tidal Basin in Washington D.C. The Xavier squad from Manhattan won the championship by defeating Highland of Utah in the final.