1986 National Rugby Championships

The 1986 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 1986 National Club Rugby Championship was sponsored by Michelob and took place at Pepin Rood Stadium of Tampa University in Florida from May 10–11. The teams featured in the tournament were the champions of the four sub unions of USARFU. The Old Blues rugby club of Berkeley, CA won the title for the sixth time.

Women's Club
The 1986 Women's National Rugby Championship was a tournament that took place at Fort Adams State Park on May 24–25 in Newport, RI. Beantown won the title by defeating Florida State 8–4 in overtime. The Eugene Housewives took third place with a 34–0 win over Denver Old Girls.

First round:
 * Beantown
 * Florida State
 * Eugene Housewives 18–15 New Orleans Half Moons
 * Denver Old Girls 1

Second round:
 * Beantown W–L Denver
 * Florida State 8–0 Eugene
 * New Orleans

Third round:
 * Beantown 8–4OT Florida State
 * Eugene 34–0 Denver

College
The 1986 College championship was won by California. Dartmouth was runner-up.

Military
The 1986 National Military Rugby Championship was a twenty team tournament that took place at Kelly Air Force base in San Antonio, TX from May 10–11 and was won by Pensacola Naval Air Station with a 19–6 win over Fort Sill Gunners in the Club Division while The Mike Stephenson President's Fifteen won the Open Division defeating US Coast Guard Select 17–9 in the final. In the Chairman's Cup competition for kickers Gary Holmes of USN-Pensacola won the drop kicking contest, and Mike Schmidt of ORCHAS - US Army was the best place kicker.

Club Division

Club Division Champions: Pensacola Naval Air Station Roster: Donald Schleicher, Gary Holmes, Shay, Crockett, P.J. Mulloy, Richard Haddad, Jack McGonagle, Tim Decelle,

Open Division

Open Division Champions: The Mike Stephenson President's Fifteen Roster: Brzewski, Foster, Gorecki, Riley, Trumps, Winger

Sevens
The 1986 National Club Seven–a–side championship was played in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on 30 August. There were eight teams featured which included two representatives from each of the four territorial unions. The Quad City Irish defeated the Denver Barbarians 25–10 to win the championship. Life College finished third by defeating OMBAC 12–8.

First round:
 * OMBAC 20–6 Oklahoma
 * Quad City 20–10 Sud Americano
 * Life 18–15 Dayton
 * Denver 12–10 Old Puget Sound Beach

Second round:
 * Quad City 20–10 OMBAC
 * Denver 10–6(OT) Life
 * Sud Americano 13–12 Oklahoma
 * Old Puget Sound Beach 16–10 Dayton

Third round:
 * Quad City 20–10 Denver
 * Sud Americano 18–12 Old Puget Sound Beach
 * Life 12–8 OMBAC
 * Oklahoma 24–0 Dayton

Champions: Quad-City Irish Roster: Allic Tangres (Davenport), John Bradley (Moline), Dave Sarafin (Bettendorf), Bill Ewan (Rock Island), Dave Houssler (Moline), Dave Watkins (Milan), Dan Kilen (Eldridge), Neil Early (Moline), Cecil Youngblood (Rock Island).

The 1986 National All-Star Sevens Rugby Tournament was an eight team tournament with two representatives from each territory. Similar to the ITTs, the other purpose of the tournament was to select members for the U.S. Eagles Seven–a–side team. The eight teams played two rounds of games and then were paired off in placement matches. The East I team won the final over the Midwest I team. Pacific Coast I came in third.

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 1986 the tournament took place at the Orlando Renegades practice field in Orlando, FL from February 15–17. The Pacific Coast Grizzlies won the tournament for the second year in a row and nine of the last ten. The Pacific Coast RFU won the Junior Tournament for players under the age of 25.

Results:

Champions: Pacific Coast Grizzlies Staff: Peter Sertic (Manager), Bing Dawson (Coach), Jay Waldron (Asst. Coach), Jim Bezel (Trainer), John Chase (Doctor) Roster: Rick Bailey (Old Blues), Mark Bass (Old Blues), Ed Burlingham (Back Bay), Joe Clarkson (Los Angeles), Rick Crivellone (Portland), Carl Crumpacker (OMBAC), Mark Deaton (Old Blues), Pete Deddeh (OMBAC), Gary Hein (Cal), Roy Helu (Old Blues), Kevin Higgins (Cal Poly), John Jelaco (Los Angeles), Mike McClintock (Old Blues), Pete McLaughlin (Seahawks), Bo Meyersieck (Old Blues), Randy Morris (Belmont Shore), John Mickel (Los Angeles), Dave Ochs (OMBAC), Mike Purcell (BATS), Tod Samet (San Francisco), Mike Saunders (OMBAC), Denis Shanagher (BATS), Bill Shiflet (Sacramento), Matt Taylor (Old Blues), Gary Townsend (Old Blues), Brian Vizard (OMBAC), Blane Warhurst (Old Blues), Kent Weyand (OMBAC).

High School
The 1986 National High School Rugby Championship was a 12-team tournament that took place in Cupertino, CA. The Highland squad from Salt Lake City won the championship by defeating Burlingame of California in the final.