# 1978 National Rugby Championships

The 1978 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 College, Women's club and Interterritorial.

## College

The 1978 College championship took place from February 4–5 at LSU's Parade Grounds in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Palmer College of Chiropractic were the champions. Palmer had previously won championships in 1972 and 1973 and were runners-up in 1976. Palmer won three matches in the series to win the title. Championship Bracket
| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | | Final | Final |
| February 4 - Baton Rouge, LA | February 4 - Baton Rouge, LA | | | |
| Palmer | 20 | | | |
| Palmer | 20 | February 4 – Baton Rouge, LA | February 4 – Baton Rouge, LA | | |
| Georgia | 0 | February 4 – Baton Rouge, LA | February 4 – Baton Rouge, LA | |
| Georgia | 0 | Palmer | 20 | |
| February 4 - Baton Rouge, LA | February 4 - Baton Rouge, LA | | Palmer | 20 | |
| February 4 - Baton Rouge, LA | February 4 - Baton Rouge, LA | Kentucky | 0 | |
| Kentucky | 3 | Kentucky | 0 | |
| Kentucky | 3 | | | | February 5 – Baton Rouge, LA | February 5 – Baton Rouge, LA |
| Oklahoma | 0 | | | | February 5 – Baton Rouge, LA | February 5 – Baton Rouge, LA |
| Oklahoma | 0 | | | | Palmer | 19 |
| February 4 - Baton Rouge, LA | February 4 - Baton Rouge, LA | | | | | Palmer | 19 |
| February 4 - Baton Rouge, LA | February 4 - Baton Rouge, LA | | | | LSU | 4 |
| Miami (OH) | 11 | | | | LSU | 4 |
| Miami (OH) | 11 | February 4 – Baton Rouge, LA | February 4 – Baton Rouge, LA | | | |
| Florida | 3 | February 4 – Baton Rouge, LA | February 4 – Baton Rouge, LA | | | |
| Florida | 3 | LSU | 22 | | | |
| February 4 - Baton Rouge, LA | February 4 - Baton Rouge, LA | | LSU | 22 | | | |
| February 4 - Baton Rouge, LA | February 4 - Baton Rouge, LA | Miami (OH) | 3 | | Third place | Third place |
| LSU | 6 | Miami (OH) | 3 | | Third place | Third place |
| LSU | 6 | | | | February 5 – Baton Rouge, LA | February 5 – Baton Rouge, LA |
| Texas A&M | 0 | | | | February 5 – Baton Rouge, LA | February 5 – Baton Rouge, LA |
| Texas A&M | 0 | | | | Kentucky | 10 |
| | | | | | Miami (OH) | 0 |
Consolation Bracket
| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Fifth place | Fifth place |
| February 4 – Baton Rouge, LA | February 4 – Baton Rouge, LA |
| Georgia | 30 |
| Georgia | 30 | February 5 – Baton Rouge, LA | February 5 – Baton Rouge, LA |
| Oklahoma | 16 | February 5 – Baton Rouge, LA | February 5 – Baton Rouge, LA |
| Oklahoma | 16 | Georgia | 4 |
| February 4 – Baton Rouge, LA | February 4 – Baton Rouge, LA | | Georgia | 4 |
| February 4 – Baton Rouge, LA | February 4 – Baton Rouge, LA | Texas A&M | 10 |
| Texas A&M | 18 | Texas A&M | 10 |
| Florida | 8 | | |
| Florida | 8 | Seventh place | Seventh place |
| | | February 5 – Baton Rouge, LA | February 5 – Baton Rouge, LA |
| | | Oklahoma | 13 |
| | | Florida | 4 |

### Final

* 5 February 1978
| Palmer | 19–4 | LSU |
| Try: Duncan Hales 30' Duncan Hales Duncan Hales 70' c Con: Mike Halliday Pen: Mike Halliday 5' | | Try: Tommy Martin |
* Baton Rouge Attendance: 2000 Referee: Dr. Peter Jones

## 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 from selected players from the sub regional rugby unions. Subsequently, the USA Eagles are selected from the four regional teams after the ITT concludes. The 1978 edition was sponsored by Michelob and played as a round robin from June 10–11 on Aviation Field at Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri.
* 10 June 1978
| Midwest | 17–12 | Western |
* St. Louis, MO
* 10 June 1978
| Eastern | 7–24 | Pacific Coast |
* St. Louis, MO
* 10 June 1978
| Midwest | 13–9 | Pacific Coast |
| Try: Paul Pauluzzi Gary Wilson | | |
* St. Louis, MO
* 10 June 1978
| Eastern | 41–8 | Western |
* St. Louis, MO
* 11 June 1978
| Western | 44–6 | Pacific Coast |
* St. Louis, MO
* 11 June 1978
| Eastern | 27–16 | Midwest |
* St. Louis, MO
| Team | Team | W | L | F | A |
| 1 | Pacific Coast Grizzlies | 2 | 1 | 77 | 27 |
| 2 | Eastern Colonials | 2 | 1 | 75 | 48 |
| 3 | Midwest Thunderbirds | 2 | 1 | 46 | 48 |
| 4 | Western Mustangs | 0 | 3 | 27 | 102 |

## Women's Club

The 1978 Women's National Rugby Classic for club teams was co-sponsored by the Chicago Women's Rugby Football Club and Michelob beer. The teams invited needed to have won a major regional title and have a winning record. The games were played at Lion's Park in Mount Prospect, Illinois. The team from Portland, Maine won the championship with four shutouts: 3–0 over Denver Blues in the first round, 24–0 over Houston Boars in the second round, then 4–0 against Chicago, and finally 18–0 against Madison, Wisconsin. Chicago took third place with a 4–0 win over Florida State after three overtimes.
| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| September 2 – Mount Prospect, IL | September 2 – Mount Prospect, IL |
| Portland | 4 |
| Portland | 4 | September 3 – Mount Prospect, IL | September 3 – Mount Prospect, IL |
| Chicago | 0 | September 3 – Mount Prospect, IL | September 3 – Mount Prospect, IL |
| Chicago | 0 | Portland | 18 |
| September 2 – Mount Prospect, IL | September 2 – Mount Prospect, IL | | Portland | 18 |
| September 2 – Mount Prospect, IL | September 2 – Mount Prospect, IL | Madison | 0 |
| Madison | 4 | Madison | 0 |
| Florida State | 0 | | |
| Florida State | 0 | Third place | Third place |
| | | September 3 – Mount Prospect, IL | September 3 – Mount Prospect, IL |
| | | Chicago | 4 |
| | | Florida State | 0 |
Champions: Portland(ME) Women's Rugby Club. Qualified as New England Champions. Record: 10–1–2 Coaching Staff: Rocky Frenzilli, Ricky Scala(Aide), Peter Gillis(Aide) Roster: Sondra Spiers, Denise Dimitre, Pat Cribby, Kim Berry, Janet Muccino, Susan Adams, Brenda Costello, Mary Beth Staid, Reta Brown Flaherty, Brenda Swallow, Cheryl Ring, Ann Chippfield, Sue Malcolm, Marie Gagne, Amy Belliveau, Debbie Selleck (captain), Ann Chute, Mary Gouletand, Sue Lawler.

## Monterey National Championships

The 1978 Monterey National Rugby Championship was the 20th edition of the tournament and was considered to be the de facto national championship. This event took place at Pebble Beach, CA from March 25–26. The tournament MVP was Jeff Momsen (Old Blues), Miss Rugby winner was Nicole Parlette, Bill Armstrong of the Old Blues won the Running Drop Kick contest while Brian Lowe of UC Davis was runner-up. The Old Blues of Berkeley, CA went 5–0 to take first place. Championship Bracket
| Second Round March 25 | Second Round March 25 | Second Round March 25 | Quarterfinals March 25 | Quarterfinals March 25 | Quarterfinals March 25 | Semifinals March 25 | Semifinals March 25 | Semifinals March 25 | | Final March 26 | Final March 26 | Final March 26 |
| 1 | Santa Monica | 17 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Palo Alto | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Palo Alto | 6 | 1 | Santa Monica | 6 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 9 | Cal Berkeley | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Old Blue (NY) | 4 | 9 | Cal Berkeley | 3 | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Cal Berkeley | 18 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Cal Berkeley | 18 | | | | 1 | Santa Monica | 0 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 5 | James Bay | 4 | | | | |
| 4 | BATS | 3* | | | | | | | 5 | James Bay | 4 | | | | |
| 20 | Stanford | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 20 | Stanford | 3 | 4 | BATS | 0 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | James Bay | 15 | | | | | | | |
| 5 | James Bay | 6 | 5 | James Bay | 15 | | | | | | | |
| 21 | Kern County | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 21 | Kern County | 0 | | | | | | | | 5 | James Bay | 9 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Old Blues (CA) | 18 |
| 2 | Old Blues (CA) | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Old Blues (CA) | 18 |
| 15 | Dartmouth | 0 | | | | | | |
| 15 | Dartmouth | 0 | 2 | Old Blues (CA) | 9 | | | |
| | | | 10 | Newport Beach | 0 | | | |
| 7 | Old Puget Sound Beach | 0 | 10 | Newport Beach | 0 | | | |
| 10 | Newport Beach | 10 | | | | | | |
| 10 | Newport Beach | 10 | | | | 2 | Old Blues (CA) | 17 |
| | | | | | | 3 | OMBAC | 3 |
| 3 | OMBAC | 11 | | | | 3 | OMBAC | 3 | | Third place | Third place | Third place |
| 14 | X–O Rugby Club | 10 | | | | | | |
| 14 | X–O Rugby Club | 10 | 3 | OMBAC | 9 | | | | | 1 | Santa Monica | 3 |
| | | | 6 | Portland | 3 | | | | | 3 | OMBAC | 11 |
| 6 | Portland | 9 | 6 | Portland | 3 | | | | | 3 | OMBAC | 11 |
| 11 | Seahawks | 0 | | | | | | |
*Advanced on kicks

### Final

* 26 March 1978 1:30PM
| Old Blues | 18–9 | James Bay |
| Try: Pete Richter 2' c Dave Bateman c Con: Bill Armstrong Pen: Bill Armstrong (2) | | Pen: Barry Robbins (3) |
* Pebble Beach
| 5th–8th | 5th–8th | 5th–8th | Fifth place | Fifth place | Fifth place |
| L33 | Cal Berkeley | 0* | | | |
| L34 | BATS | 0 | | | |
| L34 | BATS | 0 | W51 | Cal Berkeley | 0 |
| | | | W52 | Newport Beach | 9 |
| L35 | Portland | 0 | W52 | Newport Beach | 9 |
| L36 | Newport Beach | 4 | Seventh place | Seventh place | Seventh place |
| | | | L51 | BATS | 20 |
| | | | L52 | Portland | 6 |
*Advanced on kicks
| Thirteenth | Thirteenth | Thirteenth | 13th–16th | 13th–16th | 13th–16th | 9th–16th | 9th–16th | 9th–16th | 9th–12th | 9th–12th | 9th–12th | | | Ninth | Ninth | Ninth |
| | | | | | | Field 2 12:10PM | Field 2 12:10PM | Field 2 12:10PM | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | L17 | Palo Alto | 12 | | | | | | |
| | | | Field 2 3:00PM | Field 2 3:00PM | Field 2 3:00PM | L18 | Old Blues (NY) | 4 | Field 2 3:40PM | Field 2 3:40PM | Field 2 3:40PM | | | | | |
| | | | L37 | Old Blue (NY) | 4 | | | | W37 | Palo Alto | 0 | | | |
| | | | L38 | Kern County | 7 | Field 3 12:50PM | Field 3 12:50PM | Field 3 12:50PM | W38 | Stanford | 9 | | | |
| | | | | | | L19 | Stanford | 33 | | | | | | | |
| Field 2 9:40AM | Field 2 9:40AM | Field 2 9:40AM | | | | L20 | Kern County | 3 | | | Field 2 10:50AM | Field 2 10:50AM | Field 2 10:50AM | | |
| W55 | Kern County | 4 | | | | | | | | | W53 | | | Stanford | 8 |
| W56 | Seahawks | 7 | | | | Field 3 1:30PM | Field 3 1:30PM | Field 3 1:30PM | | | W53 | | | W54 | Old Puget | 17 |
| | | | | | | L21 | X–O RC | 11 | | | | | | | |
| | | | Field 4 3:40PM | Field 4 3:40PM | Field 4 3:40PM | L22 | Seahawks | 3 | Field 3 4:10PM | Field 3 4:10PM | Field 3 4:10PM | | | | | |
| Fifteenth | Fifteenth | Fifteenth | L39 | Seahawks | 24 | | | | W39 | X–O | 0 | | | Eleventh | Eleventh | Eleventh |
| Field 4 12:00PM | Field 4 12:00PM | Field 4 12:00PM | L40 | Dartmouth | 3 | Field 4 1:00PM | Field 4 1:00PM | Field 4 1:00PM | W40 | Old Puget SB RC | 14 | | | Field 3 12:00PM | Field 3 12:00PM | Field 3 12:00PM |
| L55 | Old Blues (NY) | 20 | | | | L23 | Old Puget Sound | 10 | | | | | | L53 | Palo Alto | 18 |
| L56 | Dartmouth | 9 | | | | L24 | Dartmouth | 0 | | | | | | L54 | X–O | 8 |
Consolation Bracket
| Second Round March 25 | Second Round March 25 | Second Round March 25 | Quarterfinals March 25 | Quarterfinals March 25 | Quarterfinals March 25 | Semifinals March 25 | Semifinals March 25 | Semifinals March 25 | | 17th place March 26 | 17th place March 26 | 17th place March 26 |
| L1 | UC Davis | 15 | | | | | | | | | | |
| L2 | Washington State | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| L2 | Washington State | 0 | W25 | UC Davis | 12 | | | | | | | |
| | | | W26 | Sacramento Capitols | 3 | | | | | | | |
| L3 | U. of Oregon | 6 | W26 | Sacramento Capitols | 3 | | | | | | | |
| L4 | Sacramento Capitols | 16 | | | | | | | | | | |
| L4 | Sacramento Capitols | 16 | | | | W41 | UC Davis | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | | | W42 | Chuckanut Bay | 6 | | | | |
| L5 | Davis City | 0 | | | | | | | W42 | Chuckanut Bay | 6 | | | | |
| L6 | San Francisco | 10 | | | | | | | | | | |
| L6 | San Francisco | 10 | W27 | San Francisco | 3 | | | | | | | |
| | | | W28 | Chuckanut Bay | 7 | | | | | | | |
| L7 | Chuckanut Bay | 10 | W28 | Chuckanut Bay | 7 | | | | | | | |
| L8 | U. of Washington | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| L8 | U. of Washington | 0 | | | | | | | | W57 | Chuckanut Bay | 26 |
| | | | | | | | | | | W58 | Old Gaels | 3 |
| L9 | Colusa County | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | W58 | Old Gaels | 3 |
| L10 | Los Angeles | 6 | | | | | | |
| L10 | Los Angeles | 6 | W29 | Colusa County | 9 | | | |
| | | | W30 | Hawaii Harlequins | 7 | | | |
| L11 | Hawaii Harlequins | 13 | W30 | Hawaii Harlequins | 7 | | | |
| L12 | Saint Mary's College | 6 | | | | | | |
| L12 | Saint Mary's College | 6 | | | | W43 | Hawaii Harlequins | 0 |
| | | | | | | W44 | Olde Gaels | 10 |
| L13 | Monterey | 6 | | | | W44 | Olde Gaels | 10 | | 19th place | 19th place | 19th place |
| L14 | Olde Gaels | 7 | | | | | | |
| L14 | Olde Gaels | 7 | W31 | Oregon State | 3 | | | | | L57 | UC Davis | 13 |
| | | | W32 | Olde Gaels | 9 | | | | | L58 | Hawaii Harlequins | 4 |
| L15 | Oregon State | 6 | W32 | Olde Gaels | 9 | | | | | L58 | Hawaii Harlequins | 4 |
| L16 | UC Santa Cruz | 3 | | | | | | |
| 21st–24th | 21st–24th | 21st–24th | 21st place | 21st place | 21st place |
| L41 | Sacramento Capitols | 6 | | | |
| L42 | San Francisco | 9 | | | |
| L42 | San Francisco | 9 | W59 | San Francisco | 6 |
| | | | W60 | Colusa County | 16 |
| L43 | Colusa County | 10 | W60 | Colusa County | 16 |
| L44 | Oregon State | 6 | 23rd place | 23rd place | 23rd place |
| | | | L59 | Sacramento Capitols | 31 |
| | | | L60 | Oregon State | 7 |
| 29th place | 29th place | 29th place | 29th–32nd | 29th–32nd | 29th–32nd | 25th–32nd | 25th–32nd | 25th–32nd | 25th–28th | 25th–28th | 25th–28th | | | 25th place | 25th place | 25th place |
| | | | | | | Field 4 11:40AM | Field 4 11:40AM | Field 4 11:40AM | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | L25 | Washington State | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | Field 4 3:00PM | Field 4 3:00PM | Field 4 3:00PM | L26 | U. of Oregon | 0 | Field 4 2:20PM | Field 4 2:20PM | Field 4 2:20PM | | | | | |
| | | | L45 | U. of Oregon | 9 | | | | W45 | Washington State | 0 | | | |
| | | | L46 | Davis City | 13 | Field 4 12:20PM | Field 4 12:20PM | Field 4 12:20PM | W46 | U. of Washington | 30 | | | |
| | | | | | | L27 | Davis City | 4 | | | | | | | |
| Field 3 8:30AM | Field 3 8:30AM | Field 3 8:30AM | | | | L28 | U. of Washington | 6 | | | Field 1 8:30AM | Field 1 8:30AM | Field 1 8:30AM | | |
| W63 | Davis City | 0 | | | | | | | | | W61 | | | U. of Washington | 10 |
| W64 | UC Santa Cruz | 0* | | | | Field 3 2:10PM | Field 3 2:10PM | Field 3 2:10PM | | | W61 | | | W62 | Los Angeles | 0 |
| | | | | | | L29 | Los Angeles | 8 | | | | | | | |
| | | | Field 4 5:00PM | Field 4 5:00PM | Field 4 5:00PM | L30 | Saint Mary's | 0 | Field 4 4:20PM | Field 4 4:20PM | Field 4 4:20PM | | | | | |
| 31st place | 31st place | 31st place | L47 | St. Mary's | 6 | | | | W47 | Los Angeles | 0* | | | 27th place | 27th place | 27th place |
| Field 4 8:30AM | Field 4 8:30AM | Field 4 8:30AM | L48 | UC Santa Cruz | 7 | Field 4 1:40PM | Field 4 1:40PM | Field 4 1:40PM | W48 | Monterey | 0 | | | Field 2 8:30AM | Field 2 8:30AM | Field 2 8:30AM |
| L63 | U. of Oregon | 4 | | | | L31 | UC Santa Cruz | 0 | | | | | | L61 | Washington State | 0 |
| L64 | St. Mary's | 26 | | | | L32 | Monterey | 3 | | | | | | L62 | Monterey | 19 |
*Advanced on kicks
Exhibition match:
* B.C. Whoi Whoi (Vancouver, Canada) 4-8 Bald Eagles (San Francisco, CA)