# 1977 National Rugby Championships

The 1977 National Rugby Championships featured USARFU's first installment of the Interterritorial championships while the Monterey National was in its 19th edition.

## ITT

The National Selection 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 1977 tournament was the inaugural edition and was played as a round robin from May 14–15 at Jackson Field in Greeley, CO. The Pacific Coast RFU were the champions and claimed the Governor's Cup. Tom Beckman of the Midwest was named the MVP. Results:
* 14 May 1977 9:00AM
| Western | 6–10 | Eastern |
| Try: Wilkinson c Con: Doug Parks | | Try: Clay Mahaffey Otis Purvis Con: Boyd Morrison |
* Greeley, CO
* 14 May 1977 11:00AM
| Pacific Coast | 19–15 | Midwest |
| Try: Bric Haley | | Try: Tim Swift (3) |
* Greeley, CO
* 14 May 1977 2:30PM
| Eastern | 9–13 | Pacific Coast |
| Pen: Dick Cooke (3) | | Try: Don Guest Pen: Kip Oxman (3) |
* Greeley, CO
* 14 May 1977 4:30PM
| Western | 0–16 | Midwest |
| | | Try: Tom Beckmann Steve Chapman Tim Swift Con: Mike Halliday (2) |
* Greeley, CO
* 15 May 1977 10:00AM
| Eastern | 26–3 | Midwest |
| Try: Rob Bordley (3) Con: Dick Cooke Pen: Dick Cooke (4) | | Try: Tom Beckmann Steve Chapman Tim Swift Pen: Jim Perkins |
* Greeley, CO
* 15 May 1977 11:30AM
| Western | 12–23 | Pacific Coast |
| Try: Greg Welfare c Con: Doug Parks Pen: Doug Parks | | Try: David Stephenson David Bateman David Stephenson c David Stephenson c Con: Dennis Jablonski (2/4) Pen: Dennis Jablonski |
* Greeley, CO
| Team | Team | W | L | F | A |
| 1 | Pacific Coast Grizzlies | 3 | 0 | 55 | 36 |
| 2 | Eastern Colonials | 2 | 1 | 44 | 22 |
| 3 | Midwest Thunderbirds | 1 | 2 | 34 | 44 |
| 4 | Western Mustangs | 0 | 3 | 18 | 49 |
U.S. Eagles selection: Jay Hanson (Pacific), Bruce Henderson (West), Mike Sherlock (East), Craig Sweeney captain(Pacific), Bob Casey (East), Tom Klein (Pacific), Jeff Lambard (Pacific), Tom Selfridge (East), Scott Kelso (Midwest), Rob Bordley (East), David Stephenson (Pacific), Dan Wack (East), Don Guest (Pacific), Mike Liscovitz (East), Dennis Jablonski (Pacific). Alternates: Carl Muhler (Pacific), Brad Andrews (Pacific), Steve Grey (Pacific), Dick Cook (East), Boyd Morrison (East), Bill Brown (West).

## Monterey National Invitational

The 1977 Monterey National Rugby Championship was the 19th edition of the tournament and was considered to be the de facto national championship. This event took place at Pebble Beach, CA from March 19–20. The tournament MVPs were Terry Scott (UCLA) and Ann Fowler (UCLA), Bill Armstrong of the Old Blues won the Running Drop Kick contest while Kurt Huckaby of Chico was runner-up. Rudy Scholz of the Bald Eagles side from San Francisco and former Olympic gold medalist in 1920 and 1924 won the Oldest Player award at the age of 82. Mr. Watson Luke won a special award for having attended all the previous tournaments the sponsors named the perpetual trophy after him. The Santa Monica Rugby Club went 5–0 to take first place. Championship Bracket
| Second Round March 19 | Second Round March 19 | Second Round March 19 | Quarterfinals March 19 | Quarterfinals March 19 | Quarterfinals March 19 | Semifinals March 19 | Semifinals March 19 | Semifinals March 19 | | Final March 20 | Final March 20 | Final March 20 |
| 1 | BATS | 22 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | OMBAC | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | OMBAC | 0 | 1 | BATS | 25 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 9 | San Jose State | 0 | | | | | | | |
| 9 | San Jose State | 9 | 9 | San Jose State | 0 | | | | | | | |
| 25 | UC Davis | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 25 | UC Davis | 4 | | | | 1 | BATS | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 3 | UCLA | 10 | | | | |
| 6 | X.O. Rugby Club | 3 | | | | | | | 3 | UCLA | 10 | | | | |
| 11 | Stanford | 6 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Stanford | 6 | 11 | Stanford | 12 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 3 | UCLA | 25 | | | | | | | |
| 19 | Hawaii Harlequins | 6 | 3 | UCLA | 25 | | | | | | | |
| 3 | UCLA | 9 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 3 | UCLA | 9 | | | | | | | | 3 | UCLA | 0 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Santa Monica | 14 |
| 4 | Old Puget Sound | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Santa Monica | 14 |
| 13 | San Francisco | 3 | | | | | | |
| 13 | San Francisco | 3 | 4 | Old Puget Sound | 0 | | | |
| | | | 5 | Berkeley | 7 | | | |
| 12 | Los Angeles | 4 | 5 | Berkeley | 7 | | | |
| 5 | Berkeley | 12 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Berkeley | 12 | | | | 5 | Berkeley | 0 |
| | | | | | | 2 | Santa Monica | 9 |
| 7 | Old Blues | 7 | | | | 2 | Santa Monica | 9 | | Third place | Third place | Third place |
| 10 | Newport Beach | 6 | | | | | | |
| 10 | Newport Beach | 6 | 7 | Old Blues | 3 | | | | | 1 | BATS | 15 |
| | | | 2 | Santa Monica | 4 | | | | | 5 | Berkeley | 6 |
| 15 | Chuckanut Bay | 0 | 2 | Santa Monica | 4 | | | | | 5 | Berkeley | 6 |
| 2 | Santa Monica | 10 | | | | | | |

### Final

* 20 March 1977 2:20PM
| UCLA | 0–14 | Santa Monica |
| | | Try: Bryan Kelly Greg Schneeweis 65' c Craig Sweeney Con: Rich Havard |
* Pebble Beach, CA Attendance: 6500
| 5th–8th | 5th–8th | 5th–8th | Fifth place | Fifth place | Fifth place |
| L33 | San Jose State | 4 | | | |
| L34 | Stanford | 4* | | | |
| L34 | Stanford | 4* | W51 | Stanford | 3 |
| | | | W52 | Old Blues | 17 |
| L35 | Old Puget Sound | 0 | W52 | Old Blues | 17 |
| L36 | Old Blues | 31 | Seventh place | Seventh place | Seventh place |
| | | | L51 | San Jose State | 3 |
| | | | L52 | Old Puget Sound | 19 |
* 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 | OMBAC | 13 | | | | | | |
| | | | Field 2 3:00PM | Field 2 3:00PM | Field 2 3:00PM | L18 | UC Davis | 3 | Field 2 3:40PM | Field 2 3:40PM | Field 2 3:40PM | | | | | |
| | | | L37 | UC Davis | 9 | | | | W37 | OMBAC | 8 | | | |
| | | | L38 | Hawaii Harlequins | 0 | Field 2 12:50PM | Field 2 12:50PM | Field 2 12:50PM | W38 | X.O. RC | 3 | | | |
| | | | | | | L19 | X.O. RC | 11 | | | | | | | |
| Field 2 9:40AM | Field 2 9:40AM | Field 2 9:40AM | | | | L20 | Hawaii Harlequins | 6 | | | Field 2 10:50AM | Field 2 10:50AM | Field 2 10:50AM | | |
| W55 | UC Davis | 3 | | | | | | | | | W53 | | | OMBAC | 7 |
| W56 | Los Angeles | 15 | | | | Field 3 1:20PM | Field 3 1:20PM | Field 3 1:20PM | | | W53 | | | W54 | Newport Beach | 13 |
| | | | | | | L21 | San Francisco | 4 | | | | | | | |
| | | | Field 4 3:40PM | Field 4 3:40PM | Field 4 3:40PM | L22 | Los Angeles | 0 | Field 3 3:50PM | Field 3 3:50PM | Field 3 3:50PM | | | | | |
| Fifteenth | Fifteenth | Fifteenth | L39 | Los Angeles | 13 | | | | W39 | San Francisco | 3 | | | Eleventh | Eleventh | Eleventh |
| Field 4 12:00PM | Field 4 12:00PM | Field 4 12:00PM | L40 | Chuckanut Bay | 6 | Field 4 1:00PM | Field 4 1:00PM | Field 4 1:00PM | W40 | Newport Beach | 6 | | | Field 3 12:00PM | Field 3 12:00PM | Field 3 12:00PM |
| L55 | Hawaii Harlequins | 0* | | | | L23 | Newport Beach | 15 | | | | | | L53 | X.O. | 16 |
| L56 | Chuckanut Bay | 0 | | | | L24 | Chuckanut Bay | 3 | | | | | | L54 | San Francisco | 9 |
* Won on kicks
Consolation Bracket
| Second Round March 19 | Second Round March 19 | Second Round March 19 | Quarterfinals March 19 | Quarterfinals March 19 | Quarterfinals March 19 | Semifinals March 19 | Semifinals March 19 | Semifinals March 19 | | 17th place March 20 | 17th place March 20 | 17th place March 20 |
| L1 | USC | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| L2 | St. Mary's | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| L2 | St. Mary's | 3 | W25 | St. Mary's | 0 | | | | | | | |
| | | | W26 | Portland | 8 | | | | | | | |
| L3 | Norwich | 14 | W26 | Portland | 8 | | | | | | | |
| L4 | Portland | 18 | | | | | | | | | | |
| L4 | Portland | 18 | | | | W41 | Portland | 6 | | | | |
| | | | | | | W42 | Palo Alto | 3 | | | | |
| L5 | Coronado | 6 | | | | | | | W42 | Palo Alto | 3 | | | | |
| L6 | Davis City | 3 | | | | | | | | | | |
| L6 | Davis City | 3 | W27 | Coronado | 0 | | | | | | | |
| | | | W28 | Palo Alto | 13 | | | | | | | |
| L7 | Palo Alto | 7 | W28 | Palo Alto | 13 | | | | | | | |
| L8 | U. of Oregon | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| L8 | U. of Oregon | 4 | | | | | | | | W57 | Portland | 12 |
| | | | | | | | | | | W58 | Capitol | 12* |
| L9 | Sea Hawks | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | W58 | Capitol | 12* |
| L10 | Bakersfield Area | 21 | | | | | | |
| L10 | Bakersfield Area | 21 | W29 | Bakersfield Area | 6 | | | |
| | | | W30 | U. of Washington | 0 | | | |
| L11 | Hastings | 6 | W30 | U. of Washington | 0 | | | |
| L12 | U. of Washington | 10 | | | | | | |
| L12 | U. of Washington | 10 | | | | W43 | Bakersfield Area | 0 |
| | | | | | | W44 | Capitol | 6 |
| L13 | Monterey | 0 | | | | W44 | Capitol | 6 | | 19th place | 19th place | 19th place |
| L14 | Capitol | 13 | | | | | | |
| L14 | Capitol | 13 | W31 | Capitol | 6 | | | | | L57 | Palo Alto | 8 |
| | | | W32 | Chico State | 3 | | | | | L58 | Bakersfield Area | 37 |
| L15 | Olde Gaels | 0 | W32 | Chico State | 3 | | | | | L58 | Bakersfield Area | 37 |
| L16 | Chico State | 3 | | | | | | |
* Won on kicks
| 21st–24th | 21st–24th | 21st–24th | 21st place | 21st place | 21st place |
| L41 | St. Mary's | 0 | | | |
| L42 | Coronado | 3 | | | |
| L42 | Coronado | 3 | W59 | Coronado | 29 |
| | | | W60 | Chico State | 6 |
| L43 | U. of Washington | 0 | W60 | Chico State | 6 |
| L44 | Chico State | 12 | 23rd place | 23rd place | 23rd place |
| | | | L59 | St. Mary's | 16 |
| | | | L60 | U. of Washington | 15 |
| 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 | USC | 20 | | | | | | |
| | | | Field 4 3:00PM | Field 4 3:00PM | Field 4 3:00PM | L26 | Norwich | 0 | Field 4 4:20PM | Field 4 4:20PM | Field 4 4:20PM | | | | | |
| | | | L45 | Norwich | 3 | | | | W45 | USC | 12 | | | |
| | | | L46 | U. of Oregon | 12 | Field 4 12:20PM | Field 4 12:20PM | Field 4 12:20PM | W46 | Davis City | 0 | | | |
| | | | | | | L27 | Davis City | 6 | | | | | | | |
| Field 3 8:30AM | Field 3 8:30AM | Field 3 8:30AM | | | | L28 | U. of Oregon | 3 | | | Field 1 8:30AM | Field 1 8:30AM | Field 1 8:30AM | | |
| W63 | U. of Oregon | 12 | | | | | | | | | W61 | | | USC | 8 |
| W64 | Monterey | 10 | | | | Field 4 2:20PM | Field 4 2:20PM | Field 4 2:20PM | | | W61 | | | W62 | Olde Gaels | 16 |
| | | | | | | L29 | Sea Hawks | 0 | | | | | | | |
| | | | Field 3 5:10PM | Field 3 5:10PM | Field 3 5:10PM | L30 | Hastings | 4 | Field 4 5:00PM | Field 4 5:00PM | Field 4 5:00PM | | | | | |
| 31st place | 31st place | 31st place | L47 | Sea Hawks | 0 | | | | W47 | Hastings | 0 | | | 27th place | 27th place | 27th place |
| Field 4 8:30AM | Field 4 8:30AM | Field 4 8:30AM | L48 | Monterey | 3 | Field 4 1:40PM | Field 4 1:40PM | Field 4 1:40PM | W48 | Olde Gaels | 4 | | | Field 2 8:30AM | Field 2 8:30AM | Field 2 8:30AM |
| L63 | Norwich | 6 | | | | L31 | Monterey | 3 | | | | | | L61 | Davis City | 17 |
| L64 | Sea Hawks | 51 | | | | L32 | Olde Gaels | 7 | | | | | | L62 | Hastings | 7 |
Exhibition matches:
* B.C. Whoi Whoi 9-14 Bald Eagles
* UCLA Women's RC 8-0 San Francisco Women's RC