Belmont Shore RFC facts for kids
 |
||
| Full name | Belmont Shore Rugby Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | USA Rugby | |
| Founded | 1974 | |
| Location | Long Beach, California, US | |
| Ground(s) | Long Beach State rugby field | |
| President | Stuart Ledsam | |
| Coach(es) | Ray Egan | |
| League(s) | Pacific Rugby Premiership | |
|
||
| Official website | ||
The Belmont Shore Rugby Club is a rugby team from Long Beach, California. They are named after the Belmont Shore area, which is known for its love of rugby. This team plays rugby union, a sport similar to American football but without pads and with different rules.
Contents
Team History
The Belmont Shore Rugby Club started in 1974. They became one of the first teams in the US Rugby Super League in 1997. This was a top league for rugby teams in the United States.
Championship Wins
The team was very successful in the Super League. They reached the finals many times and won the championship four times. Their wins were in 1998, 2003, 2004, and 2007. They also finished as runners-up several times, including in 2005 and 2006.
In October 2009, Belmont Shore left the Rugby Super League. Later, in 2014, they joined another league called the Pacific Rugby Premiership.
Team Achievements
Belmont Shore Rugby Club has won many awards and championships over the years.
- Rugby Super League Champions: 1998, 2003, 2004, 2007
- Rugby Super League Runner-up: 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008
- US Men's Division I National Championship Runner-up (15s): 2010
- US Men's 7s National Champions: 2009, 2011, 2012
- US Men's 7s National Runner-Up: 2008, 2010
- US Men's Division I National Champions (15s): 2012
Team Divisions
Belmont Shore Rugby Club has teams for both adults and young players.
- The adult teams play in the Pacific Rugby Premiership and Division I.
- The youth division has many teams for different age groups. These range from Under-8 (U-8) to Under-19 (U19). This means kids as young as 8 and teenagers up to 19 can play.
Team Sponsors
Teams often have sponsors to help with costs. The Super League had a main sponsor, and each team received some money from that. Belmont Shore also has its own sponsors. Some well-known companies that have sponsored the team include CP Ships, Dr Pepper, and 7Up. Other sponsors have included DCL Direct and Kudu Rugby.
Famous Players
Many talented rugby players have been part of the Belmont Shore Rugby Club.
Players for the United States National Team
Some players from Belmont Shore have even played for the United States national rugby team.
- Mike Hercus: A fly-half who played in many international games.
- Chris Ostentowski: A prop who also played for the national team.
- Francois Viljoen: A fullback who scored points in international matches.
Other Notable Players
Other players have also had impressive careers in rugby.
- Craig Wells: Played for Australia's Under-21 team and professional teams like the NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies. He also won national championships with Belmont Shore.
- Lee Peina: A halfback who played for Northland.
- Joe Taufete'e
- Mike Te'o
Coaches of Note
Coaches are very important to a team's success.
- Ray Egan: He was the head coach for Belmont Shore for a long time. In February 2016, he became a coach for the San Diego PRO Rugby team.
Other Rugby Teams in Long Beach
Belmont Shore is not the only rugby team in Long Beach. The city has a strong rugby community.
- The Belmont Shore Women's Rugby Football Club, also known as the "Landsharks," has won two national championships.
- Coast Women's RFC is another women's team.
- Long Beach State has a men's club team. This university team has reached the National Final Four tournament four times.
