Fairfield Yankees RFC facts for kids
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| Full name | Fairfield Yankees Rugby Football Club | |
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| Union | Empire Geographical Union | |
| Founded | 1975  |
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| Ground(s) | Staples High School Football Field Westport, Connecticut |
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| Official website | ||
The Fairfield Yankees Rugby Football Club is a rugby team located in Fairfield, Connecticut. They have teams for men and women, playing in different divisions. The club started in 1975.
The Yankees have teams for men (Division II and IV) and women (Division II). They also have teams for Summer Sevens rugby, which is a faster version of the game. Plus, they have youth and high school teams. The club is currently a member of the Empire Geographical Union. The Yankees have won two big national championships: the Division II Men's Club National Championship in 2004 and the Division III Men's Club National Championship in 2016.
Contents
Club History
How the Club Started
The Fairfield Yankees RFC, first called the Connecticut Yankees RFC, began in September 1975. A group of players joined after seeing a newspaper ad that said, "Wanted: Rugby Players and Beer Drinkers." Frank Sinnott, who founded the club, placed the ad. Their first game was a scrimmage against Yale University, which they lost.
In Spring 1978, the Yankees officially joined the MetNY Union. They had a great first season, winning 10 out of 12 games. By Fall 1988, some players had moved on. So, the Yankees joined with another local team, the Stamford Wombats. The red stripe on the Yankees' club shield today shows respect for the Wombats' old jersey color. In 1992, the Yankees' A and B teams had a fantastic record of 22 wins and only 2 losses. They won a regional tournament and made it to the East Coast finals. In 1994, the Yankees finished first in their division.
Overcoming Challenges
From 1995 to 1999, the Yankees had a tough time. They didn't win many games, and fewer people were playing. The club was almost going to stop playing altogether. Many former players, called "old boys," came back to help. They recruited new players to make the team strong again.
In 1999, the team started to turn things around. They lost their first game, and in their second game, they only had 14 players against a full team. But they managed to win that game! This win showed the team they could do anything. They won all their remaining games that season. This success earned them a spot in the USARFU Men's Div. II Sweet Sixteen playoffs. They learned they could compete at a high level.
In 2000, the Yankees won their division in the Met NY Union, not losing a single league game. They were very strong, beating rivals like Monmouth RFC and Montauk RFC. In 2001, they made it to the Elite Eight for the first time in club history. They kept playing well, making it to the "Sweet Sixteen" playoffs for three years in a row.
Joining a New Union
In 2002, the Yankees changed where they played. They moved from the Met Union to the New England Rugby Union (NERFU). This meant they traveled to places like Massachusetts and Rhode Island instead of New York and New Jersey. In their first season with NERFU, they had a strong record and qualified for the national playoffs for the fourth year in a row.
2004 National Champions
The fifth time was the charm! In 2004, the Yankees entered the national tournament as the 14th seed. They surprised everyone by beating four different teams: Metropolis, Norfolk, Indianapolis, and finally Nashville RFC. They won the Division II National Championship in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was a huge victory for the club!
Growing and Changing Divisions
From 2005 to 2008, the Yankees played in a higher division, NERFU D1. In 2009, they moved back to METNY D1 to help rebuild their team. Later, as rugby unions across the country changed, the Yankees decided to move to Division III. They also switched to the Empire GU.
40th Anniversary and New Teams
In 2015, the Yankees celebrated their 40th anniversary. They merged with the Fairfield Rugby Club, officially changing their name to the Fairfield Yankees. This merger also added youth teams to the club, which was a big step. The club started its 2015 season with many players of different ages. This allowed them to have a very strong team.
2016 National Champions Again!
Under the guidance of Head Coach David Lyme, the Yankees had an amazing Fall 2015 season. They won 9 games and lost only 1. They scored 587 points and only allowed 101 points against them. They won the Empire GU Title by beating Brooklyn, North Jersey, and Rockaway.
The Yankees then played MIT to move on to the quarterfinals. In Pittsburgh, they beat Rocky Gorge and then the Bremer County Bucks to reach the National Championship game. The final game was in Denver against the undefeated Euless Texans. The Yankees played incredibly well, especially their scrum (a way players push against each other for the ball). They also had brilliant runs and perfect kicking. The Yankees won the tough game 41–33! Captain Myles McQuone lifted the championship cup, and Captain Matthew Leonard won the MVP trophy.
New Women's and Men's Teams
In 2017, the Fairfield Yankees family grew even more. They formed a second Men's team and also started the Fairfield Lady Yankees (FLY). Both teams began playing officially in Spring 2017 and joined the Empire GU in Fall 2017. In Fall 2018, the Women's team moved up to Division II in the Empire GU, ready for even tougher competition.
Notable Players
- Kevin Nealon, a famous actor and comedian, played rugby with the club for several years.
- Myles McQuone played professionally for the Major League Rugby team New Orleans Gold in 2018. He also played for the New England Free Jacks and Rugby United New York.
- Karl Rempe played for the Major League Rugby team New England Free Jacks starting in 2019.
- Ben Brzoski became a Strength and Conditioning Coach for the professional team Rugby United New York in 2019.
See also
- Connecticut Wildcats Semi-Pro Rugby league Team
