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. It has teams for men and women. The club started in 1975.
The Yankees have several teams. These include two men's teams and one women's team. They also have teams for Summer Sevens (a faster version of rugby) and for youth and high school players. The club is part of the Empire Geographical Union (Empire GU).
The Fairfield Yankees have won national championships. The men's team won the USA Rugby Division II National Championship in 2004. They also won the Division III National Championship in 2016.
Contents
Club History
How the Yankees Started
The Fairfield Yankees RFC began in September 1975. At first, it was called the Connecticut Yankees RFC. The club started when Frank Sinnott, the founder, placed a newspaper ad. The ad said, "Wanted: Rugby Players and Beer Drinkers."
Their first game was a scrimmage against Yale University. The Yankees lost that game. In Spring 1978, the Yankees officially joined the MetNY Union. They had a good first season, winning 10 out of 12 games.
By 1988, the number of players had decreased. So, the Yankees joined with another team, the Stamford Wombats. The red stripe on the Yankees' club shield shows this merger. It represents the Wombats' old jersey color. In 1992, the Yankees' A and B teams had a great record. They won the Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament. In 1994, the Yankees finished first in their division.
Tough Times and a Comeback
Between 1995 and 1999, the Yankees had a difficult period. They did not win many games. The club was in danger of closing down. Many former players, called "old boys," came back to help. They recruited new players to join the team.
In 1999, the team started to rebuild. They lost their first game. In their second game, only 17 players traveled, and they started with just 14 players. But the Yankees managed to win that game! This win showed them they could achieve anything. They won all their remaining games that season. This success led them to the USARFU Men's Div. II Sweet Sixteen playoffs in Texas. They learned they could compete at a high level.
In 2000, the Yankees won their division in the Met NY Union. They were undefeated in league play. They beat many old rivals. In 2001, they reached the Elite Eight playoffs for the first time. They continued to play well in 2001, making it to the "Sweet Sixteen" playoffs for the third year in a row.
Joining a New League
In 2002, the Yankees changed leagues. They moved from the Met Union to the New England Rugby Union (NERFU). This meant they traveled to different states like Massachusetts and Maine. In their first season with NERFU, they had a strong record. They qualified for the national playoffs for the fourth year in a row.
National Champions in 2004
The fifth time was the charm for the Yankees in the playoffs! In 2004, they entered the tournament as the 14th seed. They went on to defeat several teams. Finally, they beat Nashville RFC to win the Division II National Championship. This big win happened in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Changes and Growth (2005-2015)
From 2005 to 2008, the Yankees played in a higher division in NERFU. In 2009, they moved back to the METNY D1 Men's league. The team had many young players. Later, the Yankees moved to Division III. This change happened as rugby unions across the country were reorganizing.
40th Anniversary and New Name
In 2015, the Yankees celebrated their 40th anniversary. They also merged with the Fairfield Rugby Club. This officially changed their name to the Fairfield Yankees. A blue stripe was added to their shield to show this new partnership. This merger also brought youth teams into the club. The 2015 season started with many players of different ages. This allowed the Fairfield Yankees to have a very strong team.
National Champions Again in 2016
Under Coach David Lyme, the Yankees had an amazing season in Fall 2015. They won 9 out of 10 games. They scored 587 points and only allowed 101 points against them. They won the Empire GU Title.
The Yankees then advanced to the national quarterfinals. They won against Rocky Gorge and the Bremer County Bucks. This led them to the National Championship game in Denver. They faced the undefeated Euless Texans. The Yankees won the tough game 41–33. Captain Myles McQuone lifted the championship cup.
New Teams for Women and Men (2017-2018)
In 2017, the Fairfield Yankees grew even more. They formed a second men's team. They also started the Fairfield Lady Yankees (FLY) for women. Both teams began playing in Spring 2017. They officially joined the Empire GU in Fall 2017. In Fall 2018, the women's team moved up to Division II. They were ready for stronger competition.
Famous Players
- Kevin Nealon, a well-known 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.
- 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
