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(revised by John McCann 5/09)
PAST PRESIDENTS
Denis Brady .........1974-1978
Brian Smith ..........1979-1980
Kevin Griffith ........1981-1982
Pat Savage ..........1983-1984
T.A. Fitzpatrick ......1985
James Atherton ....1986-1987
Tim O'Boyle ..........1988-1991
Kyle Reeves .........1992-1995
Bob Johnson ........1996-Present
This 2009 season marks the 36th year for Rockaway Rugby Football Club. A social and sports club with their home field in Gateway National Recreation Area: Fort Tilden Unit. Located in Queens, the southern most tip of New York City. The club, founded in 1974, by several men including Tim Tubridy, Dennis Brady, Brian Smith, Joe Moore and the late Wayne Smith, along with a few other brave souls.
Since that time, over 690 players have donned the Rockaway blue and white colors. Most club members reside in Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island but a few dedicated players are from Manhattan and Rockland County. The club has competed primarily in the Northeast United States but has traveled to Louisiana, Maryland, Washington D.C., Delaware, Rhode Island, Georgia and Virginia, as well as England. Ireland, and Canada. The Rockaway Rugby Club has been a member of the New York Metropolitan Rugby Union (est. 1967) since their inception and competes with other clubs in the tri-state area and Pennsylvania. In 1982, the Fisheads toured England with scrimmages against the Old Beccehamians RFC and Roslyn Park RFC, the oldest rugby club in London. The club toured in Ireland in 1988 and toured England, Ireland and Wales in 1999 during the Rugby World Cup competition.
Since 1977, the Rockaway “Fisheads” have hosted their Annual Rugby Sevens Tournament. This year, the club will be celebrating the 33rd Anniversary of competitive 7's rugby. This event has attracted some old-timer players, skilled men and women of Met. New York Rugby and up and coming collegiate ruggers while introducing the 7’s rugby game to the high school and youth of their local area. Over the years, Tournament Chairmen, Pat Leyden, Mike Raffe, Jim McCann and John McCann have kept this tradition alive. These individuals have worked diligently to insure its success. Much of their success is due mainly by their hard work along with the support of the corporate sponsors, local community and businesses throughout the years.
The club has experienced tremendous growth since its inception, both as a competitive side and as a contributor to the local community. During 30+ years of play, they have won two Metropolitan New York Rugby Union league titles (1981, 1992 & 2007) and have represented the league as the Union’s playoff seed in several championships. Most recently, in '04, '05, '06, '07 & '08 with a matches against Newport RFC (R.I.), Hartford RFC, Charles River RFC, South Shore RFC & Burlington,(VT) In addition, numerous Rockaway players have represented the Union in Local Area Competitions, select side trials and touring matches. In the 1980’s, Rockaway RFC’s own Ken Concepcion received two caps for United Emerius in the Mideast while stationed there during his military service. In 1993 & 2003, outside center, Brian Geraghty was capped for his United States vs. Canada match & Hong Kong Sevens, respectively. Brian has since played for Life College RFC, Rockaway RFC & currently for Old Blue RFC (NY). Rockaway Youth Program graduates Matt Donuhue (Canisus College) has represented the U-19 United States team during their tour of Sydney, Australia and Tom Burns (Siena College) represented the U-19 United States team in Chile.
We have also had the privilege of hosting several touring sides. In the “eighties”, the Westleigh RFC (Britain) and Old Beccehamians (England) toured. And in the nineties, Arklow RFC (Scotland), Gun & Dog of Leicester (England) and Syston RFC (England) visited. Syston RFC came back again for a visit in 2000. Recently, we hosted Richmond RFC of Limerick, Ireland in March of '06.
In 1991, the club initiated a Youth Rugby Program led by T.A. Fitzpatrick, Jim Mullen and Bob Johnson. Several dozen young men (ages 10-17) began learning the basics of rugby. This effort is viewed as an important aspect of the clubs development and has been recognized by the Met. N.Y. Rugby Union as an important part of developing U.S.A. Rugby in this area. Many of Rockaway's young ruggers play or have played for the Xavier High School Rugby team which is currently ranked in the Top 5 high schools in the United States. This program has outstanding results and in 1999 the Met. NYRU began allocating money for the Rockaway Rugby Youth Program. This program also represents the club philosophy of giving something back to the community and to the sport they love - Rugby.
Over the years, this rugby club has raised money for many worthwhile charities, causes and organizations. President Bob Johnson has coordinated the club's charitable efforts for the Rockaway Little League, Noah's Ark Home (for Battered Women), 69th Police Pct. Community Council, the Claddaugh Inn (Food Pantry), St Camilus Parish (CYO), Rockaway Special Olympics, N.Y. C. Firefighter Fund, local "Friend In Need" events, Queens County Irish Parade Committee and The Tom “Reegs” Regan Fund.
Since 1998, Rockaway Rugby has invited and welcomed several foreign players from England, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. In most cases, the club has furnished accommodations. In exchange, they offer their years of rugby experience and knowledge to help educate the club's younger members and promote a higher level of Rugby for the entire club and their rugby union.
In 1999, Jim “Kermit” Egan and Bob Johnson, to support the college rugby program in the Northeast Rugby Union, developed the Rockaway Rugby "Reegs" College Invitational Tournament, usually played in March. Participating clubs have been; Iona College, Siena College, Fairfield University, St. Joseph’s University, SUNY New Paltz, Scranton University, Rochester Institute of Tech., Stony Brook University and Maritime Academy. The goals set for this event - to promote Northeast Rugby and raises funds for the Tom "Reegs" Regan Fund.
In the year 2001, Rockaway Rugby Football Club became partners with the National Park Service of United States to promote the sport of rugby at park facilities and to conserve and protect the environment at Fort Tilden, a unit of Gateway - U.S.A. National Park System. Fundraisers were held and maintenance plans were developed to renovate an area of the park specifically for Rugby. The $30,000 Rugby Field Renovation Project began and was completed in time for the fall M.N.Y.R.U. 2004 League Season. This will ensure a clean, safe playing field, lighted practice area and environment suitable for rugby fans, park visitors and a variety of wildlife.
In November of 2004, the club celebrated their 30th Anniversary at the Belle Harbor Yacht Club. Over 125 former players, family and friends attended this celebration. Club President Bob Johnson addressed the attendees to express the importance of alumni support. If you have played for the Fisheads in years past or would like to play with the "Fisheads", please contact the club directors and let them know where you are now.
In 2007, The Rockaway Fisheads completed the season undefeated (5-0-1) and won their 3rd league championship.
Keep in touch. The best is yet to come ...
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