Zoomie Rugby Football Club
Encyclopedia
The Zoomie Rugby Football Club (ZRFC) is made up of the men's and women's rugby union
teams at the United States Air Force Academy
. The team's name refers to the term "Zoomie", which is slang for a cadet or graduate of the Air Force Academy.
Players have gone on to represent the USA on the US Men's National Rugby Team, including Ben Trautwein, Matt Schmitz, Josh Dean, Mike Hobson, and Brian Lemay. The Air Force women's team was founded in 1977, shortly after the first admission of women to the academy. The women's team competed within Colorado for several years, but moved to national competition when the women's national championship competition was organized in 1991. The women's team won the first national championship that same year, and have gone on to win three more, in 1994, 2002 and 2003. Two of the Air Force women's players, Shalanda Baker and Laura McDonald, have gone on to play for the United States national team
.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
teams at the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
. The team's name refers to the term "Zoomie", which is slang for a cadet or graduate of the Air Force Academy.
History
The Air Force rugby program began in 1968 and, as the academy was all-male, consisted only of a men's team. In 1980, the Air Force began competing in collegiate rugby under USA rugby, as the NCAA does not sponsor rugby as a sport. Since that time, Air Force has mad 18 appearances in the national tournament, earning three national championships—in 1989, 1990 and 2003.Players have gone on to represent the USA on the US Men's National Rugby Team, including Ben Trautwein, Matt Schmitz, Josh Dean, Mike Hobson, and Brian Lemay. The Air Force women's team was founded in 1977, shortly after the first admission of women to the academy. The women's team competed within Colorado for several years, but moved to national competition when the women's national championship competition was organized in 1991. The women's team won the first national championship that same year, and have gone on to win three more, in 1994, 2002 and 2003. Two of the Air Force women's players, Shalanda Baker and Laura McDonald, have gone on to play for the United States national team
United States women's national rugby union team
The United States women's national rugby union team represents the United States in women's rugby union. Officially formed in 1987, the Women's National Team has been an international powerhouse since its inception. The Eagles won the first official Women's Rugby World Cup in 1991, and finished...
.
Men
See footnote- 1980 National runners up
- 1983 National runners up
- 1986 National 3rd place
- 1987 National runners up
- 1988 National 3rd place
- 1989 National Champions
- 1990 National Champions
- 1992 National 3rd place
- 1993 National runners up
- 1994 National 3rd place
- 1995 National runners up
- 2003 National Champions
- 2004 National 3rd Place
Women
See footnote- 1991 National Champions
- 1992 National 3rd place
- 1993 National runners up
- 1994 National Champions
- 1995 National 3rd place
- 1996 National 3rd place
- 1997 National 3rd place
- 1998 National 4th place
- 2002 National Champions
- 2003 National Champions
External links
- RugbyMag.com. Rugby Magazine. Retrieved 2010-02-06.