Charles River RFC, "the Rats", in the traditional green jerseys with horizontal orange band, founded by a group of ruggers from Tufts University and Boston RFC. Highlight of the 1st season, winning the Portland RFC Invitational held in Bowdoin, ME. Also, club fares well in Annual New England Tournament losing to eventual winners' Boston RFC 4-0 in the semi-finals. First season schedule and results

1974

Club continues to attract new players. Highlights of the year include winning Portland RFC Tournament for the 2nd consecutive year.

1975

Club continues to build on previous two years' successes. Highlights include defeating Providence RFC in the Portland RFC Tournament marking the third consecutive time Charles River had won the tournament. Also, bitterly contested 2nd round loss to MIT RFC in double overtime in NE Tournament.

1976

Marking the fourth successful year, highlights include defeating Concord (NH, later Amoskeag) RFC in the Portland Tourney to win the tournament for the 4th consecutive year.

1977-1979

Due to ever increasing competition among clubs for players, club drops to Div 2. Period also marks the first time Charles River hosts a touring side by hosting Maidstone RFC (England).

1980

Club earns promotion to Div I with defeat of the Berlin Strollers RFC. Highlights include successful tour of England with Charles River playing Maidstone RFC (England) and Betteshanger RFC (England). Also, Club loses finals of Portland RFC Tournament to Albany, NY 16-9 and loses to Boston RFC 21-15 in NE Tournament.

1981

To build on previous years' success and to augment club membership, club merges with Old North Bridge RFC of Concord, MA. In addition, club brings on first foreign coach, Mike Hochschild from South Africa. Hochschild brings with him new attitude and his coaching marks new era of rugby success for the "Rats."

1982

Club continues to build. Highlights include playing to a tie in Harvard Business School RFC Seven's Tournament, eventually losing to Boston RFC in overtime on penalty kicks. Club also finishes as runners-up to Mystic River in the finals of Portland Tourney. Club beats Boston RFC but loses to Beacon Hill and Hartford RFC's in fall season.

1983

Club defeats Old Gold RFC in playoff match to decide which team would join newly formed "A" league of the NE Rugby Union. Club finishes second in newly created "A" Division league losing to Boston RFC 8-3 to determine league champion. Other highlights include winning NY RFC Seven's Tournament and having 5 players named to the New England Select side. Club also adds Gavin Visagie of South Africa as player/coach, helping Mike Hochschild with coaching duties. Club wins consolation bracket of Portland Tourney.

1984

Club continues to build on most successful year-to-date. Club tours England winning 3 of 5 games. Highlights of tour include victories over Linton RFC, Old Leomentonians RFC, and a close 19-17 loss to Betteshanger RFC. Club has 2 players, Jay Fredkin (center) and Mark McCabe (hooker) selected to Eastern Rugby Union select-side and both placed on National panel. Hanscom AFB players split off to form Hanscom Hawks RFC.

1985

Highlights of year include club winning playoff over Portland RFC 35-0 to remain in Div 1. Club finishes 2nd in Div 1 and qualifies for the NE Regional Tournament the following Spring. Other highlights include close loss to Boston RFC 10-0 in semi-finals of NE tournament and finishing as runners-up to Albany RFC in the finals of the Portland Tourney.

1986

Club builds on highlights of previous year by regaining Portland RFC Tournament title defeating Albany RFC (NY) 17-6 in finals. Highlights of year also include, narrow loss to Old Blue RFC (NY) in 2nd round of NE Regional Tournament. Club tours Bahamas winning the Nassau RFC, Bahamas Sevens tournament 31-0 over Oklahoma RFC in finals. Fall Season, Club defeats Boston 12-9 eliminating Boston from the playoffs for the 1st time in 5 years.

1987

Club continues to build winning consolation bracket of the "B" Division at the Annual Washington Irish RFC St. Patrick's Day Tournament in DC. Club plays host to two touring sides, Northern Ireland Cricket and Rugby Club and Calgary (Canada) RFC.

1988

Another successful year capped by winning Harvard Business School RFC Sevens Tournament by defeating URI Old Boys RFC 48-0 in finals. Also, club hosts touring side Bletchley RFC (England) winning 30-15. Club also wins Berkshire Autumn Rugby Festival defeating Worcester RFC 12-3 in finals.

1989

Year marks club's first US tour. Club plays in First Annual Mardi Gras Tournament hosted by New Orleans RFC, Deep South Champions. Club defeats New Orleans RFC 6-4 in semi-finals and Atlanta Renegades 18-0 in finals to win tournament. Club hosts Newcastle University RFC (England).

1990

Club continues to augment number of players by reuniting with Hanscom RFC of Lexington, MA. Highlights of year include defeating Boston RFC in 1st round of the NE Tournament 10-6 in overtime.

1991

Club continues to enjoy success by winning consolation bracket of the "B" Division at the St. Patrick's Day Tournament hosted by the Washington Irish. Highlights of year include several victories over touring sides: 25-3 over Toronto Welsh (Canada) RFC, 21-12 over Malvern RFC (England) and 22-9 over the Royal Scottish Marines. In addition, scrumhalf Cormac Kelly named to Rugby East under 25 all star side and selected as MVP of Territorial Tournament held in South Carolina. Alan Erickson (center) named to under-25 select side also.

1992

Club hoping to further successes of early-to-mid 80's brings John Winters from New Zealand on board to coach. Highlights of year include tour of Ireland with victory of Ballinrobe RFC 58-10 and close matches against Suttonians RFC losing 24-15, Dolphin RFC losing 28-16 and De la Salle Palmerston RFC losing 24-3. Club also falls from Div 1 to Div 2 for only second time in 25 year history after nail-biting loss to Amoskeag RFC 25-24. Club also plays touring side Royal Engineers RFC (England).

1993

Club begins rebuilding, seeded first in Div 2. Loses 8 of first XV to new Boston area club, Boston Irish Wolfhounds RFC. Comes in last place in Division II.

1994

Club continues to rebuild. Finishes in the pack of Division II.

1995

Club brings on board first Irish coach Frank Dillon, former Leinster juniors select side player. Club also tours England for second time and Wales for first time playing Risca RFC (Wales), Trebanos RFC (Wales) and Bletchley RFC (England). Club loses four A-side players (coach and captain) for fall season in traffic accident. Finishes dead last in Division II.

1996

Club continues rebuilding by defeating Old Gold RFC to clinch a spot in the Annual New England tournament the following spring.

1997

First Australian brought on to coach team. Daryl “Spinner” Howland, a professional rugby league player, revives the Club’s hard-nosed attitude. Highlights of season include winning spring record, best finish in fall league play in recent years, 3rd place at the Landsdowne St. Patrick’s Day Tourney, and 4th place finish at the Div. 2 New England Tournament. Club also hosts New Brunswick RFC touring side, introducing the lads from the North many times to the turf at Ipswich Field and to the taps at the Ipswich Brewery afterwards. Club hosts 1st Annual Ipswich Ale Sevens Tournament, with 15 teams participating.

1998

Following the success of 1997, it was with the anticipation of a strong spring and fall season that the Rats started the 1998 campaign in New York at the annual St. Patrick’s Day Tournament put on by Landsdowne RFC and Guinness. However, success of Rats in professional arena takes toll, with Captain Conor Fallon, formerly of Clontarf RFC and one of the top 8-men in New England, relocated to California by his company. Loss of his stable leadership and exemplary play makes for a bumpy spring campaign. Polo ponies take precedence at Ipswich Field, thus canceling 7’s Tournament and effectively ending the Club’s relationship with the town (added glory to the Rats [one in particular], though, in that they cause more damage to a field than fourteen one-ton animals). Injuries force the Club to play last two matches with 19 players, but Rats survive despite best efforts of our enemies. Highlights include defeat of Old Gold RFC and Annual Memorial Day Tournament against Danbury RFC in Cape Cod. Memorial Day is another rousing success, with off-field festivities - the “Kiwi Round-up” - led by Kiwi Mike and Adam in their swansong with the Club.

1999

Spring season brings a mixed bag, with a strong crop of young players joined at times by veteran leadership resulting in several wins and some hard-fought, closely contested losses. Wayward Irish sons Pearse McDowell and Conor Fallon return to the fold, making for some steady leadership on and off the pitch. Captain McDowell leads many familiar-faced Rats from the Club’s former glory days in a strong, though losing, spring match against Division 1 Irish Wolfhounds. Burlington RFC, the number-one rated team, pushed to limit in opening round of New England Tournament.

Fall sees the Club’s best start in years in terms of players and wins, with the Rats at 2-2 midway through the season, having bested Old Gold and Springfield. Injuries and professional success takes their toll again, however, and Club cannot capitalize on its earlier success. Club begins very successful relationship with new sponsors Harpoon Breweries and BSP Solutions.

2000

Club sees the return and election to captain of veteran Rat Maurice Kauff, fortuitous and timely as events would prove. Several veteran players – including Club mainstays Paul Toomey, Mike Roy, Mike Puglia, Eric Snyder, Pearse McDowell, and Gary Probert - out with injury, work and familial commitments, transfers, and graduate school. With these subtractions, Club’s body fat percentage drops by 50%, but key positions in the pack are seriously undermined.

Captain Kauff brings optimism and rugby knowledge to fill the void admirably, and young team earns valuable knowledge and several wins in spring campaign. Inexcusable lack of commitment makes New England Tournament unmentionable, but transgressors repent and Club moves on to fall season, opening with 37 players – the most in several years. After loss to Springfield by one penalty kick highlights the Club’s youthful potential and penchant for key and costly penalties, Club anticipates strong showing. However, injuries cost team first four centers and A-side prop, thus undermining the cohesiveness of the first string players and the team’s offensive effectiveness.

Undermanned but not lacking heart, team plays tough against best team in division, New Haven RFC, and, after a mental no-show against Newport and Providence, plays solid if not exemplary throughout the season. Club loses for first time in years to nemesis Old Gold – twice in spring and once in fall – a totally unacceptable result. Last two games brings the addition of several new recruits, however, and for first time in years a team is forced to play a second game against the Rats to accommodate OUR B-side. Montreal is again conquered by the Americans in successful “mini-tour” - the Rat way, with absolutely no rugby but lots of “adult entertainment.” Annual River “adult entertainment” audit is made of establishments near New Haven, Providence, Brockton, NYC, and Montreal, and everything is in order.

Club looks with eagerness towards the 2001 season, with a Harpoon “12 Pack” Tournament in the works for July, 2001, a mini-tour to Scotland for the 6 Nations Tournament, another for Montreal in the spring (this time with actual rugby play anticipated), several new recruits, the return of many veterans on sabbatical, and the continued support of Harpoon Breweries and BSP Solutions.

2001

Mo Kauff takes over as club President, and Joe Devlin is elected captain. Paul Chakoian continues series of generous donations to help provide club with equipment, fields, and travel expenses. Harpoon sponsorship is strengthened, and The Boyne becomes primary location for post-game drinkups and social functions.

Several Club members make fitness commitment and run with the Somerville Roadrunners during the winter. Club continues relationship with Wentworth Institute of Technology, spending several cold winter nights on the WIT outdoor turf pitch.

Rats start 2001 on high note, bringing home trophy from the Washington Irish RFC St. Patrick's Day tourney as division runners-up. While sightseeing in D.C., team meets at local watering hole (concession stand and trash barrel) for "refreshments". A sober Hal Baker does "The Monkey" on front steps of Smithsonian Museum of American History, scaring away several teenage women.

Successful spring season continues as the Rats go on to win 5 matches. In April, club hosts rugby jamboree at home pitch in Burlington, MA, highlighted by Super League match between Boston RFC and Chicago Lions. Jamboree draws college sides as well, including matches with University of Maine-Farmington and University of Vermont.

Strong leadership and commitment to recruiting results in club expansion in the fall. Rats have 40 active members show up to play against, and ultimately beat, rival Old Gold in October. Charles River finishes fall season with highest ranking in three years and starts to focus on a long-term goal of a return to Division One.

2002

Rats continue improving under leadership from Captain Joe Devlin and President Mo Kauff. Club fields two full sides for Savannah, GA St. Patrick's Day Tourney in March. Rats welcome new head coach, Steve Taylor, a South African native with several years of experience as both a player and a coach. Old Boys game in May draws nearly 100 current and former Rats. Club beats Burlington RFC in the first round of ice-cold NERFU tourney in Newport, RI, then finishes in 3rd place after losing to Providence RFC on a last-second try in the semi-finals. Rats play host to Welsh touring side, Llandaff RFC, in early June.

Fall season starts on high note as Rats win first four matches, including a 21-19 see-saw battle to eventual league champion Providence RFC. Rats then fall in the standings, losing to reigning champion Newport RFC and newcomer Connecticut Yankees RFC. In final match for playoff berth, Club relinquishes large lead and loses to Burlington RFC, 26-24, on last-second try and conversion. Club finishes season with a 4-3 record for first winning season in several years.

2003

Club attends Ruggerfest tourney in Ft. Lauderdale in early Spring and continues to attract new players. Rats host several C-Side/Old Boys matches, another successful Old Boys game, and a 30th anniversary banquet. Club enters 2 teams in the Bull Moose Tournament (Attitash, NH) in June, one of which finished in second place in the tourney. Club members continue with strong commitment, but lack of experience results in a losing fall season for the A-Side (B-Side finishes with a 6-2 record). Joe Devlin steps down as Captain and Club selects Phil Balas as new Captain in November. Devlin takes over as President, replacing Maurice Kauff.

2004

Phil Balas named Captain, Steve Tasker Vice Captain, and Joe Devlin remains President. Joe O'Brien and Ann Keating volunteer to coach. Year kicks off with spring tour to Savannah. Club wins first annual South Shore Round Robin and remains undefeated until 5/15 punch-up with Long Island RFC. After disappointing results in NERFU tourney, Club bounces back to place second to Mystic River in Bull Moose Tourney for second consecutive year. After 0-2 start in fall season, Club starts to fire on all cylinders and wins four of last five matches, highlighted by 42-0 victory over Old Gold. Club narrowly misses Northeast Playoffs for second time in three years, finishing in 4th place of NERFU Division 2 with a 4-3 record.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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