The Chicago Griffins RFC rugby union team was founded in 1973. The team competes in the National Division I Midwest League, USA Rugby's top tier, after the demise of the USA Super League and play their home games at Riis Park in Chicago, Illinois, US.

Chicago Griffins
Full nameThe Chicago Griffins
UnionUSA Rugby
Nickname(s)Griffins, Griffs
Founded1973; 51 years ago (1973)
Ground(s)Riis Park Stadium
PresidentCharlie Jacobson
Coach(es)Paddy Ryan
Captain(s)Eric Jacobson
League(s)Midwest Rugby Premiership (US)
Team kit
Official website
chicagogriffins.com

History

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The Chicago Griffins was founded in 1973 by Bob "Doc" Kelly along with Brian Bourke, Mike Elliot, John Carmody, Rick Grigutis, and Tom Powers. The Griffins would not exist today had it not been for these players.

Sponsorship

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Notable primary sponsors include Founders Brewery, Wells Street Crossfit, Edgewater Athletic Club, Athletico Physical Therapy, Black Rock Pub, Belvedere Trading, Torrey and Gray, USA Voice and Data and Arcoa.[1]

2015/16 season

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Chicago Griffins Men's Team 2016 Midwest Championship Runners Up

The Chicago Griffins finished fourth in the regular season but beat top seeds the Chicago Lions in the semi-finals of the Midwest Championship. The Griffins lost the Midwest Championship final by two points to Metropolis 29–27.

In finishing Runners Up the club qualified for the 2016/17 Gold Cup, a competition played between some of USA Rugby's elite rugby clubs, including current National Champions Mystic River, National Champion Runners Up the Austin Blacks and National Championship Final 8 teams Dallas reds, Rocky Gorge and Metropolis..

Midwest League National Division 1 2015-16 season

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Team Pld W T L Bonus Total
1 Chicago Lions 14 13 0 1 9 61
2 Metropolis 14 10 0 4 13 53
3 Kansas City Blues 14 9 0 5 10 46
4 Chicago Griffins 14 8 0 6 7 39
5 Columbus 14 5 0 9 11 30
6 Cincinnati Wolfhounds 14 4 0 10 10 26
7 Palmer College Dragons 14 4 0 10 9 26
8 Milwaukee 14 3 0 11 9 21
  • 4 Points awarded to the winning team
  • 0 Points to the losing team
  • 2 Points to each team in the case of a tie
  • 1 Bonus Point to a team scoring 4 or more tries
  • 1 Bonus Point to a losing team keeping the score within 7 points
  • Top 4 advance to playoffs
  • Midwest Champion Advances to USA National Championships Final 8

Rugby 7s

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Men's

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The Chicago Griffins Men's Sevens yearly participate in the Midwest Men's 7s national qualifiers.

Women's

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Chicago Griffins Women's 7s Team 2016 Midwest Champions

In 2016 the Chicago Griffin's formed their first Women's Sevens team. The team was an instant success, winning both the Iowa City Ducks' Sevens tournament, the Grand Rapids Hard Rock Sevens tournament, and the Midwest Sevens Championship.

In doing so the team won one of 16 places in the 2016 Club Sevens National Championship held in Denver in August 2016. The Chicago Griffins Women's Sevens team won the Shield trophy at the National Championship tournament in Denver.

(In the photo, starting from the left: Top- Cydney Grannon, Kadie Sanford, Rafika Faci, Jess Dombrowksi, Linda Guiner, Christy Bravo, Kayla Enriquez. Bottom-Lauren Trout, Brittany Klimek, Lizzy Bristow, Brittany Biedenbender, Amanda Graziano)

Current 1st XV squad

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Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Sean Cooney Hooker   United States
Scott Finlay Hooker   Ireland
Joe Kafatolu Prop   Tonga
Feao Teutau Prop   New Zealand
Dan Steck Prop   United States
Trey Henley-Lewis Prop   United States
Tommy Finnegan Lock   United States
Lucas Giraud Lock   France
Erik Jacobson Lock   United States
Matt Najor Flanker   United States
Ryan McBride Flanker   United States
Dan Perrino Flanker   United States
Nicholas Walcott Flanker   United States
John Luhrsen Number 8   United States
Scott Peterson Number 8   United States
Player Position Union
Luke Stringer Scrum-half   United States
Nate Jensen Scrum-half   United States
Peter Smith Fly-half   Australia
Brian O'Shea Fly-half   United States
Brennan Martin Centre   United States
Ryan Beecher Centre   United States
Josh Allen Centre   England
Sam Seymour Wing   United States
Brendan Brown Wing   United States
Patrick Marek Wing   United States
Matthew Crabtree Wing   United States
Corey Quaglia Fullback   United States
Jordan Anderson Fullback   United States

References

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Newspaper articles

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