New Orleans Rugby Football Club

(Redirected from Gretna Park)

The New Orleans Rugby Football Club (also known as NORFC), founded in 1973, is a men's rugby union team based in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. The club competes in and is governed by the True South Geographical Union (GU), and USA Rugby.[1]

NORFC
Full nameNew Orleans Rugby Football Club
UnionUSA Rugby
Founded1973
LocationNew Orleans, Louisiana
Ground(s)Gretna Park
PresidentJimmy Rehkopf
Coach(es)George Sharpe
Captain(s)Rory Edwards
League(s)True South Rugby Football Union
Team kit
Official website
www.nolarugby.com

George Sharpe is the current head coach.

The NORFC practices twice weekly at the Gretna Rugby Pitch located on Gretna Blvd, just off Belle Chase Hwy. in Gretna, Louisiana.

History

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The New Orleans Rugby Football Club is currently a member of the True South Rugby Union, Division II & 3. New Orleans Rugby competes against other TSRFU teams such as: Birmingham Rugby Football Club, Memphis Blues Rugby Club, Knoxville Rugby Football Club, Chattanooga Rugby Football Club, Baton Rouge Rugby Football Club and Nashville Rugby Football Club.[2]

NORFC won the USA Rugby South Division II Deep South Pool in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.[3] In 2011, NORFC fielded a 2nd XV in the DIII competition. This team won the Deep South Pool and advanced to the South Finals. New Orleans won the 2011 DII USA Rugby National Championship, defeating defending champions Tampa Krewe. In 2012, New Orleans' DI side won the South union, but lost in the DI national playoffs to the Chicago Lions. That same year, New Orleans' DIII side went 22-0 and won the USA Rugby DIII National Championship. In 2013, the DI side finished third in the 2013 USA Rugby DI Championship, losing in the semi-finals to Seattle/Old Puget Beach, but then beating the Denver Barbarians for third place. In 2014, the DI side finished as runner-up to Life University at the 2014 USA Rugby DI Championship.

Former Players of Note

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Name Accomplishments
Gary Giepert
Tim Falcon
Bob Olsonowski USA Eagles
Chip Curtis USA Eagles
Mauricio Urrutia Chile National Rugby Team
Cameron Falcon NOLA Gold, USA Eagles
Brennan Falcon NOLA Gold
Cameron Troxler NOLA Gold
Billy Stewart NOLA Gold
Mason Briant NOLA Gold
Todd Dupre NOLA Gold
Bobby Johns NOLA Gold

High School Rugby Program

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NORFC created the Louisiana High School rugby program, which includes the following Clubs:

  • Jesuit Blue Jay Rugby Club
  • Brother Martin Crusader Rugby Club
  • Barbarians Rugby Club
  • Bayou Hurricanes Rugby Club
  • St. Paul's High Rugby Club.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "USA Club Rugby: Geographical Unions". usarugby.org/. Archived from the original on 2014-02-13. Retrieved 2014-03-04.
  2. ^ "Gambit Weekly: Scrum Club". bestofneworleans.com. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  3. ^ "Before you head to the pitch, get to know NOLA Gold Rugby". nolagoldrugby.com. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
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