Rugby History
Rugby can seem brutal and very abstract for people (especially Americans) who have only experienced the sport from a bird’s eye view. Where football is considered to be the “fans” or “coaches” sport, rugby is considered to be the definitive “player’s” sport. Rugby is a well-rounded game that has a blend of endurance, strength and brilliance. But there are some obvious difference between rugby and football. Rugby is fast paced, with continuous possession changes and very few stoppages. All players, regardless of position, can run, pass, kick and catch the ball. In addition, all players must tackle and defend, making each position both offensive and defensive in nature. There is no blocking in rugby and teams are allowed a limited number of substitutions.
American football is a derivative of rugby developed during the late 1800s in which Americans wanted to take the tenants of rugby and redefine it for themselves. Even modern basketball tactics and patterns (such as creating space by manipulating the defense) owes its development to James Naismith, an English rugby coach who used basketball as an indoor alternative to rugby when the New England winters got too cold. Rugby is the most successful gender-neutral contact sports here in the US, where nearly 40% of players are female.
Rugby has been the fastest growing sport in America for nearly a decade and has a community made up over a million active players, referees and coaches. It is among the world’s most popular sports and is a multi-billion dollar industry with a multitude of professional leagues and international competitions. And in 2016 the first ever professional rugby league began competing here in six US cities. It continues to go in the US and we would like to position ourselves for success in it’s development.
Bend Rugby
Bend Rugby was founded in 1975 and is one of the most well respected teams in the region. Bend Rugby prides itself on developing inexperienced players into high achieving rugby players through a commitment to share the game with anyone willing to step on the pitch. Our members come from all walks of life and are an integrated part of the Central Oregon community. With exceptional athletes, long time players, and a legacy of success, year after year Bend rugby has held top accolades within Northwest leagues.
The Bend Rugby community is made up of current and past players, administrators, and rugby enthusiasts that strongly support the camaraderie and joy found within the sport. We are currently developing and instituting greater community initiatives that are building networks with local business and community members at large. Our alumni have set the groundwork for a great club and we intend to experience significant growth over the next few years.
Club History
Keith Erickson and John Jeans founded Bend Rugby Football Club during the spring of 1975. Keith had experienced the sport through military deployments and John had played in college with Oregon State University Rugby. The early Bend team had been a conglomerate of ex-football players, ski bums and local ruffians looking for camaraderie and sport. The club roster remained small through the late 70′s until an influx of people to the Central Oregon area brought new players to the Bend team. In fact, many of these players remain active within club support and administration today.
During the spring of 1977, Bend Rugby entered the Pacific Northwest Rugby Football Union (PNFRU), which included Seattle Rugby Club, Snake River (Boise), Portland Pigs, and Old Puget Sound Beach (Seattle). By the early 80′s Bend proved to be a NW rugby powerhouse by securing a league championship with an undefeated season. Even with a small roster, Bend was able to field 7′s and 10′s teams during off-season tournaments. Throughout the 80s rugby had experienced growth within the Pacific Northwest, especially for larger cities like Portland and Seattle, but Bend was able to compete with these larger teams through tenacity and a focus upon rugby fundamentals. Older club members still remember a cup final win against Beach at the Eugene 10s Tournament in 1988, wherein Bend was considered the heavy underdog.
As the 1990s and 2000s came, so did booming population growth for Bend, Redmond and the surrounding areas. This growth brought an array of new players to Bend Rugby, but the roster still remained relatively small compared to larger cities. Bend has won the Division III title 8 years in a row, and has penetrated the National Championship Tournament several times. Also during this period, Bend Rugby established one of the strongest high school rugby programs in the NW. The Bend Blues have won a state title and has sent many young players to select side teams and strong collegiate programs.
With help from the Oregon Rugby Academy, Bend Rugby has made a name for itself this past summer as a rising 7s powerhouse in the region. Bend won four Cup championships in 2015, including Tacoma Aroma 7s and Salem 7s, and is expected to slice deep into the National 7s Championship this coming summer. In addition, Bend will be traveling to Las Vegas this March to compete in the largest 7s tournament in North America.
Bend Rugby finished the 2017-2018 league season out with a 10-0 record in D3. 16-4 record overall this season. Bend Rugby also took the Pacific Northwest division title after defeating the Boise Lions 70-12. Bend Rugby then moved on to the first round in Nationals in San Francisco where they beat the Old Gaels and took the North Pacific Coast Championship. In Fort Worth Bend Rugby went 1-1 finishing 5th in the nation for division 3.
News
Recently, Bend Rugby finished the 2021-2022 league season winning the PNRFU South. The team is looking strong for the 2022-2023 season with many starters returning but plenty of room for new players who want to learn the game and have fun winning.
Bend’s most recent championship was the Cascade Classic in 2019 which features teams from all over the Northwest.
Bend Rugby Gear from World Rugby Shop: If your looking for Bend Rugby shirts, hats, hoodies and such things that are not on our website shop checkout this link below. Lots of good stuff.
Code Of Conduct
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
I. Enter the Arena
· We are the doers of deeds. We value leaders, problem solvers, and men of action.
II. Strive Valiantly
· Train to win - training merely lays the foundations of success. Do the extra work to make a difference.
· While pursuing excellence, errors and shortcomings are unavoidable. We value men who face these obstacles with enthusiasm and positivity.
III. Dare Greatly.
· Aim for the highest heights. Enthusiasm and devotion rarely manifest without a worthy cause.
IV. Speak your truth - but don’t be a dickhead.
· Communication is paramount in rugby. Aim to ask questions first, listen second, speak third. We do not value sarcasm or snark.
V. Effort + Attitude is more valued than Talent + Pedigree
· Talent can be developed, character cannot. We value effort and attitude over talent and pedigree. Poisonous attitudes will not be tolerated.
VI. Good Leaders Create More Leaders
· Successful teams have leaders throughout their ranks. Take responsibility.
VII. Create a Learning Environment
· Leaders are teachers. Embrace error and shortcoming, and look to learn from it. Encourage questions. Aim to solve problems, not to assign blame.
VIII. Know Thyself
· Be honest about your progress, performance, and effort level. After every match, take an honest look at yourself in the mirror and ask the question “did I do everything in my power to win that game”? Aim to answer “yes!”.
IX. Build Upon our Culture
· Build a culture based on our collective values. Rugby is known for its sense of community both on and off the field. When disagreements arise, they don’t belong in the public forum. Shared struggle, sacrifice, and adversity only strengthens our bond.
X. Be a Steward
· We value men who are altruistic, and who relish the great responsibility of protecting and enhancing the reputation of our Club. Leave the Club in a better place, not for your glory, but for that of our Club and community.
For as long as you embrace these principles, you will be blessed with the greatest of honors. The honor of being a Roughrider.