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

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.

History

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

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

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

Team Pld W T L Bonus Total
1Chicago Lions 141301961
2Metropolis 1410041353
3Kansas City Blues 149051046
4Chicago Griffins 14806739
5Columbus 145091130
6Cincinnati Wolfhounds 1440101026
7Palmer College Dragons 144010926
8Milwaukee 143011921
  • 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

Men's

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

Women's

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

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

References

Newspaper articles

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