The Blackthorn Rugby Football Club (Elkins Park, PA) was founded in 1971 by Marshall Sturm, John Galante, and Bob Kirkpatrick. Sturm had been a member of the Penn State Rugby Club and then played for Whitemarsh R.F.C. After playing several seasons for Whitemarsh, Sturm decided to form a club.

The Brandywine Rugby Football Club was formed by West Chester University graduates who wanted to play rugby while still continuing their careers. The club’s founding father, Scott Johnson, grabbed some mates and moved around from the elementary schools and parks to play their favorite sport.

The BRFC has been in the National Elite 8 in 2009, 2010, and 2011, and came in second in the nation in 2008. In 2001, the team traveled to Scotland as part of their tour — a far cry from the days the club didn’t have their own field or enough players for a game.

A rugby club whose heart and soul were established in 2011 by a small group of rugby fanatics. They began to build on the dream of a full-on club and it has come to fruition!  The club became a Recognized Member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union in September 2012.

Delmarva is looking to expand their membership in both players and supporters, so please feel free to contact us at DelmarvaRugbyClub@Yahoo.com and find out what rugby and rugby culture are all about!

Harrisburg RFC, established in the autumn of 1969, Celebrates is 50th year in 2019. Club growth now includes men’s, women’s, old boys (HOBOS), old girls (HOGS) and high school teams. Harrisburg is currently fundraising for a Rugby Complex. Updates and donations at http://www.gofundme.com/harrisburgrugby

The Hibernian Rugby Football Club, based in Levittown, PA was founded on January 21, 1976 by former Blackthorn RFC players along with some enthusiastic novices to the game.  The club’s name is derived from Latin “Hibernia”, which the Romans called the wild and unconquerable island now known as Ireland. The original club logo was adopted from the Ancient Order of Hibernians, but was later changed in the 1977/78 season to the crest of the Province of Connaught, Ireland.  This Province of Ireland, as it turns out, is the homeland to the ancestors of most of the Club’s Founding Fathers.  The team’s colors are Black and White with Royal Blue trim.

The Jersey Shore Rugby Football Club (JSRFC) was founded during the summer of 1986. Three members of the South Jersey RFC became tired of the long trips to Cherry Hill and beyond for practices and matches and were considering rugby retirement. After the spring season, and before retirement, these three friends and assorted other rugby enthusiasts began practicing and playing touch rugby at a school field in Ocean City.

The Lehigh Valley Rugby Football Club is a non-profit corporation. Founded in 1998, the Club represents men’s and women’s rugby in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas. The Club also takes an oversight role for the High School and Youth teams. The men’s team is a Full Member of the EPRU.

Media Rugby Men’s Football Club played its first game in the spring of 1978. Three high school friends who were returning to the Media, PA area from college and had played collegiate rugby started the club. In the mid 1980’s Media assimilated Marple Rugby football club into its fold and continued to grow. In the 1990’s and early 2000’s Media grew into a regional powerhouse. Media Rugby grew from its humble beginnings into the premier Division 1 club in the EPRU, moving from division 3 up to the top echelon of Division 1’s men rugby and was nationally ranked in USA Power Rugby as one of the top 10 teams in the nation. In 2008 the club was inducted in the Media Area Sports Hall of Fame. In Fall of 2016, Media dropped out of Division 2 league play due to lack of numbers. The team will return to league play in 2017

The Northeast Philadelphia Rugby team, also known as the Irish, was founded in 2011 and were admitted to the EPRU as Recognized Members on February 6, 2012. In a short two years, the Irish went undefeated and won Division 4. In Fall 2014, they moved up to Division 3 and look to further establish themselves against greater competition.  Contact info@neprugby.com.

The Philadelphia Gryphons Rugby Football Club (RFC) is a sports organization dedicated to encouraging participation, building athleticism, and improving our community through the sport of Rugby.  We work to foster a diverse environment that welcomes all athletes, regardless of sexual orientation, age, race, or fitness level.  We are a member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union, competing in Division III play. phillygryphons@aol.com.

Established in 1978 the Reading Rugby Football Club competes in the Eastern Penn Rugby Union. Currently the team competes at the Division III level against teams from the Mid-Atlantic region of the US and the National Competitive Region 4 (NCR4). Reading also fields a competitive 7s side. Although the club has seen success at the local and national levels, the true heart of the club has always resided in its players. Reading Rugby has never wavered on its commitment to sportsmanship, competition, and camaraderie. Always with an eye to the future, Reading Rugby extends a challenge to anyone who would like to join and become part of something not because it is easy, but because it is hard.