Nickname(s) The Rugby Club Ground Fairmount Park Union USA Rugby | Coach(es) Kyle Antoian Founded 1985 | |
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Full name Philadelphia Whitemarsh Rugby Football Club League(s) EPRU Men's Club Division 2 (Div II) | ||
Philadelphia Whitemarsh Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US. They are currently members of the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union, the organizational body for the sport in eastern Pennsylvania, and currently play in USA Rugby Men's Club Division II.
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History
Philadelphia Whitemarsh RFC formed in 1985 as the result of a merger between the former Philadelphia (Founded 1961) and Whitemarsh clubs (Founded 1967). Prior to the merger, both clubs were facing a decline in membership. The Philadelphia club had a secure home ground in Fairmount Park and the Whitemarsh club had a good clubhouse, so the clubs merged with the hopes of becoming a more successful club. The club colors became red with blue stripes, and the new logo was a combination of Philadelphia's Liberty Bell logo and Whitemarsh's wallaby. Also included are the founding dates: 1961, 1967, 1985.
Philadelphia Whitemarsh played in the Rugby Super League, the country's highest level of rugby union, from 1998 to 2008, when they withdrew.
The club, looking to rebuild its foundation, moved to Division 3 in Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union beginning in the fall of 2009. In 2014 the club moved to Division 2 in the Mid-Atlantic Conference.
Current Club
Philadelphia Whitemarsh struggled to rebuild in its first two years in Division 3, sometimes not having enough players to field a side. In the fall of 2009 the club finished 2-5-1 with 11 league points for a 10th-place finish in the 12 team league. The next year, they finished 1-7-0 with 8 league points for an 11th-place finish.
Things turned around for PWRFC however in the spring of 2011. The young players in the club brought in college and high school teammates, Conway Maraki came in as a player-coach and the club began to reform. That spring, the new PWRFC went 3-2 in exhibition matches, both losses coming by a combined 4 points.
In the Fall of 2011, PWRFC ran the table in EPRU Division 3, going a perfect 8-0 and won the EPRU D3 crown. PWRFC continued their winning ways that spring running the table to win the MARFU championship, defeating Virginia RFC in the final 37-32. They advanced to the Final Four in Glendale, CO after defeating Gainesville and Syracuse in the USA Rugby Round of 16 and 8 respectively. After defeating the South Bay Rhinos (CA) in the National Semifinal 50-26, they fell to New Orleans RFC in the National Championship Game 36-20, finishing the season with a 14-1 record.
Sponsorship
Philly-Whitemarsh RFC has individual sponsorships. Notable primary sponsors include Royall Lyme. The club also has several secondary sponsorships from local and regional businesses.