Officers/ Contacts

CofC women, Olde Grey, USC cup champions
On a thrilling Sunday, Columbia Olde Grey, the University of South Carolina and the College of Charleston women’s team claimed the 2009. All games were decided by less than seven points with the college and women’s games going down to the wire. More...

Minutes of Palmetto AGM Oct. 10
Officers of the Palmetto Rugby Union elected officers, heard traditional reports and discussed youth rugby during the board's annaul meeting. More...

Scholarships Established to Support Clemson Rugby
Fall 2009 - The Clemson Rugby Foundation announces it has established scholarships to support the Clemson University Rugby Football Club (CURFC). The ‘Clemson Rugby Foundation Team Scholar Award’ will be presented for the first time this fall. The ability to provide scholarships for Clemson Rugby team members is a goal that the foundation is pleased to have reached. More...

Furman to honor longtime coach October 17
On October 17, Furman will pay tribute to Furman Rugby Coach John Roberts by naming the field he coaches on in his honor. The university rugby pitch, located adjacent to Paladin Stadium, will be named John S. Roberts Rugby Field in a 10 a.m. ceremony on Homecoming morning. Major Bill Bell, President of the Palmetto Rugby Football Union, coach of the Citadel Rugby Football team and long-time Paladin rival, will serve as keynote speaker. more...

Palmetto Tournament set for October 10-11 at Furman
Furman will host the Palmetto Tournament October 10-11. Due to growing number of college and men's sides participating, the men's bracket may be extended to two days. The Palmetto Tournament is the highlight of the fall playing season. In keeping with tradition, the Palmetto Rugby Union Board of Directors will hold it's annaul meeting in the Cherrydale Alumni House at the conclusion of Saturday's games. More...


NATIONAL CHAMPS!!!! CCU takes DIII crown!
Coastal Carolina defeated Oswego State 36-15 Sunday in the final of the National Small College Rugby Organization DIII men’s championships in Cherry Hill, NJ. Led by the stellar play and speed of scrumhalf Clayton Haley and the power of their forwards, Coastal Carolina defeated the New York State champs Oswego, after beating Longwood in yesterday’s semifinals. more...
story from rugby examiner

Palmetto teams continue to dominate division II
In 2002, USA Rugby South, along with Mid-Atlantic and New England rugby football unions, developed a division III for college men. The new division, designed for colleges with an enrollment of 7,000 or less, now includes 32 men’s team.Only six of those are Palmetto teams. With the exception of the 2002 inaugural season, which was won by Western Carolina, squads from the South’s smallest union have swept to victory the past seven years. The trend continued March 29 as Coastal Carolina edged defending South champion Furman 13-10 to capture the Chanticleers first South Championship.The game marked the second time in three years that featured an all-Palmetto final. In 2007, Furman defeated Citadel 24-10 in the title game. During the seven-year period of Palmetto Division III dominance, Furman has captured five Rugby South crowns. Coastal and Citadel claimed championships in 2006 and 2009 respectively. more...

Welcome Asheville
The Palmetto Union recently welcomed the Asheville Rugby Club to our growing ranks. Though Asheville is located in North Carolina, the addition of this club is a good geographic for our union as the city is located just 20 miles north the of the state line. With the addition of Asheville, two men’s teams (the other Greenville) have joined the union in recent years. The Asheville team was founded in 1983. In recent years, the club has been mostly for hosting the annual Bele Chere 7s Tournament, one of the most popular summer rugby tournaments in the Southeast.

Palmetto names Platt to coach college all-stars
Nigel Platt, a native of England who has Platt has nearly 40 years rugby experience as a player, coach, and game official has been named coach 2009 Palmetto College All-Stars. Platt has been the long-time coach of the Georgia Collegiate All-stars. Most recently served as the head coach of Reaseheath College in England and is the former head coach of the Rugby South College All-Stars. He has also served past head coaches for both Furman and Clemson. Platt is a level II Referee and Level II USA Rugby Coach and serves as referee evaluator.

South Carolina ruggers found SERA
Last fall, John Roberts, Nigel Platt and Vince Atkinson founded the South Elite Rugby Academy. SERA’s mission is to foster youth rugby development, good sportsmanship and camaraderie through summer clinics. SERA’s inaugural All-American Summer Clinic will be hosted at Furman University (Greenville, S.C.) July 11-15, 2009. In the coming years, SERA staff will use this template to partner with colleges and other institutions to host summer clinics on their campuses. More…

Palmetto Union News archive