Officers/ Contacts

Palmetto Union: Five years and beyond

 

In 2003, the Palmetto Rugby Union was bankrupt and nearly folded. One of the smallest unions in the nation, the organization was bankrupt, poorly organized, financially mismanaged and lacking direction.
The union had not fielded a competitive college all-star team since the late 1980’s and two of the union’s most reputable teams – Clemson University and Greenville – had severed ties with Palmetto in the 1990s, electing to join the Georgia Rugby Union.

Fast-forward five years later. The Palmetto Union is now one of the most vibrant, reputable and successful local area unions in the South. High school rugby has sprouted in the Midlands, Palmetto teams have hosted several high profile rugby events and its teams have competed successfully on a national stage.

Furthermore, the union officers and teams have fostered a sense of rugby community and purpose in South Carolina. Though competitive on the pitch, all the clubs socialize and get along well. The Palmetto Union Board of Directors is comprised of representatives from each region of the state (Upstate, Midlands and Low country).

The union’s crowning achievement, however, has come in recent years as rugby stalwarts Greenville and Clemson, which left the union angrily in the 1990s, have rejoined the Palmetto fold. The union’s maturation and quick evolution began in early 2003. An annual progression of highlights:

2003

John Graham, coach of the Myrtle Beach Rugby Club, is elected president of the union and begins to reassemble the pieces left from the previous administration. John Roberts is elected vice president and treasurer. The union begins to communicate regularly with member teams, schedule meetings and sets goals.

College men’s teams from Coastal Carolina, Lander and the College of Charleston are founded and join the union.

Furman wins Rugby South D III Championship and East Coast Div. III championships.

College of Charleston women win D II Rugby South Championship.

The Palmetto Collegiate All-star men’s team logs its first win the LAUs in more than decade with a lopsided win over North Carolina.

2004

Coastal Carolina hosts the 2004 Rugby South College Tournament, an event attracting the top college teams throughout the South.

Furman hosts the South LAU All-Star Tournament. The Palmetto college side defeats North Carolina but comes up short by two points against Florida and finishes 1-1.

Furman wins its second consecutive DIII Rugby South and East Coast Division III championship.

2005

Bill Bell (the Citadel head coach) is elected President of the Palmetto Union

Furman hosts the 2005 Rugby South Championship and claims the team’s third consecutive Rugby South and East Coast Division III championship.

The Charleston Men’s team wins the Rugby South Div. II Championship

2006

The Citadel women’s team is founded.

The Greenville Rugby Club, which left the Palmetto in 1997, votes to rejoin the Palmetto Union.

The Palmetto fields its first ever U-23 women’s team. The squad finishes 1-1 with a victory over North Carolina.

Furman hosts the Rugby South Championships

The Citadel claims the team’s first-ever Rugby South DIII title and finishes runner up in the East Coast Div. III Championship.

Columbia Olde Grey hosts the USA Rugby “sweet 16” Tournament. The “pool play” tournament includes the top men’s club in the country.

2007

Columbia Olde Grey club again hosts the USA Rugby “sweet 16” Tournament.

Palmetto teams excel in at the 2007 Rugby South Championships, by finishing undefeated against teams from other unions.

The Furman men take home the Rugby South DIII Championship, but finish runner up in the National (formerly named East Coast) DIII Championship with a one-point loss in the finals.

The College of Charleston women’s team wins the Rugby South Div. II Championship.

Jeff Smolka establishes the South Carolina High School Rugby League. Teams from from Irmo, Gilbert, Spring Valley and Lugoff-Elgin are founded.

Clemson University, regularly ranked as one of the top 20 college teams in the nation, elects to rejoin the Palmetto Union.