The
Huntington Beach Unicorn Rugby Football Club is a sports and social club located in
Huntington Beach, California. The club was formed in 1970 solely for the purpose of
playing Rugby Union football. The club is a current member club of the Southern California
Rugby Football Union, one of seven (7) territorial unions which comprise the United States
of America Rugby Football Union (or USARFU ). USARFU is a member of the International
Rugby Board, based in Dublin, Ireland and is affiliated with USA Olympic Committee.
The club has its roots back to members of the Los Angeles Rugby Club and Eagle Rock RFC.
Many of these founding members lived in Orange County and wanted to play closer to home.
The Unicorns set many precedents during the seventies and eighties. The club had the first
‘clubhouse’ in Southern California, in downtown Huntington Beach (boy, do we
wish we STILL had that property!), were the first club to embark on an international tour
( Wales - 1972 ) and have played if front of the largest crowd to see Rugby in the USA -
half-time at a Rams vs. Browns pro football game, with nearly 70,000 fans present. The
Unicorns have continued their long tradition of international contact, having hosted
Northcote RFC (N.Z.) in 1993 and the University of New South Wales RFC (Australia) in
1995. The club also took their show on the road for the Rugby World Cup in
Wales in 1999..
In 1997 and 1998, the Unicorns competed in the National Second Division championships,
finishing second and fifth respectively in the nation. The club was elevated to First
Division competition beginning in November, 1998. The Southern California Rugby Union
features one of the most competitive leagues in the US, with five time National Champion,
OMBAC from San Diego and 1998, 2003 and 2004 Harp Super League Champions, Belmont Shore from Long Beach, as well as 2005 First Division National Champions, Santa Monica and runner-up Back Bay.
Whilst the Huntington Beach Unicorns have proven themselves on the rugby field over the
years, the development of the club off the field has been just as impressive. The
club is currently in the process of incorporating to strengthen its administrative base.
The club ranks third from Southern California in players registered with USA Rugby, and is
one of the few clubs which can boast dedicated training and game fields. We have a full
schedule of 15’s, 7’s and touch football play. We have also formed the Old
Frothonian Cricket Club where any cricketer in the local area can play some social cricket
in the off season. The Unicorns famous social camaraderie, known round the world,
keeps the atmosphere fun.
We look forward to your involvement with the Huntington Beach Unicorns. For further
information, please send e-mail to us at unicorn@towersys.com.
Alternatively, for football related issues contact Football Manager Ray
Viers at (714) 964-0600. |
