A Tradition Born Through Dedication
In 1967 four friends, Frank Morah, Jeremy Pike, Nick Scholar, and Jeff Tyers dedicated themselves to forming a rugby team at Clemson University. The team struggled through many years of hardships like most new teams, but as time passed the team improved. Through hard work and dedication Clemson Rugby soon became a major force in collegiate rugby.
The 1990s were a time for change within the CURFC on the field. Former player Frank Graziano became involved with the team once again and instilled an idea of field dominance nationally. During Coach Graziano's time with the team, Clemson Rugby had managed to achieve several major accomplishments. Numbered among those achievements were Clemson's first undefeated season, Georgia Rugby Union champions, a number one ranking in the Southeast, and entrance into the Elite Eight where the Tigers matched up against Penn State after a first round victory over Cornell University.
In the CURFC's 30th year and in the same school year of Coach Graziano's departure for a USA Rugby Collegiate Director position, the Tigers remained strong. Student coached the Tigers amazed many strong university teams throughout the south. A difficult Fall lead to a successful Spring semester in which the CURFC would again be in the national spotlight. After defeating every southern team they faced, the Tigers boarded a plane for Houston, Texas and the Sweet Sixteen. There the Tigers gained the respect of many nationally ranked teams and coaches for pulling together and showing the determination to even make the trip.
Clemson Rugby has grown off the field as well. The Tigers have made several large strides in improving Clemson Rugby's organization. The team has set up an alumni fund to allow graduates to give back to the club. The annual alumni gathering at homecoming has become a highly anticipated event where former players and supporters are hosted at several events including a dinner, inter-collegiate rugby match, pre-football game tailgate, an alumni match against the college team, and a post match cookout which allows the past players to socialize with the present players and of course tell old war stories. There is a website setup for the Clemson Rugby Foundation in order to help increase the support of the Clemson University Rugby teams. The Clemson Rugby Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and was founded during the CURFC's 40th year. It has allowed the alumni and supporters a more organized way of supporting rugby at Clemson including the creation of several scholarships, coaching stipends and other grants.
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