The Monmouth RFC was founded as the Brookdale College Rugby Football Club in the fall of 1973 by Doug Coil and Steve Barberio who were teachers at the college.  Brookdale suffered as all young clubs do through several undistinguished seasons, even changing it’s colors several times as not to be recognized the next season.  As the years passed the clubs players and leadership developed and the club eventually found itself playing in the Metropolitan Division I in the late 1970’s.

 

The early 1980’s saw some strong play by Monmouth with some close losses to Old Blue (9-5 in 1980 and 18-9 in 1981).  In 1984, the team moved back to Division II and experienced some tough years.  The early 90’s brought the winning tradition back to Monmouth with a Jersey Cup Championship and return to Division I rugby.  After some tough injuries and a few early retirements, the club suffered a couple of rough years.  Since 1994, the club has shown it’s resilience by winning three of the last four B – Side Jersey Cup Championships and has appeared in three straight National Championship Series, twice in Chicago and once in New Haven, CT. The club has made the quarterfinals on the National Championships two of the three years, both years suffered tough losses to Snake River, Idaho. 

 

Monmouth has increased its participation in sevens tournaments and continues to develop it’s sevens teams for the summer and late fall tournaments.  Monmouth continues to develop the strong local talent as well as recruiting new players, with the strength of our young talent, the leadership of our veterans and the unity of our young boys and old boys team, we hope to continue the tradition which has brought us so far!