Historical Overview
The Minnesota Amateur Rugby Foundation
The Foundation was formed in 1984 as a 501 (c) 3 corporation, by Steven C. Schroer, a member of the Minneapolis Rugby Club, and partner with the Minneapolis law firm of Faegre & Benson. Then known as the “Lake Agassiz Friends of Golden Oldies Rugby”, its initial purpose promoted participation in old boy rugby competition around the world. Several international tours were sponsored; including London, Auckland, NZ; and lastly Toronto in 1989. Many players from this era are now coaching high school age rugby today.
In 1986, the organization hosted the Minnesota Sport Spectacular, under the direction of Mr. Vic Hilarov, the first President of USA Rugby (1975). The event brought several National and International sports and entertainment personalities to Minnesota. A major emphasis was placed on fundraising events for the development of rugby in Minnesota. Among the noted activities, a series of three test matches with Japan were played at the National Sports Center in Blaine, in preparation for the 1991 World Cup, that featured the USA Men’s Rugby Team.
In anticipation of this event, a key meeting was held in the home of Dean Barkley, a former Minneapolis Rugby Club standout and organizer. Minneapolis Old Boy and Referee Bruce Koranski then of Colorado, and numerous local rugby enthusiasts, joined to attend in order to elevate the game to new prominence. The group unanimously decided to launch Boys and Girls high school age rugby teams and leagues in Minnesota. In 1992 Wayzata, Hopkins and Eliot Boys (an inner city, Minneapolis school) would be among the first school area clubs, to offer competitive rugby.
By 1992, the Foundation undertook charitable gambling to ensure funding the necessary expenses of operating youth rugby development and clinics for players, referees, and coaches. A Youth Rugby Director was retained to develop local play; creating opportunities for national and international rugby competition. The swell in popularity led to girls rugby in 1994 featuring a team representing the Southwest Minneapolis High School area.
Among the pioneers of youth rugby were luminaries Dean Barkley, Patrick Von Rooyen, and Ken Guenthner; under whose tenure came the 1994 organizational name change to the Minnesota Amateur Rugby Foundation (“MARF”). In 1995, MARF brought the USA National High School Boys Championship to the Fort Snelling Polo Grounds. Minnesota participation featured the East Metro Boys team of Woodbury as well as a Minnesota All Star Girls Exhibition match that drew enormous interest state-wide. The commitment of following Youth Directors such as Rob Wagner, Gary Kittelson, Craig Stewardson, and most recently Chris Babiash - has lifted our sport to new heights. The ongoing achievement propelled MARF to host the Boys Midwest Championships in 2002, and to help sponsor subsequent international Women’s competition between the U.S. and Canada at the National Sports Center in Blaine.
Today, MARF aims to expand the Youth Rugby Movement in Minnesota so as to build upon the national and international presence of Minnesota’s rugby athletes, and to properly develop the number of players for collegiate and senior clubs. Since its founding, MARF has provided over $550,000 toward the development of every aspect of rugby for players from inner city, suburbia and outstate Minnesota. It stands as the catalyst for nearly 50 high school age teams state-wide, and has been instrumental in helping more than 20 U-19 Minnesota players compete for Boys and Girls United Sates teams around the world.
MARF hosted and organized the first official Minnesota High School Rugby Tournament in 1999, and continues to do so. The State High School Scholarships and Honors Banquet, are hosted each year to showcase the sport and its premier players. This annual gala affair, includes the awarding of the MARF Trophy to the winners of the Division One Boys and Girls teams, $4,000 in academic/athletic College scholarships, the U.S. Marine Corps Leadership awards to Boy/Girl Players and Team, the Division Two Team Trophies, the U-16 Team Trophies, the Boys and Girls MVPs of the Year, the All State Rugby High school Teams, and the Coach and Referee of the Year Awards respectively. Recently MARF produced and aired an inaugural local television broadcast of the 2007 Boys and Girls, State High School Rugby Championships from the National Sports Center on June 10, 2007.
RUGBY! PLAY TO ACHIEVE.