1980 Team

The 1980 team continued, with emphasis, Navy Rugby as a perennial collegiate powerhouse. The 1980 team won the first ever Eastern Collegiate Championships over Army. They played in the first USA Rugby National Collegiate Men’s Championship Final Four tournament and set the foundation for Navy’s dominant run in the early 80s. Many players from the 1980 team continued their playing career for various base and ship teams as well being active supporters of the current Navy Rugby program and the Navy Rugby Alumni Association.

Coach: Dewey Meteer; Players: Matthew Aylward ‘82, Keith Shultis ‘80, Bradley Smith ‘80, John Theiss ‘81, Kent Mills ‘81, Herbert McMillan ‘80, James Hickey ‘80, Rick Keller ‘81, Charles French ‘81, James Merril ‘80, Jeff Freeman ‘81, Daryl Chen ‘80, Dennis Murphy ‘81, Robert Matheny ‘81, Tom Brodmerkel ‘80, Michael Mahre ‘81, Dan Dewispelaere ‘81, Jerry Chandler ‘80, Steve Laukitis ‘80