The Early Years(1979-1990)  

 Jean Iriart(1st on the left front row) and Fred Borns(5th from the left back row) started playing for the Phoenix Rugby Club in 1975. They both learned the game from folks like Bob Blakey, Davy Richardson, Jack McCall, Ted Noyes, Tom Taylor, Mike Beale, Gordon Elley, Bob Shutts, etc. 

After 3 years with Phoenix they were faced with the fact that the club was getting too big for just one side. Rather than have a second side that might or might not have opponents on any given weekend they made he hard decision to try to spawn a new club. They told Phoenix that was the plan and that they would avoid trying asking any Phoenix players to follow. It was a brotherly separation.

In the Fall of 1979 Jean and Fred started recruiting players for our new club. They started our practices in north Phoenix near 12th Street and Indian School . Ronnie Hernandez was one of the first guys to join us as a Hooker from the Tempe "Old Devils". Between Ronnie, Jean and Fred they pretty much decided on the name "Camelback Rugby" Club. Jean had quite a few young guys from his high school football coaching associations and it was through this group of youngsters that a nucleus was formed. Soon they were getting some ASU and UofA grads (like John Snow, Kevin Daniels, etc) that had played at the University and wanted to keep playing. They had (barely) a full side when they started playing preseason games. Sometimes they had to rely on help from the Phoenix club to fill our positions, but not on a permanent basis.

Our record that first season (1979-1980) wasn't all that good but they did attend the Tucson Rugby Classic in December, the San Diego (OMBAC) tournament in January '80, and the Santa Barbara Tournament in April '80. 5. Our second season things really picked up. They got some Brits on the team that were working for Honeywell (then Garrett). They had a solid schedule. They hosted a traveling team from the Australian Navy (HMS Perth) and had a two-day party starting Friday night at the old A-1 Brewery on 12th street and Washington and winding up at the Doubletree Inn in Scottsdale sometime early Sunday morning. They even played a couple of games in the intervening Saturday.

During 1981-1983, Ron Hernandez, Dave Lederman and Jon Mikel were selected for the Arizona Select Side.

Jon went on to play for the US Eagles.

1982-1983 Season Camelback played Tempe for the Arizona championship and fell short.

1982 found Phoenix Rugby club, joining Camelback and 1983 Bo Swartz first picked up the reins as coach of Camelback.

The team had some breakeven records until 1985-86 when Camelback won the first of many Arizona Second Division Championships. The next few years following the 1986 season began the rebuilding of the club, Bo stepped away as coach and the club was held together by Mike Clough, Pat Regalia, and Jim Hammond.

In 1988, Bo was able to return as coach and focus on what they needed to do to win again. Camelback won the Second Division Championship for 1988-89. This year marked the Ten year Anniversary of the club and Ron Hernandez hosted a very fine evening at his home. The Camelback Annual Golf Tournament was born, thanks to Bo Swartz, Jim Hammond, Frank Boyce and Cliff Harrington.

1989-1990 seasons found Rod Spaulding as coach, with only 10 full time players returning, recruiting began in earnest, after a tough fall season Camelback regrouped to win the Second Division Championship. During this time Camelback found a new home at Ceilito Park and would play in Ceilito until 2002.

1990 found Camelback co hosting the first Second Division Rugby Tournament with Embry Riddle in Prescott . The finals found the two hosts fighting for the Cup, with Camelback beating Embry Riddle. The following years found the tournament being relocated to Phoenix and run by Camelback. 

The club had built a foundation to dominate Arizona Division I rugby in the 90's.....

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