The Rockford Ravens Rugby Football Club was established in 1976 and has a fine tradition of excellence on the field and fraternity off the field. Rockford plays in the Midwest union and the Chicago Area Rugby Football Union (CARFU) sub union. The men's first side plays at the division III level. Rockford fields an old boy's side, The Old Kishwaukeeans, that plays approximately 2-3 games per year and recruits players from a number of area teams. For players 35 and over looking to continue their playing careers on a more casual but still competitive (and winning) level, old boy's with Rockford may be the answer. Rockford's greatest strength is the camaraderie that develops from our close knit and very social club. Picnics, parties, banquets, breakfasts, and support of local charitable activities, brings everybody into the social circle. Our club has a rich history and does not lose its people the day they hang up their boots. Much like teams in the UK, our club officers are by and large not active players. This allows the younger active players to concentrate on winning and the more mature officers to direct the club. Social and old boy members are not only encouraged to help, but are needed. This keeps older members active and gives everyone a feeling of importance - whether it's scoring a try or hanging a poster in the bar. Another strength of our club are the pitches on which we play and our facilities. All of our fields offers excellent grass and facilities. VASA Field has 1 field and facilities that include: an inside and outside bar, kitchen, bathrooms, and camping on site. ISC Field has over 20 regulation fields, has hosted Superleague, Division 1, 2, and 3 USARFU national championships, and also has inside bar, bathrooms, and stadium facilities. BLACKHAWK Field has 1 field and offers facilities that include: inside bar (the PFC), changing rooms w/showers, bathrooms, kitchen, and party hall. Each location has an importance to our team. Our main field is at Blackhawk Park. Back to rugby, our club is far less "political" than many clubs, so players are free to play the game at a level they choose. Club bylaws ensure those that practice will play. Those that do not practice are encouraged to show up on game day and every effort is made to get them a few minutes on the field. As with all rugby clubs, new and experienced players are always welcome. If you live within an hours drive of Rockford, consider adopting us as your club. We offer immediate acceptance into one of the best clubs around.
