About New York-Manhattan rugby 

New York-Manhattan (NYM) is the mens team of the New York Rugby Club. We compete in the Metropolitan New York Rugby Football Union Division 1 against teams from New York City, Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut. In 2001, the NYRC Men's Team was undefeated and named the 2001 Northeast Men's Division I Club Champion. We also competed in USA Rugby National Club Championship Sweet 16 in 1996, 2001 and 2002. NYM thrives on a competitive playing environment within a strong social Team and aspire to both those traditions of rugby. We place great importance on the development of local American talent, alongside experienced ex-patriate players from all over the world, and welcome college players who wish to attend practices.
 

The merger of the New York and Manhattan Men's Rugby Clubs in 2004 brought together two old enemies. The club started in 1929 as the New York Nomads and this year we have celebrated the 75th anniversary of the club. In 1957 we became the New York Rugby Football Club Inc, while a further change of status led to another change of name in 2002. Since then, together with New York Women's rugby, we have been New York Rugby Club Inc. It is under this umbrella that New York-Manhattan Men's Rugby Club plays. A full history of the New York Rugby Club can be found here.

Manhattan Rugby Club 

In 1960 some members of NYRFC split off and formed Manhattan Rugby Club, starting a fierce cross-town rivalry that rivalled the mob wars. The following has been adapted from the old Manhattan RC website.

MRC was founded in McCrorkin's Bar, at 45th and 8th, on an otherwise quiet night, late in 1960. It was founded to play Rugby Football, keep fifteen hot-blooded blades off the streets, and foster the appreciation of Schaefer, Piels, Rheingold, Schlitz, Pabst, Budweiser and any other descendants of the Pilgrim Fathers. The Club colors were green, white and blue, which blended nicely with the city parks where many of the games are played.

MRC was a member of the New York City Metropolitan-Union from its inception, and won the league championship in 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1980 and 1981. MRC was also one of the founding members of the Premier Division. MRC participated in the annual New York Thanksgiving 7-a-side tournament in November of each year, which features international competition. They won it more than any other club, winning in 1988, 1990, 1991 and 1995, and in 1997 finished second, losing out to a Northeast All-Star squad. In 1998 MRC won the NY Sevens plate division. In spring 2000, MRC captured the Hampton Sevens Open Bracket Championship.

In 2004, the merger brought us back together as New York-Manhattan and we look to revive the glory days of these two venerated clubs. We strive not just to be a great team on the field but also a great club off it. We hope to become one of the premier men's teams in the country and elevate New York Rugby to even higher standards.