About Us

The Chattanooga Rugby Football Club, established in 1978 by rugby enthusiasts, aimed to promote the sport locally. Initially named the Miller Lite Rugby Club after their main sponsor, they soon adopted the Chattanooga Rugby Football Club moniker. Over the 1980s and 1990s, they laid a solid foundation, adhering to USA Rugby's registration and safety guidelines and joining the True South Union. The club fielded Division 2 and Division 3 teams, represented by a Lion logo, and later became known as the Nooga Red and Nooga Black sides. In 2011, under Jack Head's leadership, the club achieved 501(c)3 status as an Amateur Athletic Association.

 

In 2012, Steve Lofty partnered with the City of Chattanooga Parks & Recreation to transform an unused park on 23rd Street into Montague Park's rugby pitch. Since then, Montague Park has served as CRFC's home, where the men's team has won the True South Conference title seven times and was a top 10 finalist.

 

The Queens women's team was founded in 2018 by ex-UTC Rugby player Harmony Paulus. It united players from Sewanee, UTC, Lee College, and the local community, welcoming all ages, abilities, and experience levels. Their mission: to empower women through sport in a supportive, inclusive environment. Following the USA Women's Olympic victory, a surge of new players led to the formation of a Division 3 side for the Queens. In the 2023-24 season, three Queens players and the Nooga Black's coach were selected for the USA Rugby team at the Rugby Americas North (RAN) Women's XV Tournament in Kingston, Jamaica, and Mexico. RAN, an international competition, features 11 teams from seven countries.

 

In 2023, the Nooga Rugby Boosters, led by CRFC enthusiast Phyllis Benson, was created to foster alumni engagement and fundraising efforts.  Donorships and an annual fundraiser were created to increase visibility and community engagement while providing resources to support future planning and growth.

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Fall 2024, Chattanooga Youth Rugby was founded by Coach's Derek Hilley and Kyle Hudson.  Students, ages 14-18, kicked off the inaugural play by competing in 7's Tournaments in Tennessee.  Youth Rugby follows strict safety guidelines established by USA Rugby Union.