American Cougars

The American Cougars (also known as the USA Cougars or United States Cougars) is the only rugby union team from the United States ever to beat a reigning Currie Cup championship team in South Africa. A combined and invitational side from the United States, the Cougars toured South Africa and Zimbabwe in 1978. The team was coached by Ray Cornbill, coach of the Eagles during the 1970s and 1980s.[1] The squad comprised 25 players from 20 clubs, including 3 from Santa Monica Rugby Football Club, 2 each from Chicago Lions RFC, Washington DC RFC, and UCLA RFC.[2]

Matches

The Cougars played six games in South Africa: against Natal, Combined Universities, Griquas, Northern Transvaal, South African Gazelles and Rhodesia, and won once.

On 12 August 1978 they lost 12-44 to a racially mixed South African Country Districts XV side at East London. Some 5,500 spectators watched as future Springbok Errol Tobias contributed two tries to the Districts' total and aided in the scoring of two others. By half-time the Districts were ahead 24-3. Cougars' wing Tommy Smith, usually a fly-half, "registered a spectacular score" that was converted by fullback Dennis Jablonski. Jablonski added two penalty kicks to complete the visitors' score.[3][4]

Four days later the Cougars faced a combined Universities of Stellenbosch and Cape Town side on 16 August 1978 at Cape Town.[5]

The highlight of the tour was the Cougars' 18-15 win on 19 August 1978 over Northern Transvaal, who had won the Currie Cup in 1977 and went on to retain their title in 1978.[6][7]

The tour closed with an international match on 28 August 1978, a 32-15 loss to a Rhodesia side that featured Ray Mordt.[2][8]

1978 touring squad to southern Africa

Colours: Red, White & Blue Hoops

Coach: Ray Cornbill

Manager: Keith Seaber

PlayerPositionClub
Joe SheitlinFullbackMinneapolis RFC
Dennis JablonskiFullbackSanta Monica RFC
Mike HodginsWingAtlanta Renegades RFC
Vic ClarkWingKansas City Blues RFC
Tommy SmithWingWashington D.C. RFC
Dan WackCentreWashington D.C. RFC
Boyd MorrisonCentreLouisiana State Univ RFC
Mike FanucchiCentreOld Gaels RFC - California
Ian GunnFly-halfOld Puget Sound Beach RFC
Steve GrayFly-halfUCLA RFC
Dick CookeScrum-halfUniversity of Iowa RFC
Kirk AndrusScrum-halfSanta Rosa RFC
Gary WilsonPropChicago Lions RFC
Mickey OrdingPropOlympic Club Rugby, San Francisco
Mike LancasterPropNorthern Virginia RFC
Bruce HendersonPropWichita RFC
Jessie LopezHookerFort Wayne RFC
Jeff HollingsHookerOld Blues RFC
Jerry KelleherLockSanta Monica RFC
John Fowler]]LockUCLA RFC
Nick FedorenkoLockChicago Lions RFC
Jeff LombardFlankerChuckanut Bay RFC
Clarence Culpepper (capt.)FlankerRoanoke RC
Tom Selfridge8th ManSchenectady Reds RFC
Brad Andrews8th ManSanta Monica RFC

References
  1. "Cornbill named USA assistant coach". ESPN Scrum. 2000-04-05. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  2. "Rhodesia vs the United States of America". Our Rhodesian Heritage. 1978. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  3. "South Africans Down Americans". The News and Courier. Associated Press. 1978-08-12. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  4. "Sports Shorts". The Robesonian. Associated Press. 1978-08-11. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  5. "Sports Catalogue May 2010". Select Books. 2010. Archived from the original (.DOC file) on 2012-02-09. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  6. "Dan Wack - Trustee". US Rugby Foundation. Archived from the original on 2012-04-24. Retrieved 2011-12-23.
  7. "US Team Scores Upset". The Prescott Courier. 1978-08-18. pp. 15-A. Retrieved 2011-12-23.
  8. "U.S rugby team bows to Rhodesians, 32-15". The Baltimore Sun. 1978-08-29. pp. C6. Retrieved 2011-12-23.
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