Belmont Shore RFC

Belmont Shore Rugby Football Club began in 1964 under the name of Long Beach RFC, as a group of former Long Beach State football players bonded together, to create a rugby team, to keep them active post graduation. The best player on those early teams was Don Montgomery. The coach at the time, and an integral force behind the club’s success, was Steve Woolridge. Steve also played number eight and led the club to its first-ever state championship--over Piedmont Gap RFC--in 1965. Over the next 10 years, the Long Beach Rugby club evolved like any organization. There were ups and downs, but overall success. Some notable players of the era include Brad Woolridge, Harry Schmidt, Shawn McKinney, Joe Bochenck and Steve Bowling. In the early ‘70s, Dr. Dale Toohey arrived from Australia and recruited away many of the Long Beach Rugby Club’s stars to play for his Cal State Long Beach university side. Dissension followed within the Long Beach RFC and in 1974, the Belmont Shore Rugby Club was formed.

The exodus to lead by Steve Woolridge. Three particularly important Long Beach members--both on the field and off--went with Steve. They were John Morris, Stu Ledsam and Gary Montgomery, both members of UCLA’s National Championship teams in 1971 and 1972. The new Belmont team was just above average in its early years. Other standout players of this era were backs Rich Spindler and Gary Bernstein, and forwards Jim Sterbentz and Jack "Sasquatch" Rutherford. In 1978, BSRFC won the second division title with hard play from flyhalf Dick Johnson (also the coach), hooker Red Phillips, back Red Smith and forward Bob Aydelot.

The early 1980s were a time when Belmont struggled to find an identity. While several outstanding players joined the club - notably Joe Wilmoth, Eli Braithwaite, John Russi, Mike Gooing and Brian Parkhouse in the scrum, along with Mike Schaub, Nick Bozzo and Joe Collinsworth in the backline - the club lingered in the second division. The club expected to improve further with the addition of ex-Long Beach State members George Scott and Louis Ortiz, rookies Art Coffee and Ken Beckman and Stanford’s George Kerekas.

In 1981, Belmont laid the groundwork for a very strong team with the addition of Welshman Roger Rees, hooker Bruce Winter and ex-Seattle Seahawk Charlie McShane. The club finished second in league at 5-2 and yearned to break into the first division. Its prospects brightened with the addition of five new starters in 1982. Winger Marty Popelka, hooker Pat McNally, center Jerry Denham, eight man Larry Castagnola and super-prop Randy Morris all joined the club. The 1982 squad allowed only one try against them in easily winning the second division crown.

The 1983 season was time for Belmont Shore to take its place among Southern California’s elite. The "big four" at the time were Santa Monica, Newport Beach, OMBAC and Los Angeles. Belmont looked to compete with the addition of Phil Drum, England’s Steve Gates, Jeff Lyle, Ray LaBau, Dave Zuck, Russ Houck, Scott Smith, Randy Del Prado and Paul Gray. After an opening victory over Santa Monica, Belmont dropped the next three but still finished a respectable third in the division.

The seasoned 1984 team was the most successful to date posting a 19-4-1 record en route to second place in the first division. They advanced to the Pacific Coast Territorial Championships where they finished second after convincingly defeating perennial powerhouse Old Blues along the way. The 1984 club also won the Santa Barbara Tournament. In 1985, Belmont Shore was 70 players strong and fielded a tough old boys team. From 1985-89, Belmont finished first or second in the first division four times. In that span, it also won championships in the Cypress, Las Vegas, Santa Barbara and OMBAC tournaments.

The late ‘80s witnessed the coming of coaches Bob Wilson of Australia and Denis Berg of New Zealand, along with strong administrative leadership from Mike Tracy.

Belmont Shore returned to power in 2007 with an undefeated season, and a Super League championship.