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The Story of the Mystics The Mystic River Rugby Club was founded in 1974 by 32 members of the Boston Rugby Club, who in true revolutionary spirit, took a great step forward in exercising their independence. These men had long since functioned as a 'club within a club' and had developed a distinct style of play both on and off the field. These members were experienced rugby players and immediately the Mystics established a schedule within the first division of New England. They soon became a sought after fixture by teams from all over based on a reputation for hard, fast rugby and an aggressive 'joie de vie'. In those days the social aspects of rugby were of almost equal importance to competition!
Coaches from overseas were now recruited. With several of the clubs players regularly representing New England and the East Coast in representative side play, the Mystics were committed to championship level rugby. Foreign touring sides from England, Ireland, Wales and other countries also helped "educate" the boys. After tours of their own to France, Argentina and Australia the club won in 1989 the first of seven straight New England championships and in the process removed the original parent club, Boston, from its perch atop New England rugby. The Mystics were now a force within the national rugby community. In 1992 the Mystic finished second in the US, losing to the Old Blues from California in the National Club Finals. Over the years, the club has not lost its original style and flare, and now the Mystics enjoy a distinct reputation at the highest level of competitive rugby in the US. The Mystics Today Over the years, the club has not lost its original style and flair, and now the Mystics enjoy a distinct reputation at the highest level of competitive rugby in the United States. This reputation for success has drawn both new and veteran players from all over the world to join the Mystic Community, as well as local and corporate sponsorships. The 2007 Season saw the Mystics win their first New England title after twelve years, moving on to take the Northeast Championship in 2008 and a spot in the National Division 1 Sweet 16 Tournament. |
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| Mystic First XV 1974 | Mystic Second XV 1974 |
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| Club Championships | |
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| Mystic Eagles (USA National Side) | |
| Alec Montgomery: (Fullback, 6 Caps) | |
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A Harvard graduate, Montgomery represented the United States between 1986 and 1992, including the 1987 and 1991 Rugby World Cups. |
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| Richard Tardits: (Flanker, 24 Caps) | |
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His Eagle debut was in 1993 against Australia. He also represented France in U-21 play. |
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| International Notables | |
| Declan Brady - Ireland Rugby League (4 Caps) | |
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He now works in law enforcement in Ireland and plays for the Garda Rugby Club. |
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| Steve Brain - England (Hooker, 13 Caps) | |
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He played with the Mystics during the 1985 season and also played hooker for Coventry Rugby Football Club (UK). |
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| Molibi Maphanyane - Botswana (8 Caps, 2 Tries) | |
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| Herman Mostert - South Africa | |
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Mostert played for Western Province (ZA) and represented his nation in sevens play in the IRB World Sevens Series in Durban, Dubai and Tokyo, helping South Africa to qualify for the 2001 Rugby World Cup Sevens held in Mar del Plata, Argentina. |
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| Edwin Shimenga - Kenya (Backrow) | |
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Shimenga played with Mystic River during their 2002 season, played for the Nakuru Rugby Club in his native Kenya and now plays top level rugby in Canada. |
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| Alfred Uluinayau - Fiji (Inside Center, 30 Caps, 6 Tries) | |
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He Also played for the Auckland Blues (New Zealand) and coached the Suntory RFC (Japan) to a national title. |
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| Tournament Championships | |
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The
Mystics evolved throughout the 70's with the influx of younger players and new
personalities. Tours to Wales and the former Soviet Union (the Mystics were
the first US team to play rugby in the USSR) highlighted these years. In the
early 80's the club saw a major turnover, a somewhat generational change,
when several new players were attracted from local colleges. As rugby
matured in New England so did the savvy of the younger players who had been
exposed to organized coaching. Old Boys rugby began to take shape and
several of the original Mystics now began playing a schedule of 'over 30's '
rugby. In 1986 the Mystics returned to Malden where they were originally
Incorporated in 1976.
A
native of France, Tardits played college football for the University of
Georgia where he held the record for most career sacks (29) until 2004. He
played in the 1999 Rugby World Cup for the United States after four seasons
in the NFL with the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals.
Hailing
from the North Side of Dublin, Ireland, Brady played for the Mystics in
2005. He played for Waterpark Rugby Football Club (IRL) while
attending the University of Waterford and later went on to play Rugby
League, representing Ireland in the Rugby League World Cup.
Making
his international debut against South Africa in 1984, Brain went on to
represent England as a hooker in over a dozen international matches
between 1984 and 1986, including three Five Nations, now the Six Nations
Championship.
Maphanyane
joined the Mystics after graduating from Amherst College in 2006. He
returned home to his native Botswana in 2007 where he represents his
homeland as a member of the Botswana National Sevens and Fifteens teams.
Beginning
his international career in 2000 at the U-21 level, he has represented
Kenya in both sevens and fifteens, most recently at the USA Sevens
Tournament in 2008, where the Kenyans lost to New Zealand in the Semi
Finals.
"Alfie"
Uluinayau made his international debut in 1996 against South Africa. He would
go on to represent Fiji in 39 matches between 1996 and 2003, scoring six
tries including a memorable try against France in the 1999 Rugby World
Cup.