The LSU Rugby team dates back to 1970,[2] founded by Rob Haswell, Jay McKenna and Hal Rose.[3] LSU won the 1976 college rugby unofficial national tournament.[4]
LSU Rugby became a member of the Texas Rugby Union in 1996. LSU Rugby competed at the 1998 Western Rugby Collegiate Championships, led by Head Coach Steve Triche.[5]
In 2005, Scott McLean was named head coach of the LSU Rugby team. In the 2008-09 season, the team won the SEC rugby title in the fall, and in the spring advanced to the quarterfinals of the Division I national rugby tournament.[2] During the 2009-2010 season, LSU went to its second consecutive Sweet 16 appearance,[6][1] but lost to Penn State 31–25. LSU players Adam Ducoing, Bobby Johns, and Cody Cadella were named to the Collegiate All-American teams at the conclusion of the 2009-10 season.[7]
LSU Rugby joined the College Premier Division (later named Division 1-A),[8] where they played in the Mid-South conference against teams such as Texas A&M and Oklahoma.
LSU competed at the 2011 Collegiate Rugby Championship, a tournament held at PPL Park in Philadelphia and broadcast on NBC.[9] LSU finished in ninth place, winning the consolation bracket with victories over Boston College, North Carolina, and Notre Dame.[10][11]
LSU Rugby joined the Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference in 2011. In 2012, Bob Causey was named head coach of the LSU Rugby team,[12] following the retirement of Scott McLean.[13]
In 2012, LSU were the SCRC West Division champions and advanced to the SCRC playoffs,[14] before losing to Florida in the SCRC semifinals.[15] LSU flyhalf Allen Alongi led the SCRC Conference in points scored during the 2012 season.[16]
In 2013, LSU won the West Division of the SCRC Conference, finishing with a 5–1 conference record, before losing to South Carolina in the SCRC playoffs.[17]
LSU had a successful 2014 season, going undefeated in conference play to become the SCRC West Division champions, before losing to South Carolina in the SCRC finals.[18] LSU secured a berth in the 2014 national D1-AA playoffs, where they faced Central Florida in the Round of 16.[19] LSU Rugby was suspended in November 2014 due to a violation of the school's alcohol policy,[20] but the team was reinstated in January 2015.[21]
Many current and former players have been selected to Regional and National Select Sides, and several LSU Tigers contributed to the victory of the Louisiana (LA) U-19 All-stars in national competition. In addition, former LSU players have been team members of the USA U-19 Eagles in international competitions and have participated in the Down Under Rugby training program in Australia.
Gary Giepert (1985 -1986) Flanker 1985 U S Junior Eagle tour of Europe compiled 5 - 1 record. 1986 Junior Eagle v. Japan (full international side) Dallas, Tx.