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Club History

Oregon Sports Union (ORSU) Rugby

The Oregon Sports Union ( ORSU ) is a Portland, Oregon area senior rugby club. The Jesters Rugby Club was founded in 1974 and incorporated into ORSU in August 1989. The ORSU women's rugby team debuted in 1994, and remains the only Division 1 women's rugby club in Oregon. ORSU is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.  

In 1989, the club founders located 6 acres of property twenty minutes south of downtown Portland in suburban West Linn, which was purchased as a future base.  Nicknamed Fuller's Farm or "The Farm," the property has been developed through volunteer labor and ambitious fundraising into a full size rugby field with a clubhouse and parking lot. This is the only facility of its type in our region and is a source of pride for all who have contributed to its development. 

ORSU is a member of USA Rugby (USARFU), and competes in the Pacific Northwest Rugby Union (PNRFU) league of the Pacific Coast Rugby Football Union (PCRFU) territory. We field two senior men's sides, two women's sides and an Old Boys squad. ORSU draws its players from the entire Portland metropolitan area, and has a  current club roster of over 100 members. We also actively support the Oregon Youth Rugby program to encourage the development of rugby's next generation. 

The Pacific Northwest men's league season runs from August through November, restarts in February, and finishes in May with playoffs. The women's league schedule is in the fall, with playoffs in October, while the spring season focuses on developmental play. The women's team were the 2006, 2007, and 2008 PNRFU D1 champions, and in 2009 moved into the USA Rugby Women's Premier League (WPL) which is a national competition comprised of the top eight teams in the US. In Spring 2011, the ORSU Women chose to move back to Division 1 after two years in the WPL. This decision allows for rebuilding of team resources while still facing excellent opponents along the Pacific Coast.

ORSU players continue to represent in local-area, territorial, and national select sides. We are committed to advancing our program through travel to top level competition, achievement at post-season playoffs, and attracting foreign competition, such as past tours by teams from Auckland, New Zealand and the University of Western Australia in Perth. We welcome international players and can assist with accommodations and employment.

Players of any level of experience and fans, knowledgeable and novice alike, are welcome to join us in enjoying the greatest game on Earth.




Jesters Founders List - Lifetime Members

Bruce Altizer Dan Fullerton Omar Jaff Russ McGillivray Web Ruble Brian Taylor
Jeff Arker Kelly Gilligan Byron Kelly Alan McNew Richard Scrafford Ray Telgarsky
Steve Blesio Jon Greenlee Skip King Andy McWilliams Mike Seros Erik Ulbricht
Dave Carter Scott Griswold Roy Lucas Tony Nardone Ross Shepard Jud Walker
Peter Fowler John Hamilton Bruce MacDowell Keith Nichols Bill Stewart Pat Welch
Stephen Fuller Roger Hokanson The Troll Howie Robertson Mike Still


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