History

 
   The Cape Fear Rugby Football Club, came into being with a September 1974 newspaper announcement in the Wilmington Star News. Calvin McGowan, who had just moved to the coast from the Charlotte RFC, wanted to continue his Rugby career in Wilmington. After finding no local club, he placed the announcement and waited on a local field for any other ruggers to show up. Two others did – Ray Funderburk and Anson Barnes. This core of three players grew slowly as Monty Steed, Dickie Harmon, Marcus Rich and Mike Goins joined the group. While the club played no games that first fall season, they spent many Tuesday and Thursday nights practicing, passing, scrimmaging and drinking beer together. 1975 brought the club more members and its first Cape Fear Sevens tournament. That summer, the club selected our present colors— blue and gold quarters reversed— and geared up for the fall season.
That was 25 years ago. Since then, Cape Fear has hosted numerous English, Welsh, Irish, and Canadian touring sides including Bristol University, High Wycombe RFC, the Canadian Atlantic Provinces Timber Wolves, and various British ships, most notably the HMS Bristol.

Since 1991 the club has achieved consistently on the playing fields.

In the spring of 1991 Cape Fear accomplished a club goal by winning the Plate -Third place in the NCRU state tournament.

In the 1992 state tourney Fear roared into the finals against perennial favorite Charlotte. The heroic effort fell short as Charlotte ran in three unanswered tries for a 30–12 result.

In 1993, Fear repeated as NCRU Division II Champs, but lost to Augusta in the East Group 3 championship.

The 1994 season saw Cape Fear win the NC Division II State Championship and a berth to the ERU Group III Championships.

After a quiet 1995 season marked by the purchase and development of the FlyTrap Downs Pitch,

Cape Fear’s 1996 season reeled off six straight victories by a combined score of 218–17 and went on to the Rugby South Championships. After defeating Mobile, AL's Battleship, Cape Fear placed second in the south, losing to a powerful side from Jacksonville, FL. Second place meant that Fear had to travel to Hartford, CT for a birth in the National Division II "Sweet Sixteen". Cape Fear had earned the recognition of becoming one of the top 16 Division II clubs in the US. Perennial New England Champion Burlington, VT, playing in it's backyard of Hartford, CT sent the Southerners packing.

In 1997, Cape Fear was proud to host the Wales–USA East Coast Test Match, in conjunction with the Cape Fear 7s Tournament. Wales played the Eagles at the UNC-W Tournament Grounds on Saturday evening. The Welsh Dragons prevailed: 30-20. Cape Fear worked for months to cover all aspects of the game. The storms held off, and over 4000 spectators enjoyed 80 minutes of international Rugby competition, in Wilmington, North Carolina. In both 1998 and 1999 Cape Fear fought it's way into the South Championship match only to come in 2nd.

The road to the 1998 South Final was paved with wins over Columbia, SC-73-3; Atlanta, GA Old White-30-18, and Orlando, FL Iron Horse-15-8. Greenville, SC won the South Championship 29-23.

In 1999 Atlanta, GA Old White defeated Fear 23-15 for the South Championship. Cape Fear defeated Birmingham, AL-25-7, Hilton Head, SC-13-3. In the South Semi Final, Cape Fear came back to defeat Mobile, AL, on a last minute try and corner conversion-33-31.

Fear Rugby is proud of the fact that we run a world famous tournament, that we’ve become a regular contender for the division 2 championship and we’ve purchased and developed our own pitch. We’re proud to say we’re successful on and off the pitch.