The following account contains a graphic depiction of the beginning of the Asheville Rugby Football Club with names not included to protect the innocent. The author makes no claim as to the validity of the account.

In the summer of 1983 a young man fresh from graduation at East Carolina University placed an add in the Asheville Citizen-Times newspaper looking for anyone interested in playing rugby. He left a time and date to meet at a local field. Upon arrival he found two other college graduates from N.C. State and Carolina waiting for him. These three mates became what were to be the founding members of the Asheville Rugby Football Club.

Each of these men had been introduced to the game of rugby at North Carolina universities and sought to continue their newfound passion for the sport that few in the mountains had ever heard of. The first year was spent calling friends and trying to get them to play, along with continual advertisements to reach former players relocating to Asheville.

The Asheville Rugby Football Club team colors were selected as maroon and white. Why? Because two of the guys had graduated from Asheville High School, so why not maroon? The club mascot is the Iguana. Why? Because one of our mates from UNC-A used to have a pet iguana and would bring it to the pitch (rugby term for field). At that time the club did not have an official mascot, so why not the iguana? It was, after all, slow and ugly like most of us on the team.

As the years passed the team began to grow and nurture younger players attending UNC-Asheville and Warren Wilson College. Along with a growing roster of players came victories against opponents such as Greenville, SC, Knoxville, TN, Johnson City, TN, and some close matches with the hated Charlotte Olde Originals.

Today the three founding members are now in their mid forties and still around town though too broken down to even think about taking a full-on tackle of a hard charging opponent. Cheers to them who paved the way for the Asheville Rugby Football Club to Celebrating 20 plus years!

Many players have worn the Asheville jersey at one time or another. Club members have always been an interesting and eclectic group of men ranging from Doctors to construction workers to business owners to bartenders. Everyone has and will always be welcome to come out and join us. The club has been fortunate to receive support from city of Asheville and it's citizens.

Steve Watkins - President Emeritus - Asheville Iguanas RFC