About

History of the Exiles

Founnded In 1975

USA RUGBY Div I-AA
A member of the Mid-American Conference
Men's Club sport at Central Michigan University

Michigan Cup Champions: Spring 1996, Fall 2011 (div II)

Midwest Playoff Qualifier (Sweet 16): 1993, 1995-2003, 2009, 2011

Midwest Quarterfinals (Elite 8): 2011

MAC championship Appearances: 1995-1998

The Original Central Michigan Rugby club was "founded" in early November, 1975 by Faamate "Maki" Sae and yours truly and officially chartered in December with 16 original members, thanks to aid from Pam Kruse andDon Stabenow at the CMU IM/Rec Department.

First "official" match occurred on April 12, 1976 vs our union sponsors, Flint Rogues, in Flint - an 11 to nil victory by CMU. The Exiles moniker was adopted in late April, 1976 after CMU banned us from campus for refusal to relinguish our financial support from Fabiano's Distribution / Stroh's Brewery, the Wayside, and Mr. KP Woods (though CM Life and other organizations enjoyed similar advertising revenues)

- Bob Witzerman (co-founder, 1975)

From 90's into 2000

- Described by Alumni: Jason Dodd (94-98), David Zemens (Mid-late 70's),

Prior to 1995, the only Midwest Playoff appearance for the club was in 1993. The Exiles fell to Notre Dame 7-5 that year in the first round. After a down season in 1994, the Exiles qualified for the Midwest Championships in 1995, losing to Penn State in the first round. It was PSU's closest match, until they were finally defeated by Cal in the National final. That year, the club began a streak which lasted from 1995-2003 of consecutive Midwest Playoff appearances.

In the fall of 1996, one of the Exiles Rivals now, Bowling Green, Joined the Michigan Rugby Union The Exile did defeat Bowling Green during the fall of 1996, in Mt. Pleasant (also the only match played in M.P between the two). It is the only defeat of BG for the Exiles. The Exiles lose 4 straight MAC Championships matches to BG from 95-98. The final one was an expired-time try by BG, which gave them the win 17-13 and we had led the entire match. The MAC tournament was in the Spring. Matches against them were always wars!

The Exiles and CMU also hosted the Michigan Cup Rugby Tournament in 2002 (April 5-7). This involved like ~30 teams in men's and collegiate divisions. The MI Cup had not happened in a few years so it was kind of a big deal that a few college kids could organize a big tournament like that to try and re-kindle the tradition of the MI Cup.

DIV II Playoffs and the MAC Conference/DIV 1AA

- Matt Dillon (2010-Present)

Since 2009, the Exiles made another apperance in the DIV II Midwest Rugby Playoff pperance in the sweet 16 but lost in the first round. After a rough Fall 2010 season where the exiles finished 3-2-1, with a tie at the end of the season to Grand Valley State Univiersity. Though it was a rough season the Exiles did recruit a lot of good prospects that came to Central the Fall of 2010. Recruits who played rugby in state at local highschools, as well as players new to rugby and some football walkon dropouts. From there, they were able to train and build a solid team for the next season.

The Exiles then went on to have their first successful season, winning their first Michigan Cup that year in DIV ll since spring 1996. They Made it into the Midwest playoffs that season ranked #1 out of Michigan with a record of 6-1. Going into the first round of the playoffs they would play the #2 ranked team from Ohio, Xavier University. The Exiles would defeat them 35-14 in the first round and move to the Elite 8 finals for the first time ever to face Northern Illinois, in which they would fall to them 15-50.

Moving into the Spring of 2012, Central Michigan Rugby would then join the newly formed Mid-American Conference in the Fall of 2012 under Coaches Greg Manley and Andrew Stead. The Confrence would include Western Mich, Ball State, Cincinnati, Bowling Green, Ohio, Miami Ohio, and Northern Illinois. In that first Seson, Central Mich. Would end the season at 4-4 with wins agains Ball State, Western, Cincinnati, and a first time ever win against Miami (OH) at Miami.

The Following Fall Season in 2013, Tres Yarmuth would take over as head coach in a brand new season after losing a good group of seniors and a start of the seniors who started onto the program in the fall of 2010 and played together for the last 4 years. This along with another large group of rookie players were ready to tackle the season. The Season was one of there roughest, ending a 2-6 with wins against Ball State and Saginaw Valley State in a non- conference game.

As of now, the team is still been in training since the end of the season training for the Michigan Spring Season in the Spring of 2014 and are looking to be ready for the MAC season in the Fall with a Strong group.