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Detroit Tradesmen RFC

The Detroit Tradesmen Rugby Football Club is the only men's Division I rugby team in the Michigan. The team was established in 1978 when several Detroit Rugby Football Club players broke off to form a new club focused on playing a different style of rugby. Founded by Jim Dunn and led by his brothers Joe and Tom, along with Mike Douglas, Bob Davis and Jim Kennedy, the team took its name from its roster, which primarily consisted of carpenters, pipe fitters, electricians and building tradesmen.

The Detroit Tradesmen played its inaugural match the fall of 1978 against a well-established Sarnia, Ontario club. Although the team was only able to field 11 players out of a possible 15, the Tradesmen lost by only four points. The following spring, the club placed fourth in a 50-team Mardi Gras tournament in New Orleans, kicking off a tradition of more than 20 years of excellence.

Today, the active Detroit Tradesmen roster contains more than fifty players. In addition to the skilled trades, the club now includes students, engineers, salesmen, teachers, lawyers, auto workers, computer technicians, bankers, brokers and members of the law enforcement and medical communities. Yet, regardless of the occupation, background and beliefs, the Detroit Tradesmen remain a rugby club committed to offering Southeastern Michigan exciting and competitive rugby football.

For the past 14 years the Tradesmen have qualified for the national playoffs, few teams in the nation claim this consistency.