A different kind of futbol

If you happen to pass by Fulton Middle School in Fountain Valley on, say, any given Saturday afternoon, you can’t help but take notice of what, from afar, appears to be a massive “group hug” on the school’s football field.

Upon closer inspection, it’s more like a massive “group mugging.”

Actually, it’s called a “scrummage,” or, simply, a “scrum.” It’s a tight formation between two opposing teams in readiness for the ball to be put in the tunnel between the two front rows and brought out into play. And it’s a key component to the sport of rugby.

The field at Fulton Middle School has been home the past 12 years to the Huntington Beach Unicorn Rugby Futbol Club.

Other than those associated with the club, from its administrative officers to its players, the local rugby club continues on without much notice or fanfare. In reality, it has a rich tradition and has been in existence since 1970.

“There’s a long history to this club and some very dedicated people have helped make it a quite a success through the years,” said Ray Viers, a Huntington Beach resident who is the technical director and team manager for the club.

Viers, himself a former rugby player, has coached, managed and refereed the sport through the years.

Formed in 1970, it is the first rugby club in Orange County and has competed every year since its formation in the Southern California Rugby Football Union. The club fields two competition teams and has an “Old Boys” squad that plays in tournaments and one-off matches. The Club hosts the Annual Unicorns’ Veterans Day Rugby Tournament in November, which is the “unofficial” start to the playing season in Southern California.

An early highlight for the club came in 1972 when it played the Los Angeles Rugby Futbol Club in an exhibition game at halftime of the San Diego Chargers-Los Angeles Rams football game before more than 68,000 at the Coliseum.

The club has a long-standing history of hosting teams from overseas and of undertaking tours around the world, although travel time has been limited today because of the cost of travel, work schedules and games against domestic competition.

The Unicorns played home games at Mile Square Park until renovation at the park’s fields took place in the late-1990s. The club then struck up a relationship with Fulton Middle School and now plays home games at the school.

“We were very fortunate to find Fulton,” Viers said. “They’ve really been wonderful and supportive. We have a great rapport with the school’s administration.”

This year’s Unicorn squad, sponsored by Baja Sharkeez Sports Grill on Main Street, has a roster whose players range in age from their early-20s to Keith Gann, a tight head prop player from Costa Mesa who in January turned 52. Several players reside in both Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley. Players run the professional gambit of business owners to a doctor and public defender.

All are brought together by their love of the game.

“I play it for several reasons but for me, it provides a great, physical challenge that helps me keep my body in shape,” said Jeff Brannon of Tustin.

The 45-year old is in his 22nd-year with the club. He plays “hooker,” which is one of the most significant skilled positions on the field.

“The camaraderie in the sport also is incredible,” said the computer programmer. “It’s a tight-knit group. I have watched rugby matches all over the world and have met people from all over who have played the game. It’s not uncommon when you watch rugby in another country to have someone on that team put you up to stay at their house.”

Viers said that camaraderie is a key component to the tradition of the sport.

“We try to create an atmosphere where family can come down and enjoy what we’re doing,” he said. “As for the game itself, you play hard, you play physical and enjoy the battle, but when it’s over, you shake hands. As host of a game, you then take the opposing team out for food and drink. There really is a great bond between players. Camaraderie in the sport is very important and it’s a tradition that’s upheld around the world.”

Last Saturday, the Unicorn Rugby Club lost on the final play to Santa Barbara. The team is on the road this weekend and won’t play at home again until later this month. The Unicorns play local competition against futbol club teams from Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and the Old Mission Bay Athletic Club of San Diego.

“We’re always looking to increase our player participation numbers,” Viers said. “We play at the highest grass-roots level of rugby in the U.S.”

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MIKE SCIACCA covers sports. He can be reached at (714) 966-4611 or by e-mail at [email protected].