Delaware Rugby Foundation

Mailing address:
P.O. Box 654
Hockessin, DE  19707
  

The Delaware Rugby Foundation will promote the game to new audiences and provide seed money to fund development programs. The Foundation will also provide leadership and direction in establishing the right public image of rugby and in building the infrastructure required for the long-term successful growth of rugby in Delaware.

 

The Delaware Rugby Foundation is a non-profit organization 501(c)(3) dedicated to the promotion and growth of rugby in Delaware. Particular emphasis is given to educating new audiences, especially among Delaware youth, on the benefits of participating in a competitive, physically demanding, global sport which is widely recognized for its character and team building attributes. Rugby will be positioned as different from other sports in that, while highly competitive, it is played in a fun, friendly spirit that bonds participants together in a “global family” of friendships with teammates and opponents that often last a lifetime.
 

Board Members

Andy Newcombe - President

Andy Newcombe BSc. CChem, MRSC, was educated at Gowerton School, Wales and Brunel University,London England where he graduated with a degree in Medicinal, Environmental, and Agricultural Chemistry. Whilst at Gowerton School, Mr. Newcombe was captain of the senior rugby team and represented West Glamorgan U18, West Wales U18, and was also a member of the Wales U18 schools squad. Whilst attending Brunel University, Andy captained the university rugby team, and represented London and England Universities. After graduating Brunel University, Andy joined ICI Agrochemicals as an analytical chemist and worked for 5 years at the Jealott’s Hill International Research Station located in Berkshire, England. During this time, Andy also joined London Welsh RFC and was elected captain of the 1st team in 1994. Whilst playing for London Welsh RFC, Andy also represented Berkshire County, Crawshay’s, and the Voyagers and Magpies invitational 7’s teams. During his time at London Welsh RFC, Andy made 61 appearances for the 1st team, 30 times as captain.

In the summer of 1995, Andy relocated to the USA with Zeneca Inc. where he was employed for 5 years as a Senior Research Scientist. Currently, Mr. Newcombe is employed as a Principal Scientist with ARCADIS Inc. and has acquired more than 18 years of international experience in the field of agrochemical research. Whilst living in the USA, Andy has played for the Wilmington, Brandywine, and Philadelphia-Whitemarsh rugby clubs. He has also represented EPRU and MARFU select sides, captained the Atlantis 7’s team at the Benidorm International 7’s tournament, and has 9 caps for the US Classic Eagles.

 Mr. Newcombe joined the Delaware Rugby Foundation board in 2004 and has served as secretary to the board and also chair of the fundraising committee. Currently, Andy is serving as the president of the Foundation. Andy and his wife Lee live with their three children, Rhys, Graeme, and Gavin in Wilmington, Delaware.
Kevin McDermott - Vice President

Kevin J. McDermott, D.C., graduated from the University of Delaware in 1993 with a BA in Chemistry. He then attended Life Chiropractic University, receiving the degree of Doctor of Chiropractic in 1997. His involvement in rugby began in his sophomore year at Delaware, and continued in chiropractic school when he played for Life Rugby Club. After playing for Life for 3 years, he played for 1 year with Atlanta Old White Rugby Club. Upon returning to Delaware to enter practice, he began playing for the Wilmington Rugby club, where he played for 8 years.

Dr. McDermott has been a member of the Delaware Rugby Foundation Board of Directors since 2004, and is currently the vice-president of the foundation. He is also the head of the program committee. He is married with 3 children, is a practicing chiropractor in Bear, Delaware, and is the team chiropractor for the University of Delaware.

 

Phil Horsey - Treasurer

Phillip Horsey, P.E. graduated from the University of Delaware with degree in Civil Engineering and is a registered Professional Engineer in the States of Delaware and Maryland with 11 years experience in the design and design coordination of multiple highway and bridge projects. Philip is employed by Pennoni Associates Inc. as Transportation Division Manager for Pennoni’s Wilmington office managing a staff of 20 personnel including; Highway Engineers, Bridge Inspectors, Bridge Engineers, and Traffic Engineers. Philip is also the Transportation Discipline Instructor for the Engineering Senior Design Course at the University of Delaware.

Mr. Horsey's background includes working for the Delaware Department of Transportation for five years in the Road Design section, serving as project manager and project engineer. Philip also serves as a Board Member of ASHE - First State Section, and is currently the Scholarship Committee Chair and the Technical Committee Chair. Philip also serves as a Wilmington Board Member for the Boys and Girls Club of Delaware. Philip played rugby at the University of Delaware (1995 - 1997), Wilmington Rugby Club (1998 – 2009), Philadelphia Whitemarsh Rugby Club (2004 – 2006),and Mid Atlantic All Stars (MARFU) in 2003.

Philip joined the DRF board in 2008 and is currently serving as Treasurer and is the player recruitment chair for the annual DRF golf event. Phillip was honored as Delaware's Yong Engineer of the Year for 2009. Phil and his wife, Heather live in Wilmington.

   
  Joseph Giordano - Secretary 
   
 

Joe graduated from the University of Delaware in 1995 and Widener University School of Law in 2000. Joe is a licensed attorney for the State of Delaware. While in Law School, he clerked for The United States Magistrate in the District of Delaware and the Department of Justice for the State of Delaware. Mr. Giordano is a former Deputy Attorney General for the Department of Justice in the State of Delaware where he prosecuted in the Family Court, Court of Common Please, and the Superior Court of the State of Delaware. He is currently an associate attorney at the law firm of Ward & Taylor where he concentrates on Real Estate Law in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties in the State of Delaware, and Chester, Delaware, and Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania.

Joe’s rugby career began at the University of Delaware in his freshmen year, and he continued to play while at Widener University School of Law where he captained both squads. After law school he played for the Wilmington Rugby Football Club men’s side and old boy’s side. Joe has coached the Wilmington Colts high school team and is currently an assistant coach for Salesianum Rugby Football Club.

Joe and his wife Airelle live in Avondale, PA
Jerry Humphrey 
   

Jerry is a graduate of the State University of New York at Brockport.  He has a B.S in Physical Education with a concentration in Sport Management. He work for several Boys and Girls Clubs over a 10 year span before taking a position with MBNA America in 1996.  Jerry currently works as a quality review specialist for Bank of America.  His rugby career started at the age of 25 as a member of the Binghamton Barbarians in Binghamton NY. Jerry's highlights from his time in Binghamton were representing the New York State Rugby Conference as a member of their All Star 7's team and serving as the Binghamton Club President for 5 years.

Jerry moved to Delaware in 1993 and quickly became a member of the Wilmington Rugby Club. With Wilmington he served as the club President for 4 years and as a player coach for 3 years. He continued to play full-time until the age of 42 and then played with the Wilmington Old Boys until he turned 44. Jerry joined the Delaware Rugby Foundation eight years ago and has been the President for the last five.

   
  John Marinangeli  

John is a Delaware native and a 1981 graduate of the University of Delaware with a BS in Criminal Justice. He is a member of the Kappa Alpha Order Fraternity. He became a rugby player in 1978 with the UD Rugby Club and continued with the Wilmington RFC. He now plays with the WRFC Old Boys. He is a founding member of the Delaware Rugby Foundation and has held a number of positions within the organization. John is an Asset Manager with the Fairville Management Company LLC located in Hockessin DE. He resides in Landenberg PA with his wife and two children. 
   
  Bjorn Haglid 
   
 

Bjorn M. Haglid, P.E. graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Civil Engineering.  Bjorn is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Delaware with 13 years experience in field of Structural Engineering.  He is a owner of Structures Unlimited, LLC.  A commercial, industrial and residential structural consulting engineering firm.

 He is the current Head Coach of the University of Delaware Men's Rugby team.  He also was the Head Coach of the EPRU All-Star Colligate team from 2005 to 2008.  His all star team went undefeated in 2006-2008.  Bjorn was the forward's head coach of the Wilmington Colts from 2001-2003.  The team went to the nationals and finish 7th and 4th in 2002 & 2003.

 Bjorn has been a member of the Delaware Rugby Foundation Board of Directors since 2008. He is married to Clarissa and they have a little boy, Wyatt. 
   
  Robert O'Neill
   

Robert J. O’Neill, Jr. attended the University of Delaware and began playing rugby his sophomore year after playing one year of football. After graduating from the University in 1981 he moved to southern California and played rugby for Newport Beach Sharks 1981-1982. He returned to the east coast and attended Villanova Law School and played rugby for VLS. After graduating from Villanova in 1985 he clerked for the Superior Court of Delaware. He joined the Department of Justice in 1987 and served as a Deputy Attorney General. Meanwhile he joined the Wilmington rugby Club in 1987 and played for the men’s club and old boys side. In 1995 he was named the Chief Prosecutor of Kent County where he served in this capacity until 2007. He returned to Wilmington and is currently working as a Deputy Attorney General. He served as an adjunct professor at the University of Delaware from 1994-2004. He has served on the DRF since 2001.

   
  Barry Corke
   

Barry graduated from the University of Sheffield, England (MB ChB) in 1961 and FFARCS from the Royal College of Surgeon's of England in 1974. He served in the Royal Air Force between 1962-1974. Barry began playing rugby while stationed in Malaya having only played soccer previously and later went on to represent the Armed Forces, Malaysia. He then transferred to Germany and represented RAF Germany in rugby. After leaving the RAF he became Consultant Anaesthetist in Sutton Coldfield, England and at the weekends began refereeing rugby in the Birmingham area.

In 1977 he relocated to the US (Boston) but also spent time in Nashville and Chapel Hill prior to coming to Delaware. During this time he taught at Harvard, Vanderbilt and UNC. After settling in Delaware in 1989, he practiced at Christiana Care Department of Anesthesiology and continued to referee for several years and follow local rugby teams.

Following retirement from practice, he obtained a certificate of Professional Photography from Cecil College, Maryland and is now teaching basic photography at this college. Since joining the Foundation, Barry has maintained a steady supply of photographs of events related to our goals, and has served on various program committees.
   
  Bob Weir

Bob currently holds an International Rugby Board Coach Educator license, is a Course Leader for USA Rugby Coaching Development Program and is a member of the first, Elite Coaching Class held by USA Rugby.  Bob started playing rugby at West Chester State College in 1974.  Bob was an Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union All-Star player in the 70’s while at Turk’s Head RFC in West Chester and was the captain/coach of the 1990 MARFU Division II champion Wilmington Men’s Club . 

He has coached several levels of rugby teams in the area including the Philadelphia-Whitemarsh Super League RFC, the Under -19 Wilmington Colts, the Middletown High School Boys, the Delaware Destroyers U-19 Select Side, the EPRU All-Star U-19 Girls and is the current head coach of the Wilmington Senior Men’s club.  Bob is the Executive Vice President of the New Castle County Board of REALTORS® and also serves on the Board of Directors for the Ingleside Homes, Inc in Wilmington.  Bob and his wife, Polly live in Wilmington and have two sons, Peter and Colin.

   
  Michael Striplin
   

Michael Striplin was raised in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and graduated from Westminster Academy in 1983. He attended University of West Georgia where he majored in History and Mass Communications. He is a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity. He joined the Army Reserves in 1987 where he traveled to Europe and Korea. During this time period, Michael worked for Norwegian Cruise Lines which placed him in Cambridge, England where he started his rugby career with the Cambridge Rugby Club. He moved back to Ft. Lauderdale in 1991 where he played for the Ft. Lauderdale rugby club till 1998. Michael moved to Delaware with his wife Lisa and is currently a member of the Wilmington Old Boys.  He also was the assistant coach for the inaugural Delaware Military Academy team.

Michael is currently working for the US Army as a guidance counselor at the Baltimore MEPS at Ft. Meade, Maryland. He and his wife are co-owners of Top Notch Farms Inc., a Hunter/Jumper Horse Farm located in Chesapeake City, Maryland.
   
   

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