Rugby is the oldest, continuous sport that ERAC has sponsored. The origin of the sport within ERAC was established in 1937 by a group of athletes which included Dan Pretzinger and the late Harry Beck. This group of athletes, who played at the Verdugo Playground in Los Angeles, California (a city not too far away from Eagle Rock, California), called themselves the "Verdugo Vacqueros."  In 1945, Barney Tiernan approached Phil and Dean Spurgeon with the idea of an Eagle Rock Athletic Club. Two of the athletes that were part of that original group were Pretzinger and Beck. Agreeing to this idea, football was started (both Pretzinger and Beck were very good at it - Beck was an "All American" from San Jose State).  Pretzinger and Beck persuaded the avid football players of ERAC to play rugby football during the off-season - thus Eagle Rock Athletic Club Rugby began. Since 1937, ERAC's rugby team has won 19 SCRFU First Division Club championships, 2 SCRFU Second Division Club Championships and 1 SCRFU Third Division Club Championships during it's storied existence.

Click on one of the era's below to find out more historical ERAC facts.

In 1937 , a group of touch football players from the Verdugo Playground started an under 160 lb. rugby team to compete in a LA Parks and Recreation rugby competition. This Verdugo Playground team was coached the first year by a ?Mr. Slack?. This was the birth of Eagle Rock Athletic Club. The first game played was 50-0 win against Echo Park Playground. The only loss in that first year was in the championship game against the Slausen Spoilers. Some of the charter members of the Verdugo Playground team were Harry Beck, Dan Pretzinger, Al Lemm, Alex Heard, Joe and Charlie Lazaretto. The area senior level teams at this time were the Pasadena Athletic Club, the Pasadena Majors, Hollywood Athletic Club, Slausen Spoilers, Santa Monica Athletic Club, Ventura RC, and Santa Barbara Athletic Club.

In 1938, rugby team won the league championship.

In 1939, rugby team won the league championship.

In 1940, rugby team won the league championship. It is recalled that in 1940 the team was undefeated.

In 1942 rugby team won the league championship. The team was sponsored by Kinner Motors Aircraft Manufacturer and was coached by Jim Moore. This team also had an undefeated season and won the Prosser Cup - the trophy signifying the winner of the rugby competition. The Cup was retired and Club members addressed more important issues that were at hand.

World War II intervened. Regular club activities were suspended during these years ( 1943-45).

In 1946, a group of ex-Eagle Rock High School football players wanted to continue playing football. Barney Tiernan, who represented the group, approached Phil Spurgeon, scheduler of events at Eagle Rock High, with the idea of an Eagle Rock Athletic Club football team, thus the current name started. Dan Pretzinger and Harry Beck joined the football team that year. In the 1946-47 off season, Pretzinger, Beck and Al Lemm tried to persuade the club members to play rugby football. Their efforts were successful.

In 1948, Club won the Southern California Municipal Football League (SCMFL) title.

In 1949, Club won Southern California Rugby Football Union (SCRFU) First Division Championship. Club won the SCMFL title. Ten ERAC players made the SCRFU All Stars and played the Australian Wallabies, the rugby world champions.

In 1950, Club won SCRFU First Division Championship. Club won the SCMFL title.

In 1951, Club won SCRFU First Division Championship. Club won the SCMFL title.

In 1952, Club won the SCMFL title.

In 1953, Club won SCRFU First Division Championship. Club won the SCMFL title.

In 1954, Club won SCRFU First Division Championship. Club won the SCMFL title. Eleven ERAC players made the SCRFU All Stars and played the Queens University (AUS) rugby team.

In 1955, Club won SCRFU First Division Championship. Club won the SCMFL title. Ten ERAC players made the SCRFU All Stars and played the Austrailian Wallabies.

In 1956, Club won SCRFU First Division Championship. Club won the SCMFL title. Ten ERAC players made the SCRFU All Stars and played the Oxford-Cambridge rugby side.

In 1957, Club won SCRFU First Division Championship. Club won the SCMFL title.

In 1958, Club won SCRFU First Division Championship. Club won the SCMFL title.Club won the SCMFL title. In this year, the Olympic Club of San Francisco challenged ERAC to a rugby match. King City was selected as a neutral venue. The game was the first encounter between club teams from Northern and Southern California. The Olympic Club won the game 11-5. After the match, it was decided to make the game an "International Rugby Tournament." The venue was changed to more hospitable surroundings and the internationally acclaimed Monterey Rugby Tournament was founded.

In 1959, Club won SCRFU First Division Championship. Club won the SCMFL title. Club football team played and defeated the Washington Redskins (NFL) in an exhibition game. The rugby team attended the first Poinsettia Rugby Festival(San Diego).

In 1960, Club won SCRFU First Division Championship. Club won the SCMFL title. The Club football team also played the LA Chargers (AFL). This was the first time the Chargers ever played a game.

In 1961, Club won SCRFU First Division Championship. Club won the SCMFL title. [back to top]
In 1962, Club won the SCMFL title.The football team also played the LA Rams. Eight ERAC players made the SCRFU All Stars and played New Zealand.

In 1963, Club football team played and defeated the Washington Redskins (NFL) in an exhibition game. Club football activities were stopped.

In 1966, Club won SCRFU First Division Championship. The Club attended the first Catalina Rugby Tournament.

In 1970, Club first side won SCRFU First Division Championship and second side won SCRFU Second Division title.

In 1972, Club won SCRFU First Division Championship

In 1973, a large amount of in-fighting and conflict of egos caused a great deal of this downturn. Players who were traveling distances to play with the Club decided that it was not worth the effort any longer. Thus ERAC, again, fed other clubs or had clubs started from their ranks. With barely 15 players, the club suffered through some lean years ('73-'75).

In 1975, the ERAC newsletter restarted. The Club played foreign sides in Southern California (Chateau Renaurd).

In 1977, Club relegated to the SCRFU second division competition. The Club attended the Tuscon Tournament.

In 1978, ERAC played Cardinal Newman (Ar) and toured British Columbia (Cowishan and Ebb Tide). The Club attended the Tuscon Tournament.

In 1979,ERAC roared through the 1978-79 season with a 16-4 record, attended the Tuscon, San Diego, Santa Barbara Tournaments and the 1st Gala 7s Tournament. The Club played four foreign sides in Southern California (Grammar School, Ponehe (NZ); San Carlos (Ar), London Welsh) and then made its first overseas tour to Wales. All these successes were rewarded with the promotion of ERAC back into the SCRFU First Division.

In 1980, ERAC won first place in the first Las Vegas 15s Tournament. The Club played Hamstead RFC (Eng) and Windsor RFC (Eng).

In 1981, the Eagle Rock 7-a-side Rugby Championship Tournament started. ERAC wins 7s tournament title. The Club played foreign sides in Southern California (South African Airways, Boitsfort (Bel), Bathurst (Aus)). The Club toured Hawaii and played in Aloha Stadium before a University of Hawaii football game.

In 1982 season, played foreign sides in Southern California (HMS Canberra). ERAC relegated to 2nd division after 1982 rugby season.

In 1983, the Club won SCRFU Second Division Championship. The team played in the Scottish Highland games and defeated Unicorns for the championship. The Club also hosted Belsize Park (NZ). The Club attended the 1st Finlander tournament and won. ERAC goes on another overseas tour. This time it was to Southeast Asia where the Club went undefeated against Seoul Survivors, Royal Hong Kong Police, Hong Kong Football Club, Clark Air Base and Manila Nomads.

The 1984 season started well with ERAC also initiated a youth program at Burroughs HS team with Nolan Day's help. ERAC promoted to the SCRFU First Division. The team played in the Scottish Highland games and defeated Unicorns for the championship. The Club played foreign side from England (London Scottish), Japan (Dentsu), and Australia (Wests).

In the 1985 rugby season, the team played in the Scottish Highland games and defeated Unicorns for the championship. The Club also took second place in the Santa Barbara Tournament, defeating the BATS in the semifinals before losing to Los Angeles in the finals.

In the 1986 rugby season, the Club hosted the PCRFU 15-a-side regional championships at the Eagle Rock Park. Played The Club also played Kowloon RFC (Hong Kong).

1987 marked the Club's 50th anniversary. Not a small feat considering the nature of the people involved over the years. The club organized a tour to New Zealand-Australia which included matches with Surfer paradise and Woolongong in Austrralia and North Shore and Grammar in New Zealand. The Club also had a 50th anniversary picnic. Although ERAC tried to maintain this positive effort during this historic period, it continued the downturn in the level of play and attendance at practices and matches. The SCRFU first division play required demands that the Club fell short in attaining.

In 1988, ERAC was again relegated to the SCRFU second division for the 1989 season. The Club had again hit close to rock bottom. During this time, Chris Cordero, Jeff Rickey, Bill McTaggart and several others did not give up the Club and kept things afloat.

The 1990 season ERAC had started an upswing again with the selection of Tony Spinella as coach. It played several foreign sides during that year (Brothers (Aus), Wrights Bush (NZ), Burnaby (Can) ), attended the San Diego 7s, Bakersfield 7s, Escondido 10s, Cypress, Pasadena, Santa Barbara Tournaments, and went on a South American Tour. In the off season, the ERAC administrators and membership discussed the club needs and started to take the necessary steps to build and strengthen the Club. Bill McTaggart and Jim Nelon started coaching USC and Jeff Kischuk (with help from Jon Swire, Mark Savoy, and Jeff Rickey) started coaching Cal Lutheran.

In 1991, the ERAC administrators and membership discussed the club needs and started to take the necessary steps to build and strengthen the Club. Bill McTaggart and Jim Nelon started coaching USC and Jeff Kischuk (with help from Jon Swire, Mark Savoy, and Jeff Rickey) started coaching Cal Lutheran. In 1990-91, ERAC also attains it's first "over .500" league record (5-4-0) in over eight years and was the SCRFU BLACK Division Finalist. ERAC attended the Bakersfield 7s, Riverside 7s, Escondido 10s, Cypress 15s, Finlanders 15s, Santa Barbara 15s Tournaments. The Club played Aston University (Eng).

In the 1992 rugby season, the Club played Pwllheli (Wales), University of British Columbia (Can), and Cardinal Newman (Ar). This year also was the dedication of John Ferraro Athletic Field and ERAC started using this facility as it's home field.

In 1994, The Northridge earthquake. This had a lasting effect on all including a less than great year on the field. The rugby season saw the retirement/reduced commitment of several established players, lost 12 starters to injury,and the slow development of the new players. Together this produced a 3-5-0 league mark.

1995 saw the large recruitment effort made to create a younger player base offset by 12 first side players injured during league and the loss of Eagle Rock? Beef and Beer as a clubhouse. The Club fielded a side each week but had to come from a 1-4-0 start to finish 6-5-0, and a Blue Playoff Division top spot. The 1995 Eagle Rock 7s Tournament was the SCRFU Club 7s Qualifying Events. 

In 1996, ERAC was relegated to the SCRFU Blue (3rd) Division. The Old Boys of Eagle Rock side started and played in the Catalina Tournament. Again, with a slow start (2-3-0) was due to injuries/work commitments. Even with a predominantly forward team (13 forwards out of 15 players in the last conference game vs. Kern County), ERAC stormed back with a 4 game winning streak to end the conference play with a 6-4-0 mark. With a 3 way tie with Pasadena and North Bakersfield, all at 6-4-0, tie breaking procedures prevented ERAC to make the playoffs again. The 1996 Eagle Rock 7s Tournament, it?s fifteenth year, was also one of the two SCRFU Club 7s Qualifying Events. The event had 34 teams, the largest in the event history to date.

1997 is the Club's 60th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of the name...Eagle Rock Athletic Club. Again, the Club attained a 6-4-0 league mark. The Old Boys of Eagle Rock came in 2nd at the Catalina Tournament. The 16th Annual Eagle Rock 7s Championship again hosted the SCRFU regional qualifier. At the tournament. the Club is planning to have a pavilion with display of the 60 year history of the Club.

In 1998, the rugby team captured the SCRFU BLUE (third) Division North Conference title and the BLUE Division League title with a league record of 11-1-0. These were the first league championships for the Club in 15 years. In addition, the team was relegated to the SCRFU WHITE Division for the 1999 league season. The Club played Lemmington (NZ). The Club also took 2nd in the Las Vegas King's Division losing to Kern County in the finals 17-21. The 17th Annual Eagle Rock 7s Championship again hosted the SCRFU regional qualifier. The Club also set in motion the process for the incorporation and tax-exempt status of an Eagle Rock Amateur Athletic Development Corporation. The vision of the corporation is the use of athletic endeavors to improve the quality of life in the region.

The 1999 season provided some improvements in on the field performance. The first year back in the SCRFU White Division saw the rugby team post a 5-5-0 mark and were in the playoff picture up to the last week of the league season. Glendale HS started it's rugby program at the 18th Annual Eagle Rock 7s Championship Tournament.

The 2000 season provided challenge on the field performance due to injuries. The second year back in the SCRFU White Division saw the rugby team post a 3-6-1 mark. Harvard HS re-started it's rugby program with the Club's help. The 19th Annual Eagle Rock 7s Championship Tournament was held. At the tournament, it was the first time that a Women's bracket and an U-15 (non-contact) bracket were held.

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