History of the EXILES

    In July of 1997, Jim Mullin was fed up with the way that the Marines were running the only American Rugby Club on Okinawa and since the Hellcats had just been picked up an are now sponsored by Marine MWR, Jim felt it was time to start another American Rugby Club.  Jim talked to a few guys that were not marines, but were playing for the Hellcats, and told them about his idea to start a new club open to all services and civilians.  One where rank and branch of service were not required for playing time.  These guys are the forefathers of Exiles Rugby,  Jim "knock" Mullin,  Dan "Spooge" Lockert,  Sean "Ass" Keenan,  Bill "Niedermeyer" Peterik,  and a rookie, Jim "Pinky" Reed.
     In late August,  we had our first practice.  Not a big turnout,  but the wheels were set in motion and more and more people started to show up and ask what the hell we were playing.  Soon we had quite a few people turning out to practice almost all rookies.  We decided that it was time to start playing matches.  We tried to get into the Okinawa Rugby Union that fall, but were too late.  So, we started to scrimmage any club that would play us.  By December of 1997 we were playing a match on every weekend.  Most of our starters were also helping the Hellcats field a team to move up to the A division and were successful.
     On January 11th, 1998, we beat the Hellcats in an exhibition match played for Japanese Rugby Officials from the mainland.  We were entered into the ORFU in the spring of 1998 and had a very successful year and moved from the C division to the B division. 
     As players from the Hellcats started to get discouraged by the disorganized and political management of their team came to play for the Exiles the Hellcats were no longer able to field a side.  As of the writing of this they are under new management and will possibly be full strength for the 2000 season.  We hope that the Exiles Club will endure all the comings and goings of all the military personnel on the club and also hope to gain more respect and recognition for the sport of rugby not only on Okinawa, but also back home in the US of A.
   
    Ruck On, Red, White, and Blue.
    Bill "Niedermeyer" Peterik
    Jim "Pinky" Reed