The
Mystic River Rugby Club was founded in 1974 by 32 members of the Boston
Rugby Club, who in true revolutionary spirit, took a great step forward in
exercising their independence. These men had long since functioned as a
'club within a club' and had developed a distinct style of play both on and
off the field. These members were experienced rugby players and immediately
the Mystics established a schedule within the first division of New England.
They soon became a sought after fixture by teams from all over based on a
reputation for hard, fast rugby and an aggressive 'joie de vie'. In those
days the social aspects of rugby were of almost equal importance to
competition!
The club evolved throughout the 70's with the influx of younger players and new personalities. Tours to Wales and the former Soviet Union (the Mystics were the first US team to play rugby in the USSR) highlighted these years. In the early 80's the club saw a major turnover, a somewhat generational change, when several new players were attracted from local colleges. As rugby matured in New England so did the savvy of the younger players who had been exposed to organized coaching. Old Boys rugby began to take shape and several of the original Mystics now began playing a schedule of 'over 30's ' rugby. In 1986 the Mystics returned to Malden where they were originally Incorporated in 1976.
Coaches from overseas were now recruited. With several of the clubs players regularly representing New England and the East Coast in representative side play, the Mystics were committed to championship level rugby. Foreign touring sides from England, Ireland, Wales and other countries also helped "educate" the boys.
After tours of their own to France, Argentina and Australia the club won in 1989 the first of seven straight New England championships and in the process removed the original parent club, Boston, from its perch atop New England rugby. The Mystics were now a force within the national rugby community. In 1992 the Mystic finished second in the US, losing to the Old Blues from California in the National Club Finals. Over the years, the club has not lost its original style and flare, and now the Mystics enjoy a distinct reputation at the highest level of competitive rugby in the US.
The 2007 Season saw the Mystics win their first New England title after twelve years, moving on to take the Northeast Championship in 2008.
