United States Rugby Foundation Names Six New Directors

San Diego, CA (July 16, 2004) – The United States Rugby Foundation has announced the election of six new Directors to its Board of Trustees and Directors. The six new members: Jim Perkins, Lin Walton, Dr. Ned Chambers, Dave Sitton, Dr. John Chase and John Dahlen have long backgrounds in the sport of rugby in the United States.After arriving from his native England, Jim Perkins had an illustrious playing career with one of the United States premier clubs, the Chicago Lions. When his playing days were over, Perkins began a long and distinguished coaching career, leading the Midwest All-Stars for many years before reaching the pinnacle of coaching in the United States, coaching the United States National Rugby Team, the Eagles. Perkins retired from coaching after taking the Eagles to the 1991 Rugby World Cup in England. He is currently COO of Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch, LLP, in San DiegoRetired United States Navy Commander Lin Walton is a former United States Eagles wing. His 10 year rugby playing career began in Denver and ended in San Diego as a member of the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club’s (OMBAC) 1985 National Championship Sevens Team. He continued to serve in various administrative capacities once his playing days ended. Over the past thirty years, Walton has worked with the U.S. Navy as an advisor to minority officers through the National Naval Officers Association (NNOA), of which he has been a member since its inception in 1972 and is also a life member. He has held numerous positions in local chapters and is currently a leader in the Chief of Naval Operations effort to diversify the senior officer corps of the Navy.Ned H. Chambers, MD, was first introduced to rugby while attending Stanford overseas in England. During medical school at the University of Cincinnati, he played wing for one of the local men’s teams, the Cincinnati Wolfhounds. While he was doing a three-month clerkship in emergency medicine in Dublin, Ireland, Dr. Chambers played for the Monkstown, RFC. After completing a family practice residency, he started a private practice in the town he grew up in, Point Loma, in San Diego, CA. He served as the OMBAC team physician from 1988-1991 and was team physician for the Eagles’ New Zealand tour in 1989. He was team physician for America’s Cup defender, A3, from 1991-1995 and served as a medical consultant to challengers, New Zealand, Japan, and Australia. Dr. Chambers professional activities include: San Diego Academy of Family Physicians; former President, Chief of Staff, Harbor View Hospital; and California Medical Association delegate. He is medical advisor to Accuelaser and Achievemed.Dave Sitton has played coached or broadcast rugby for over 30 years. In 1978, he was named Club Sport Athlete of the Year at the University of Arizona. The next year, just after his first tour of England and Wales, he assumed coaching responsibilities at the University of Arizona at the age of 22. Through the 2004 season, his all-time intercollegiate coaching record at Arizona stands at 325-172. For 10 years, Sitton was also the general manager and assistant coach on the USA’s All American Team. He was at one time the youngest board member (24 years old) to serve on the USARFU board of directors. Sitton has broadcast USA Eagles rugby and various national championships for ESPN and Fox since 1978. Currently, Sitton holds two other titles in the community. He is the Vice President, Southern Arizona for Clear Channel Communication’s Outdoor Division, and he is the long time television play-by-play voice of University of Arizona football and basketball on Fox Sports Net and provides commentary on national and international rugby broadcasts on Fox.Dr. John Chase became involved in the development and growth of U.S. Rugby in 1967. During his internship at Denver General Hospital in 1967-68, Dr. Chase played for the Denver Barbarians and was a founding member of the Denver University Rugby Club. He was the Orthopedic Consultant to the Athletic Teams at UC Davis 1974-1985, Medical Officer of the United States of America Rugby Football Union and team physician to the Eagles from 1997-1999, accompanying the team on its first tour to England in 1977 and its only undefeated tour, Japan 1985, which culminated in victory over the Japan National Team in Tokyo. Dr. Chase was a visiting Orthopedic Surgeon in New Zealand 1984-85 working as a medical advisor with the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and being selected to travel as team physician for the New Zealand All Blacks to Hong Kong in 1985. Dr. Chase is the only U.S. physician invited to attend the IRFU Medical Committee participating in their London meeting 1988 and has also presented papers on U.S. Rugby to the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh 1991 and the Welsh Centenary Medical Conference in Cardiff, Wales prior to the World Cup in 1999. He is currently Emeritus Medical Advisor to USA Rugby. Dr. Chase retired from his practice of Orthopedic Surgery in November 1999. Since that time he has been CEO, President, Chairman and Founder of Benchmark Medical Consultants in Sacramento, CA.John Dahlen has been involved with the OMBAC rugby team for nearly 40 years. He played scrumhalf on the OMBAC teams of the mid 60s until he retired from the playing field in the late 1970s. Upon his retirement from the playing field, “JD” took an active role in the OMBAC administration. Since 1995, he has been the Manager of the highly successful OMBAC seven-a-side program, guiding OMBAC to National Championship titles in 1995, 2000, 2001 and 2002. JD owns two of San Diego’s landmark restaurants, Bully’s East and the Old Town Mexican Café.“I am very excited with the new additions to the Foundation Board,” said Executive Director Brian Vizard. “I’ve known all of these men for about 20 years and have nothing but good things to say about them. They are all very capable, with loads of experience and integrity. I’m looking forward to working with them as the Foundation moves ahead.”