In 2000, 3 Charlotte RFC players, Eric Mangiardi, Craig Errington, and Jeff Hayes formed a 7’s team to play in the Cape Fear Tournament, one of the largest 7’s tourney’s in the US….and ”Big Toe De Rosa” was born! Where and how they came up with the idea and the name is still somewhat a mystery. In our first tourney, we lost to the Charlotte RFC’s team in the final, but the legend was born! Two yea
rs later we won our first Championship at Fear, and followed up with another championship in 2004. After the 04 campaign, and assuming control of the team, organizing jerseys, registering for tourney's, etc, the name was changed to “Old Toe De Rosa”, and then simply “Old Toe”.
15 years later, Old Toe Rugby is the premier 7’s club based out of Charlotte NC. We enter 3-4 tourney’s per summer, get a new jersey for every event, and have never finished below second place. This summer, Old Toe entered 4 7’s tournaments, securing 3 championships, and 1 second place finish. As Old Toe numbers swelled, we decided it was time to form another team to accommodate all the guys who wanted to play under the Toe banner, but couldn’t get on what is now considered an ‘elite’ squad….so, now we also welcome, “The Older Toes”! The Older Toes played in 2 tournaments this summer, coming in 3rd place in the Queen City 7’s tourney, and first place at Cape Fear. Our motto is, “Once a Toe, Always a Toe” You will forever be linked to this 7’s team. In 2015, Old Toe Rugby Wear, LLC will have it's first jerseys, shorts, t-shirts, and hoodies being worn by rugby players! Our new line of rugby match wear will be made completely in the United States, and our first goal is to sponsor the some local HS teams with full match kits. We will then be taking our match wear on the road and travelling to numerous 7's tournaments throughout the US to sell our product and promote our brand!. We will be targeting some elite players to sponsor next year by supplying them with jerseys, shorts, shirts, hoodies, and some funds for travel and training expenses! Another goal is to have future Olympic athletes play for the Toe, and to have the Toe as a legitimate feeder squad for national and international teams. We currently have 2-3 Olympic hopefuls in Charlotte right now! Once a Toe….ALWAYS A TOE! Respectfully,
Billy De Rosa
President
Old Toe Rugby Wear, LLC [email protected] www.oldtoerugby.com
