Los Angeles, Calif. — UCLA Men's Rugby proudly announces the 2026 UCLA Rugby Hall of Fame Banquet, to be held on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at the Palisades Grand Ballroom on the UCLA campus. The evening will celebrate an outstanding Hall of Fame class while bringing together alumni, supporters, and current Bruins to honor the program's storied legacy as well as help strengthen the future of the team.
The Banquet coincides with the annual Dennis Storer Classic Invitational tournament, held at UCLA on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th of January. The tournament features top College & U18s programs over 2 days of competitive rugby. There will be a VIP area with food and beverage on both days to watch the Bruins in action.
Banquet Schedule
Banquet Location
Palisades Grand Ballroom
251 Charles E. Young Drive West
Los Angeles, CA
2026 UCLA Rugby Hall of Fame Inductees
Del Chipman (Class of 1980)
Del Chipman's remarkable rugby career began at UCLA when legendary coach Dennis Storer recruited him directly from the intramural fields—an origin story shared by many Bruin greats of that era. Despite having no prior rugby experience, Chipman's natural speed and agility quickly made him a standout on the wing. A contemporary of UCLA standouts such as Skip Niebauer, he competed against elite opponents of his generation, including Jack Clark.
Chipman's rapid rise earned national recognition. In 1976, he was selected for the USA Eagles in their inaugural match against Australia, and he later earned selection to All-Conference, All–Pacific Coast, and All-American teams.
The 1982 UCLA Men's Rugby Team
The 1982 Bruins delivered a defining season at a pivotal moment in program history. Three years post–Title IX and facing the loss of a traditional football-player pipeline, the team—then in its final year within the athletic department—defied expectations by completing an unblemished regular season and winning the Southern California divisional title under Steve Gray, a UCLA and USA Rugby Hall of Fame member.
After defeating BYU in the opening round of the Pacific Coast RFU territorial playoffs at the Santa Barbara tournament, UCLA's postseason run concluded with a hard-fought loss to Cal (16–6). Featuring future Hall of Famer Andrew Warne, the squad earned lasting recognition for its intensity and cohesion.
Legendary coach Dennis Storer called the team the smallest he had seen in fifteen years and described their results as a "minor triumph," attributing success to "enthusiasm, fitness, quickness, hustle and intensity." The 1982 team stands as a vital bridge between UCLA Rugby's historic foundation and its enduring national excellence.
Tickets & Support
Tickets for the 2026 UCLA Rugby Hall of Fame Banquet—along with opportunities to support UCLA Men's Rugby—are available online at:
👉 https://giving.ucla.edu/Standard/NetDonate.aspx?SiteNum=5833
Proceeds from the event directly support current UCLA Rugby student-athletes through travel, equipment, player development, and program advancement.
Additional event details will be shared with attendees in the coming weeks.
