| Teamname: | Denver Barbarians |
| Fullname: | Denver Barbarians Rugby Football Club |
| Nickname: | Barbos |
| Url: | https://www.denverbarbariansrugby.com |
| President: | Logan Collins |
| Pattern B1: | _white hoops |
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| Body1: | 02451C |
| Rightarm1: | ffffff |
| Shorts1: | ffffff |
| Socks1: | ffffff |
The Denver Barbarians Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team based in Denver, Colorado. The Denver Barbarians have won 4 national championships dating back to their first DI title in 1990.[1] The club's second title came in 1999, during the height of the Rugby Super League, defeating Belmont Shore RFC 22-18. The Barbarians third title came in the 2018 DII National Championship, defeating the Detroit Tradesmen in an all-time thriller at Infinity Park, 39-38.[2] The Barbarians added a fourth title with a 49-34 victory over a strong Boise United side in the 2023 DII National Championship in St Charles, Missouri. [3]
The Denver Barbarians are currently being represented on the USA 7s Eagles by Ben Pinkelman and Ke'Von Williams who have anchored the USA 7s team during the 2017–18 World Rugby Sevens Series.[4]
Ben Pinkelman had an outstanding 2018-2019 year with the USA Eagles and was selected for the HSBC 7's Dream Team. Pinkelman was also selected into the USA Eagles' 2019 Rugby World Cup squad. Pinkelman played in 3 of the 4 pool matches, coming off the bench as an openside flanker. August 2019.
The Denver Barbarians Rugby Football Club was founded in 1967. It is an organization which has consistently performed at a professional caliber over the decades. Since the club was founded, it has been one of the top performing men’s rugby clubs in the United States in both the 7s and 15s codes. The National Club 7s Championship has been held every year since 1985 (excluding 2020). Denver have won two National Championships in sevens prior to the tournament being under the auspices of USA Rugby. Since then, the Barbarians have qualified for the tournament 26 times; placing in the final eight 24 times, the top five 20 times and have taken second place 8 times.
| USA Rugby National Division 1: 1990 | Western Men's Club Division 1: 1980-81,1981-82, 1984-85, 1986-87, 1987-88, 1988-89, 1989-90, 2012-13 | Aspen Ruggerfest: 1970*, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1991, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013 (*shared) | |
| Rugby Super League (United States) 1999 | Rocky Mountain Rugby Men's Club Division 2: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2018, 2021, 2022 | Rocky Mountain/Denver 7's: 1970, 1972, 1973, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1989, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 | |
| USA Rugby National Division 2: 2018, 2023 | Rocky Mountain Rugby Men's Club Division 4 (Developmental): 2017-18, 2018-19 | National Sevens Rugby Tournament: 1979, 1984 |
With the growth of the sport in the ensuing decades, the Barbarians played a larger role in the game on and off the field. The club has supplied 7s and 15s players to all levels of select side play including PRO Rugby, Major League Rugby (MLR), and the US National Side, the Eagles. Barbarians have fielded over 40 national side players, 28 of whom were players of the club prior to becoming Eagles.