Robbie Bordley

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}} {{Short description|American rugby union player (b. circa 1947)}}

{{Infobox rugby biography | name = Robbie Bordley | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | fullname = Robinson M. Bordley | birth_date = {{circa}} {{birth year and age|1947}} | birth_place = | height = | weight = | school = Landon School | university = Princeton University | ru_position = Fly-half<br>Fullback | amatyears1 = 1970–{{circa}} 1985 | amatteam1 = Washington RFC | amatapps1 = | amatpoints1 = | ru_amupdate = April 16, 2019 | repteam1 = United States | repyears1 = 1976–1978 | repcaps1 = 5 | reppoints1 = 0 | ru_ntupdate = April 16, 2019 }}

'''Robinson M. Bordley''' (born {{circa}} 1947) is an American former rugby union player who played as a fly-half and fullback for the United States men's national team. He served as captain of the national team in its first two modern-era test matches in 1976.

==Early life and club rugby career== Bordley was born circa 1947,<ref name=ESPNProfile>{{cite web |url=http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/player/8474.html |title=Robbie Bordley |website=espn.co.uk |publisher=ESPN |access-date=April 16, 2019}}</ref> the eldest son of Robert Austin Joseph Bordley and Martha Ann Bordley (born Robinson).<ref name=RHSProfile>{{cite web |url=http://therugbyhistorysociety.co.uk/bordley.html |title=Robinson 'Robbie' M Bordley |last=Casey |first=Patrick |date= |publisher=The Rugby History Society |access-date=April 16, 2019}}</ref> Bordley attended Landon School, graduating in 1966.<ref name=USLaxMag>{{cite web |url=https://www.uslaxmagazine.com/high-school/boys/landons-bordley-stepping-down-after-2018-season |title=Landon's Bordley Stepping Down After 2018 Season |last=Logue |first=Brian |date=November 12, 2017 |website=US Lacrosse Magazine |publisher=US Lacrosse |access-date=April 16, 2019}}</ref> During his time as a student at Landon, Bordley was a multi-sport athlete and earned 17 varsity letters.<ref name=Washingtonian>{{cite web |url=https://washingtonian.com/2003/10/01/from-the-archives-our-sons-have-something-to-say/ |title=From the Archives: "Our Sons Have Something To Say" |last=Jaffe |first=Harry |date=October 1, 2003 |website=Washingtonian |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref> Bordley then attended Princeton University, where he was a member of the university's football and lacrosse teams, earning all-Ivy League honors in each sport.<ref name=USLaxMag /> Bordley played at wide receiver for the football team and also returned punts and kicks.<ref name=Washingtonian /><ref name=USRHoFProfile /> Bordley graduated from Princeton in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.<ref name=RHSProfile /><ref name=USRHoFProfile>{{cite web |url=http://usrugbyhalloffame.org |title=Robinson Bordley 1947- |author= |date= |website=USRugbyHallofFame.org |publisher=United States Rugby Football Foundation |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref>

After graduating from Princeton, Bordley joined the Washington Rugby Football Club (RFC) in 1970 and played with the team for more than a decade.<ref name=USLaxMag /><ref name=USRHoFProfile /> During his time with Washington RFC, Bordley served as team captain, and was also selected for and captained representative teams with the Potomac Rugby Union and Eastern Rugby Union (ERU).<ref name=USRHoFProfile /> In 1976, Bordley joined the ERU All Stars on a tour of South Africa.<ref name=USRHoFProfile /> The following year, he returned to South Africa to play for an invitational international all star team at the then-newly renovated Loftus Versfeld Stadium.<ref name=USRHoFProfile /> During his tenure with Washington RFC and the United States men's national team, Bordley studied at American University and earned a master's degree in history.<ref name=USRHoFProfile />

==International rugby career== Bordley made his debut for the United States men's national team (Eagles) on January 31, 1976, starting at fly-half and serving as captain, in the Eagles' 24–12 defeat to Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.espn.co.uk/statsguru/rugby/match/20917.html |title=Australia Tour - Los Angeles, 31 January 1976 |website=espn.co.uk |publisher=ESPN |access-date=April 16, 2019}}</ref> Bordley served as the Eagles' captain during this match and in a June 1976 match (in which he started at fullback<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.espn.co.uk/statsguru/rugby/match/20943.html |title=France Tour - Chicago, 12 June 1976 |website=espn.co.uk |publisher=ESPN |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref>) against France—the Eagles' first two test matches of the modern-era.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usarugby.org/2013/03/usrff-hall-of-fame-2013-inductees-announced/ |title=USRFF Hall of Fame 2013 Inductees Announced |author= |date=March 19, 2013 |publisher=USA Rugby |access-date=April 16, 2019}}</ref> Bordley made three additional test match appearances representing the United States through 1978, but he did not score during his five match career with the team.<ref name=ESPNProfile />

==Professional career== In 1970, Bordley joined the faculty at Landon School.<ref name=USLaxMag /> In 1975, Bordley became the head coach of the school's boys' lacrosse team.<ref name=USLaxMag /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.laxrecords.com/rob-bordley-coaching-record/ |title=Rob Bordley Coaching Record |last=Loveday |first=Mike |date= August 14, 2015|website=LaxRecords.com |access-date=April 17, 2019}}</ref> Over the course of 42 seasons,<ref name=USLaxMag /> Bordley led the team to a total of 655 victories, making him the fifth winningest coach in United States high school boys' lacrosse history, {{asof|2019|04|lc=y|post=.}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.laxrecords.com/2014/08/03/all-time-winningest-high-school-coaches/ |title=All-Time Winningest High School Coaches |last=Loveday |first=Mike |date=November 2, 2018 |website=LaxRecords.com |access-date=April 17, 2019}}</ref> After the conclusion of the 2017–18 school year, Bordley retired from his head coaching and full-time teaching positions.<ref name=USLaxMag /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.landon.net/alumniold/homecoming-alumni-reunions-2018/bordley |title=Celebrating Rob Bordley '66 |author= |date=2018 |publisher=Landon School |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref> While at the school, Bordley also coached junior-varsity soccer<ref name=Washingtonian /> and worked as offensive coordinator of the varsity football team.<ref name=USRHoFProfile />

==Personal life and honors== Bordley married his wife, Donna, in 1977.<ref name=USRHoFProfile /> Together they have three children: John Robinson "J.R.", Austin, and Claire, all of whom have played lacrosse at the collegiate level.<ref name=RHSProfile /><ref name=USRHoFProfile />

Over the course of his life, Bordley has received numerous awards and honors. He was inducted into the U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame in 2013<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usarugby.org/2013/03/usrff-hall-of-fame-2013-inductees-announced/ |title=USRFF Hall of Fame 2013 Inductees Announced |author= |date=March 19, 2013 |publisher=USA Rugby |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref> and the U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame (Potomac Chapter) in 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.landon.net/sports/team-page/lacrosse-hall-of-fame-inductees |title=Lacrosse Hall of Fame Inductees |author= |date= |publisher=Landon School |access-date=April 19, 2019}}</ref> He has also been nominated for membership in the U.S. Lacrosse National Hall of Fame.<ref name=USRHoFProfile /> On September 13, 2003, Landon School dedicated and named Robinson M. Bordley Stadium in his honor.<ref name=Washingtonian />

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bordley, Robbie}} Category:Living people Category:American rugby union players Category:United States international rugby union players Category:Rugby union fly-halves Category:Rugby union fullbacks Category:American lacrosse players Category:High school lacrosse coaches in the United States Category:Schoolteachers from Maryland Category:Players of American football from Maryland Category:Year of birth missing (living people)