Rugby Posts A Winning Fall Season

The Dartmouth Rugby Football Club has enjoyed a very successful fall season. As of this mid-November writing, their overall record is 14-5. The A side is undefeated in six matches, including a 13-10 victory over Harvard, a 13-4 defeat of Brown, and a 50-0 romp over Columbia. The B and C teams sport 5-2 and 3-3 records, respectively, with notable victories over Brown, Harvard, and Keene State.

The DRFC, completely student-run, is the second largest athletic organization on campus, with as many as 80 students participating in either the fall or spring seasons. Rugby, the fastest- growing collegiate sport in the nation, has been called "a ruffians' sport played by gentlemen."

There are a number of reasons for rugby's popularity. The fundamentals of the sport can be picked up in a week; this simplicity is certainly a factor when one considers that almost no member has played the sport before coming to Dartmouth. As a spectator sport, rugby is fast moving, with continuous action and plenty of contact. The DRFC is unique in providing intercollegiate competition for at least 45 students each weekend.

Activities off the field are at least as important as competition on the field. Social activities include numerous kegs, songfests, parties, and occasional bands. The high point of the year is the spring trip, which in the past has taken the DRFC to Bermuda, the Bahamas, Europe, and the British Isles. These trips are planned to provide as much experience as possible for the squad while at the same time affording the members a memorable spring vacation.

Last year's trip to the Emerald Isle, in which 27 members participated, was one of the most successful. The DRFC returned with a 2-2 record and invaluable experience, which was certainly a large factor in Dartmouth's 14-3 defeat of Princeton for the Ivy League championship. Another trip to the British Isles is in the offing for this coming spring. The club hopes to take 30 members, if resources permit.

The DRFC concluded its fall schedule with two matches against the Boston Mystics. Originally scheduled for Hanover, the matches were shifted to Boston because Sachem Field was buried under six inches of snow. DRFC President Trevor O'Neill '73 and Captain Alex Rodzianko '73 expected these to be the toughest matches of the season.

Alumni Match Planned

This spring the DRFC will sponsor the First Annual Dartmouth Alumni Rugby game on the weekend of May 26. Inquiries should be addressed to Thorne Butler '70, faculty adviser to the DRFC, c/o the Admissions Office, Hanover, N.H. 03755.

The DRFC wishes to express its deep appreciation to the alumni for their generous support, without which the spring trips could not be scheduled. Alumni support is again being counted on to help make the 1973 spring trip possible. Those interested are invited to send contributions to the DRFC in care of Thorne Butler.