Good Olde Roughhousing
What could cause grown men to put their heads together in the mud while a confederate throws an egg-shaped ball between their legs? For the post-college crowd, members of the Dartmouth Olde Boys Rugby Football Club say their roughhouse sport provides a release for the fierce loyalty some say obsession—that rugby provokes.
The club was formed in 1982 by club President Tom Colacchio, a surgeon at Mary Hitchcock Hospital and a professor at Dartmouth Medical School, along with three friends. They wanted to fill the athletic void between college and the age of resignation to noncompetitive sports. Dartmouth graduates on the roster include Tom Patton '67, Rich Akerboom 'BO, Jeff Garnett '78, Tom Johansen '78, feed Stevens '74, Joe Hewitt '85, Fred Spencer '85, Jim Calmas '84, Matt Haley '83, Ken Jones '85, Mike Eatsis '84, and Donald Colacchio'76.
Tom Colacchio Says that the: skill level of the Olde Boys is slightly below that of a good college team like Dartmouth's. "We're usually pretty even with their 'B' side," he explains, "and we used to give the 'A's a good game but they're nationally ranked now."
The Olde Boys play two seasons—one inthe fall, one in the spring—consisting of eight to twelve games against other clubs and a few college teams, mostly in northern New England. Home games and practices are played on the Dartmouth field atSachem Village. The club religiously followsrugby's longstanding tradition of continuing the good time off the field after a game. But finding the right place for a raucous celebration: by 30-odd sweaty, bleeding teammates has proved elusive.
"One of our problems here," says Colacchio, "is finding a bar wo can identify with. Most club teams have a bar to congregate at that is the focus of their parties. There just aren't those kinds of bars around here. We usually have a keg at the field but it's not quite the same level of party. "
It is unlikely that the Olde Boys will give up in their quest. Veteran rugby players are known for their determination and perseverance - that's how they get to be veteran players.
No pain, no party: The Dartmouth Olde Boys rugby team works hard at having a goodtime on and off the playing field. Grappling for the ball, left to right, are Tom Patton,Rich Akerboom, Jeff Campbell, and Gary Olson. In the background is Tom Colacchio.
