PENN

University of Pennsylvania Men

Web site

http://www.dolphin.upenn.edu/~mrugby

The Penn Men's Rugby Football Club can trace its roots back to the early 1900s. The first documentation of its existence comes from an article printed in the Daily Pennsylvanian on October 22, 1910: Penn's Rugby Team Students Practice on Franklin Field at 7 o'clock am.

“Such is the devotion to English rugby football on the part of University of Pennsylvania's students from New Zealand, Australia, and England that they meet on Franklin Field at 7 o'clock every morning and practice the game. The varsity track and football squads monopolize the field to such an extent that the early hours of the morning are the only ones during which the rugby enthusiasts can play. Any time except Friday, Saturday and Sunday, a squad of 25 men may be seen running through the hardest kind of practice after which they may divide into two teams and play a hard game. Once a week, captain CC Walton, ('11), dental, who hails from New Zealand, gives the enthusiastic players a blackboard talk in which he explains the intricacies of the game in detail…”

— Daily Pennsylvanian Article,
10/22/1910

The team existed on and off during the World Wars, with the current club having its roots in the 1960s. While the current Penn Rugby team no longer has to wake up in the wee hours of the morning for practices, the tradition of hard work and enthusiasm developed by CC Walton lives on. We continue to strive for the highest level of play, and also enjoy the camaraderie and social aspect of the game. As is tradition, practice is held during the week and games on Saturdays, each game capped off by a party with the opponents thrown by the hosting team.

After an undefeated fall season the ruggers at Penn are preparing to enter the spring season tougher and more fit then ever. All effort is focused towards preparing for the upcoming Mid Atlantic Regional Football Union tournament (MARFU) which Penn qualified for upon winning its division last fall. If succesfull at MARFUs, Penn will advance to the national tournament.

2004 EPRU Division 1 Champions
2005 MARFU Quarterfinalist

Coaches

Rich McGovern, Head Coach
Eli Pearlman-Storch, Assistant Coach