DRFC Spring Training Camp - Post 2

Tuesday 3/24

On Tuesday the club start started early with a full contact session in the Alumni Gym mat room. With some players returning from a months-long winter hiatus, we spent some much needed energy on perfecting our tackling form. The forwards even managed to work on their scrummaging, an area in which a revitalized pack looks to excel in our spring XV’s season. Younger less experienced players began the day in one group, followed shortly by the group of experienced, older Dartmouth ruggers. 

After a quick but filling lunch (plus a few hours to rest tired legs), we got back after it in Leverone Field House. Shutouts are always a game day goal for the DRFC, but the work comes first. To that end we spent the afternoon honing our defensive structure. At the direction of our stable of coaches, we practiced arranging the defense around a ruck and tracking down opposing offenses. We closed down space and prepared to make use of the tackling practice we had enjoyed earlier that day. It was a lively session with plenty of running for all. But before we called it a day, assistant coach James Willocks put us through our paces with our first 150 meter shuttle run test of the spring season. Everyone put forth a great effort, but special mention must go to Jake Levine ’15 who led all runners and Andrew Berson ‘15 who looked very much the man in form. 

On only the second day of double sessions, is clear to all that were getting better by leaps and bounds. With one week until a critical friendly with highly ranked St. Mary's, the team knows that every session counts.  We look forward to a successful for spring season and more opportunities to announce ourselves as a club to watch out for. We would like to again extend our gratitude to our generous alumni who made these sessions possible. Special thanks for support provided for the second third of the camp goes to the following alumni:

Brett McDonald '88
John Saer '79
Michael Fisch '83
Dave Klinges '79
Will Gray '59

DRFC Spring Training Camp - Post 1

The DRFC reassembled today in Hanover after taking a brief break in the wake of winter term’s final exams. Returning to Corey Ford for the first time since the end of the fall, the DRFC gathered to go over the week’s schedule and to review the team’s strategy with the first round of the Varsity Cup less than two weeks away. After a quick breakfast, the team headed back to campus for the first of two sessions on Scully Fahey Field, the turf lacrosse field that will see the DRFC host New England College on Saturday, March 29th, St. Mary’s University on Tuesday, March 31st, and finally the U.S. Naval Academy on Saturday, April 4th in the first round of the Varsity Cup. The morning practice session focused on ball handling and getting back to basics, as the team competed against each other in various skill games in the sub-freezing temperatures.

Convening back at Corey Ford for a film session of work-ons from the fall’s Ivy League season, the DRFC took a crash course in reviewing offensive structure with Coach James Willocks and then grabbed lunch before breaking up for a brief rest. Back on Scully Fahey for the afternoon practice and with temperatures rising slightly, the team jumped straight into the offensive pattern, with Coaches Hickie and Magleby as well as Head Trainer Ben Schuler posing a stiff defense. The team looked great, especially for the first day back, and all were excited to be outside running around again after a long winter indoors.

The DRFC is excited to be back on campus and is excited to welcome back our teammates who participated in terms abroad and worked in internships this winter. There is an awesome group of players in attendance from the class of 2018, who put in great work all winter and who look to carry the DRFC’s strong tradition for years to come. The team has a lot of work ahead, with double sessions galore and multiple games on the docket, but it believes that these weeks in Hanover will put us in the best position to succeed in our spring XVs and VIIs seasons. With the weather trending upwards and a thrilling set of fixtures in place, the DRFC’s Spring Training Camp is shaping up to be a competitive and hard fought affair. More than anything, the team would like to thank its loyal alumni and parent bases for their support and for putting us in the best position to win. We look forward to delivering on the work we will put in during this Camp and expect an exciting, successful spring season to follow.

The DRFC would like to express our gratitude to all of our alums. We would particularly like to thank Nick Downer '11 and Chris Downer '11 for supporting our Spring Camp. The Downer twins starred in Dartmouth's first CRC Championship in 2011 and are now pursuing careers in finance, with Chris in London and Nick in San Diego.

Other alums the DRFC would like to thank for their support for the first third of the training camp include:

Geoff Parker '86
Guy Dixon '95
Al Dekin '87
Tim McAdam '90

Penn Mutual Varsity Cup 2015 Draw

New York, NY – With the addition of Arizona State and Arkansas State, the 2015 Penn Mutual Varsity Cup Championship teams have continued to expand for the 3rd consecutive year to fourteen of the premier college rugby programs in the country. The schedule and format for this years’ Penn Mutual Varsity Cup will once again feature four rounds of competition, with the championship final being hosted at Rio Tinto Stadium in Salt Lake City, UT. NBCSN will provide live television coverage of the entire championship final on May 2nd, 2015.

The two time reigning champions, BYU, and two-time runner up, the University of California return to vie for the title of Varsity Cup National Champion. Since the first National Collegiate Championship, Varsity Cup universities have won a total of 31 national titles in a span of 33 years. Moreover, Varsity Cup universities have earned 68 final four places during this same period with Air Force, Arkansas State, BYU, Cal, Dartmouth, Navy, and Utah all having played their way to the final four. Since the inception of the Varsity Cup National Championship, Central Washington University and UCLA have added to the Varsity Cup’s list of final four participants. This brings total Varsity Cup university final four appearances to 76 over the course of 35 years. Over the course of these past 35 years, Varsity Cup universities have been crowned National Champions a total of 33 times.

The first round of the Penn Mutual Varsity Cup Championship will take place on Saturday, April 4th at the site of the six highest ranking teams. Central Washington will host PAC Rugby newcomers Arizona State while the University of Oklahoma will visit the always competitive University of Utah.  In the opposite corner of the bracket, the United States Naval Academy will travel to Brophy Field to challenge perennial Ivy Champion Dartmouth, and Arkansas State will head to South Carolina to take on Clemson. UCLA is set to face-off against three time national champion Air Force in Southern California on UCLA’s Westwood Campus, and the first round rematch between Texas and collegiate sports icon Notre Dame will close out the first week of games.

The eight teams to advance to the second round will square off on April 11th at four host campus venues that will be announced following the completion of the first round of competition. Top seeded BYU will travel to the winner of UCLA vs. Air Force while Cal will travel to the victor of the Texas vs. Notre Dame game. 

The third quarterfinal matchup will see the winner of Arizona State and Central Washington facing off with the victor of Oklahoma and Utah. The final four teams, Dartmouth, Navy, Arkansas State and Clemson will yield the final game of quarterfinal weekend.

The Semi-finals will take place on April 18th at the site of the two highest remaining seeds.

For the second consecutive year, the Penn Mutual Varsity Cup final will take place at future Olympic Soccer Qualifier host Rio Tinto Stadium (home to MLS Team Real Salt Lake), in Sandy, Utah.  On May 2nd, the match will be aired live on the NBCSN 2PM Mountain Time (MT).

About The Penn Mutual Varsity Cup Rugby National Championship

The Varsity Cup is America’s top collegiate rugby postseason national championship. The mission of the Varsity Cup is to grow American rugby by harnessing the collective strength of collegiate rugby and collegiate sport in general. The Varsity Cup features the most recognized and accomplished university rugby programs in the country vying for the right to be named the “Penn Mutual Varsity Cup Collegiate 15s Champions.”

Dartmouth Downs Kutztown to Win Stony Brook 7s

Stony Brook, NY – This past Saturday the Big Green sent two equally skilled Green and White squads to the first leg of the Empire Sevens tournament in Stony Brook, New York.  The Green team started off the day with a strong 19-0 victory over Stony Brook B and set the pace for the next couple of hours, continuing to a 3 – 1 finish in pool play.  Big Green victories continued with the White squad taking their first game 37-0 over Columbia and going undefeated in their next 3 matches, defeating Syracuse, Brockport and Stony Brook A.

Dartmouth Green and White teams celebrating a First and Fourth place finish at Stony Brook, NY.

DRFC Head Coach Gavin Hickie offered his reflections on the single day tournament in Stony Brook, “The Empire 7s Tournament at Stony Brook was a very worthwhile and competitive tournament for our Green and White teams as we continue to prepare for our busy Spring season. All our DRFC student-athletes acquitted themselves extremely well and we were happy to leave Stony Brook with a 1st and 4th finish.  Our young squad continues to develop and we are eagerly anticipating our Spring Camp commencing on March 23rd.”

The DRFC would like to Will Gray, Dartmouth rugger and class of ’59, for making the participation of the Big Green in the Empire 7s tournament possible this past weekend.  In addition, the squad would like to extend our gratitude to DRFC parents Mr. Levine and Mr. Sullivan for providing much needed food throughout the day to keep the boys fueled and competing at the highest level.

Throughout the day, green team captain, senior Jake Levine, demonstrated great fortitude at sweeper and inspiring leadership, guiding his team to a 3 – 0 start.  Levine made multiple game defining tackles against charging opponents and displayed the dexterity of his game and boot on a notable grubber into the try zone through looming Kutztown defenders.  Despite Levine’s grubber and a determined goal line stand by the Green team defense, Kutztown scored a last minute try to end the game and Dartmouth’s hopes for a 1-2 sweep of the tournament. 

The Green team’s tough loss against Kutztown in the final match of cup play was not the last that Kutztown would see of Dartmouth on the day, however; their victory set up a Cup final against Dartmouth’s undefeated White Squad.  Junior track crossover athlete John Abraham, who spent the winter touring South America with the Canadian Olympic development team, displayed his blazing speed early in the game, opening up the score by streaking untouched down the five-meter channel.  Abraham continued his impressive individual effort with two more long runs for tries, putting the Big Green ahead to a decisive lead at halftime.  Despite a quick try off the second half restart, Kutztown’s momentum was quickly dampened by patient and cohesive defense from Dartmouth’s White team.  Seniors Andrew Berson and football converts Sean Ronan and Stephen Dazzo physically dominated the Kutztown side, throwing back multiple waves of attackers.  Senior captain Peter Savarese displayed great versatility on the field, dominating rucks and drawing defenders before making nifty one-handed offloads.  The White team finished the Cup final ahead 29-19, capping off a long, hard fought day of tournament play with some nice hardware.

The Green team finished the tournament with a tough match against Stony Brook A, falling 45 – 0 in the 3rd and 4th place match.  Despite the score, the fourth place finish offered a full roster of freshman starters the opportunity to gain important minutes against an experienced Stony Brook team.  Throughout the day the commitment from the DRFC’s newest members bolstered the teams efforts and is an encouraging sign for the years to come.  Standout freshman performances included long runs by Chris Nkoy, shifty speed up the middle by Benny Goodman and hard tackling and finishing runs by Ernie Pichardo. 

The DRFC now looks toward two Penn Mutual sponsored events: the Varsity Cup 15s competition in April and the CRC Sevens from May 30-31 in Philadelphia, PA.  Tickets for the CRC can be purchased here: http://www.usasevenscrc.com/tickets/dartmouth

The Sides:

Green Squad:

Keith Hamren

Benji Hannam

Gordon Driscoll

Jake Levine

Brendan Cronin

John Brady

Chris Nkoy

Peter Badenhausen

Ian Sullivan

Benny Goodman

Will Romness

Matthew Ferguson

White Squad:

Sean Ronan

Stephen Dazzo

Andrew Berson

Ernie Pichardo

Ollie Englehart

Pete Savarese

John Abraham

Alex McDowell

Ivan Carrier

Henry Gardner

Andy Werchniak

Rob Doumar

Dartmouth Rugby appreciates the longstanding support of our Alumni and Friends. Without this support, we would not be able to achieve the success we have enjoyed over the last six decades. We hope that we can continue to earn the support of all our Alums and Friends. To donate, please go to www.dartmouthrfc.com/support/ and click the "Support" button. Then select “Friends of Rugby” under the “Club Sports” section and fill in the required information to proceed to the billing page.

DRFC to Compete at Empire Conference 7s Tournament

DRFC travels to Stony Brook, NY this weekend to compete in the Empire Conference 7s tournament. We are fielding two equally competitive 7s squads with a blend of youth and experience as we continue to build for our Spring season. 

Green Team:

• Keith Hamren '15
• Benji Hannam '18
• Josh Cox '15
• Jacob Levine '15
• Brendan Cronin '15
• John Brady '18
• Chris Nkoy '18
• Gordon Driscoll '17
• Ian Sullivan '18
• Benjamin Goodman '18
• William Romness '18
• Matthew Ferguson '18

White Team

• Sean Ronan '15
• Stephen Dazzo '15
• Andrew Berson '15
• Ernie Pichardo '18
• Ollie Englehart '18
• Pete Savarese '15
• John Abraham '16
• Alex McDowell '18
• Ivan Carrier '18
• Henry Gardner '18
• Andrew Werchniak '18
• Robert Doumar '18

We hope to see you in Stony Brook on Saturday.

Happy Holidays from the DRFC

The Dartmouth Rugby Football Club would like to wish all of its Alumni and Friends a happy holiday season. Here's to a new year of continued success for the Big Green!

Madison Hughes ’15 Shines on Sevens World Series Circuit

After leading the Big Green to its eighth straight Ivy League XVs title and third straight Ivy League 7s title this past fall, Dartmouth captain Madison Hughes has transferred his success to the international stage. Hughes, a senior scrumhalf for Dartmouth, was named captain of the USA Men’s Eagles Sevens team in September and has quickly established himself as a crucial member of the program. Hughes’s consistent play and steady leadership have contributed greatly to the Eagles’ recent efforts on the HSBC World Series Sevens circuit. Most recently, Hughes and the Eagles defeated a formidable Scottish side and top-ranked Fiji on their way to a Plate victory in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The Eagles hope to continue their success on the World Series circuit with the eventual goal of qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Brazil. 

For more news and information on the USA Men’s Eagles Sevens Team visit: 

http://usarugby.org/mens-eagles-sevens

Last Chance to Get Your Custom Dartmouth Rugby Gear!!

The Dartmouth Rugby Team Store is now up and running, but only for a limited time. Browse a wide selection of Boathouse outerwear and team training gear for both men and women. All orders are guaranteed to deliver before Christmas, so be sure to take advantage of this great opportunity before it's too late!

Visit the store here: http://dartmouthrugby.boathousegear.com/   

Dartmouth Rugby Team Store Now Online for Limited Time!

The Dartmouth Rugby Team Store is now up and running, but only for a limited time. Browse a wide selection of Boathouse outerwear and team training gear for both men and women. All orders are guaranteed to deliver before Christmas, so be sure to take advantage of this great opportunity before it's too late!

Visit the store here: http://dartmouthrugby.boathousegear.com/   

Dartmouth Wins 8th Straight Ivy XVs Title

Dartmouth Wins 8th Straight Ivy XVs Title

Big Green Crowned Champs with Homecoming Victory over Brown

Hanover, NH – Saturday morning Dartmouth took to Brophy Field for its last home game of the fall Ivy League season.  This time the Big Green sported new kits – a crisp white with broad hoops – for the homecoming match against Brown.  In addition to displaying its new fall fashion and entertaining a wholesome homecoming crowd, Dartmouth was competing to secure an Ivy League title.  Knowing the Bears to be a tough and worthy opponent, Dartmouth went into the match looking to implement the systems practiced in the past weeks’ training and to improve on its performance the previous week at Yale. The Big Green established control early and didn’t look back on its way to a 90-7 victory in front of the home crowd.

The junior track captain turned elusive wing, John Abraham, opened the scoring as he collected a pass on the wing and chipped from a standstill over the advancing wall of Brown defenders.  Zipping onto the ball with defenders in close pursuit, Abraham played the careening ball with a decisive kick into the try zone, touching down for a try to cap off a fifty-meter individual effort.  Abraham would go on to score another soccer-esque try in the next few minutes. First half tries came from a variety of players: deftly timed kicks into the try zone from flyhalf Dawit Workie led to tries by wing Max Parker and opened the field for a nice finishing run from junior fullback Ryan Maguire.

When asked for his thoughts on the match, captain Madison Hughes commented, "The team was pleased to get a good result on a beautiful fall day on our beloved Brophy Field. Lots of enterprising play led to some great team tries and the supportive crowd helped the team put in a good performance on Homecoming weekend."  Head Coach Gavin Hickie reinforced the sentiment of a good closing performance on Brophy Field: "We are happy with our performance yesterday while accepting there are still areas in our game that need work. We have been getting better each week and yesterday was our best performance of the Ivy Fall season to date."  

Late in the second half, senior Brendan Cronin and freshman flanker Benji Hannam displayed great cohesion on an 80-meter run off the first phase of a kick-off return.  Cronin took a crash ball from Workie and burst through Brown line with a quick inside cut, finding a trailing Hannam at midfield with a looping pass.  Collecting an offload from Hannam seconds later, Cronin fended off the Brown fullback and touched down under the posts for his third try of the day, ending the first half of play.

The Big Green defense, led up front by the likes of seniors Mike McDavid and Pete Savarese, was staunch, holding the Bears to one second half score.  The Dartmouth scrum dominated on the day, with seniors Andrew Berson and Nick Brown providing a powerful push and turning over many set pieces throughout the match.

The second half saw trips into the try zone from Captain Madison Hughes, fresh off his stint with the Eagles 7’s squad in Sydney, Australia, and Chris Banks, a junior all-American returning from a tough ACL tear.  Hughes also demonstrated his tremendous skill, versatility, and poise by casually notching a deep 40-meter drop goal in the face of charging Brown defenders late in the second half.   

This half also saw several reserves get extended minutes and make the most of them. Hard runs by Mick Wopinski ’15 and evasiveness on the wing from Jake Levine ’14 highlighted the closing minutes. 

"Our development over the fall season has been largely satisfying and through the hard work and commitment of our student-athletes, we are delighted to celebrate our 8th consecutive title as Ivy XVs Champions 2014,” said Hickie.  In addition to Dartmouth’s consecutive dominance of the Ivy League trophy since 2008, this is the Big Green’s 16th title in 19 years. 

Hickie continued, ""From a personal viewpoint, I feel our senior class of 2015 have shown themselves to be outstanding leaders of the DRFC program. Spearheaded by Dartmouth & USA 7s captain, Madison Hughes, it has been a pleasure working with these men of Dartmouth. We eagerly await our final Ivy XVs vs. Columbia and our Ivy 7s Championship before we shift our focus to our spring season which includes the Varsity Cup and CRC."

Hickie finished by recognizing the efforts of those who support the squad in critical, but not so visible, ways throughout the season. “On behalf of all the coaches and players of the DRFC, I would like to thank John Buck and all his ground staff for their outstanding work on Brophy and Battle [Fields] this fall season."

As stated by Coach Hickie, the season continues next Friday in New York, as Dartmouth takes on Columbia under the lights in a rare Friday night match. The match will be played at the Baker Field Soccer Stadium, located at 533 W 218th St, New York, NY. Kickoff is scheduled for 7pm. If you cannot attend the match, be sure to keep up with the action live on Twitter by following the @dartmouthrugby account.

Dartmouth Rugby appreciates the longstanding support of our Alumni and Friends. Without this support, we would not be able to achieve the success we have enjoyed over the last six decades. We hope that we can continue to earn the support of all our Alums and Friends. To donate, please go to www.dartmouthrfc.com/support/ and click the "Support" button. Then select “Friends of Rugby” under the “Club Sports” section and fill in the required information to proceed to the billing page.

Scoring Timeline 1st XV vs. Brown

John Abraham 5, Madison Hughes 2 (7-0)

John Abraham 5 (12-0)

Brendan Cronin 5, Madison Hughes 2 (19-0)

Brendan Cronin 5, Madison Hughes 2 (26-0)

Max Parker 5, Madison Hughes 2 (33-0)

Ryan Maguire 5, Dawit Workie 2 (40-0)

Max Parker 5, Madison Hughes 2 (47-0)

Brendan Cronin 5, Madison Hughes 2 (54-0) 

Halftime Score: Dartmouth 54, Brown 0

John Abraham 5, Madison Hughes 2 (61-0)

Zach Fowler 5, Madison Hughes 2 (68-0)

Chris Banks 5 (73-0)

Madison Hughes 3 (76-7)

Zack Fowler 5, Madison Hughes 2 (83-7)

Madison Hughes 7 (90-7)

Final Score: Dartmouth 90, Brown 7

The Team vs. Brown

1. Nick Brown  ‘15

2. Pete Savarese  ‘15

3. Andrew Berson  ‘15

4. Hayden Aldredge  ‘17

5. Keith Hamren  ‘15

6. Phil Sheridan  ‘16

7. Benjamin Hannam  ‘18

8. Michel McDavid  ‘15

9. Madison Hughes  ‘15

10. Dawit Workie  ‘17

11. John Abraham  ‘16

12. Zach Fowler  ’15

13. Brendan Cronin  ‘15

14. Max Parker  ‘17

15. Ryan Maguire  ‘16

Reserves (all reserves saw action):

Michael Wopinksi ‘15, Teddy Bommarito ‘15, Jeff Foster ’16, Will Vranos ’16, Gordon Driscoll ’17, Jake Levine ‘15, Curtis Oberg ‘16, Chris Banks ‘16

Full team roster: http://www.dartmouthrfc.com/players/

Dartmouth Tops Yale

Dartmouth Tops Yale

Big Green Downs the Bulldogs to Reach 5-0

New Haven, CT – The DRFC traveled to New Haven last Saturday to take on Yale. The first XV would win 42-7 in a fiercely contested match, while the second XV completed a 57-0 shutout. Even a few development squad players got in on the action, capping off the day with a friendly game of sevens.

The slick and muddy pitch could not dampen the team’s enthusiasm, but aggressive Yale play from the opening kick ended up pinning the Big Green inside its own 22 early. Decisive kicking and cohesive team play eventually moved the ball back into Yale territory where captain Pete Savarese managed to split the defense and open up the scoring.

As the morning wore on, the Bulldogs grew increasingly chippy and Dartmouth was unafraid to reciprocate. A midfield confrontation saw a number of Big Green players defend a teammate as the half wound down and resulted in lock Hayden Aldredge receiving a yellow card. The official, however, also carded two Yale players and the Dartmouth backline took advantage of the mismatch, adding two more tries. Additionally, when Aldredge returned early in the second half, he befuddled the Yale defense for a 60 meter line break before setting up Parker once more.

Parker’s final try, however, was the one to remember. Flyhalf Dawit Workie looked to quick tap a penalty at the Yale five-meter line but instead kicked a beautifully executed ball 35 meters across the pitch and just into the try-zone where a completely unmarked Parker caught it on the full and dotted it down.  On defense the Big Green was staunch even when Yale threatened inside there 22 numerous times. Yale’s lone try was only the sixth that the Big Green has allowed in five Ivy League games.

Yale deserves plenty of credit for 80 minutes of hard, physical play. Even when the game was well in hand, the Bulldogs refused to back down. Head Coach Gavin Hickie agreed, saying, “We had to work very hard for our victories and we are pleased to come away from New Haven with the win.”

The 2nd XV were eager to share in that hard work as well. The afternoon match-up saw the much-heralded return of Chris Banks ’16, who last played, Hickie noted, “at the Junior World Championship in 2013.” Banks looked fit in New Haven, scoring the game’s first try and leveling the opposition at the ruck. A number of freshman players made their DRFC debuts on Saturday, including John Brady ’18 who looked right at home slicing up the Yale defense. The afternoon ended with a sevens game for some promising newcomers. 

The DRFC now prepares for next Saturday’s homecoming contest against Brown. The 1st XV will kickoff at 11 a.m. on Brophy Field. If you cannot attend the match, a link to a live stream of the action will be posted on the @dartmouthrugby Twitter account before kickoff. On another note, the Fall Board of Governors Meeting will take place on Sunday, October 19 at 10 a.m. at the Corey Ford Rugby Clubhouse. All DRFC alumni and Friends of the club are welcome to attend. 

Dartmouth Rugby appreciates the longstanding support of our Alumni and Friends. Without this support, we would not be able to achieve the success we have enjoyed over the last six decades. We hope that we can continue to earn the support of all our Alums and Friends. To donate, please go to www.dartmouthrfc.com/support/ and click the "Support" button. Then select “Friends of Rugby” under the “Club Sports” section and fill in the required information to proceed to the billing page.

1st XV:

1. Nick Brown
2. Pete Savarese
3. Andrew Berson
4. Hayden Aldredge
5. Keith Hamren
6. Phil Sheridan
7. Benji Hannam
8. Mike McDavid
9. Jake Levine
10. Dawit Workie
11. Will DeChatellus
12. Curtis Oberg
13. Brendan Cronin
14. Max Parker
15. Ryan Maguire 

Dartmouth Triumphs in Doubleheader Weekend

Dartmouth Triumphs in Doubleheader Weekend

Defeats Penn and Princeton to Move to 4-0

Hanover, NH – Dartmouth hosted Penn and Princeton on Brophy Field for a rare doubleheader weekend this past Saturday and Sunday.  The Big Green emerged from the weekend victorious, defeating Penn 44-10 and Princeton 54-5.  Despite tough conditions on Saturday and the physical wear and tear of 160 minutes of rugby in 24 hours, Dartmouth managed to preserve its unbeaten record on its quest for an Ivy League title. 

Saturday’s match proved Penn a stauncher opponent than its 0-3 record would suggest.  Displaying strength in the scrum and determination at the contact point, Penn gave the Big Green a physical test.  The Dartmouth attack, usually proficient and confident in swinging the ball wide, saw its handling flounder in the spraying rain.  Despite the weather, the back line still managed to dot down the first two tries of the game, contributing to a 27-0 Big Green lead at the half.  With successful offloads and crisp passing proving to be elusive in the slippery conditions, the Big Green adjusted its second half attack to a more forward dominated structure.  Strong drives from the Big Green forward pack helped Dartmouth widen the deficit, leaving Penn down 44 points with twenty minutes to play.  Dartmouth held Penn scoreless till the seventieth minute, giving up two tries before the final whistle.  Although the Big Green came away with a win, the team knew there was room for improvement in its clash with Princeton, the only other undefeated side remaining in the Ivy League.  With the match coming the next day, Dartmouth did not have to wait long for its chance at redemption.

Sunday’s match pitted against one another the two remaining undefeated teams in the Ivy League.  Following eighty minutes of physical rugby the previous day, but invigorated by the chance to take on Princeton at home in front of its loyal fans, the Big Green delivered a performance more characteristic of the usual DRFC caliber.  In Sunday’s match, Dartmouth displayed continuity and cohesive team play, with scores resulting from linked phases, strong support, and opportunistic turnover lineouts.  Senior 8-man Michael McDavid had a standout day, stealing multiple lineouts, notching two tries and scavenging for turnover balls in the ruck, even once converting a sly poach into a forty meter run offloaded for a try under the posts.  Leading 27-0 at the start of the second half, the Big Green began to break away; tries came from all areas of the field as Dartmouth strung together good phase play injected with piercing line breaks and dynamic off loads.  In addition to formidable offense, Dartmouth displayed improved support around the ruck on long breaks – something they struggled with on Saturday – and solid defense, effectively shutting down Princeton’s attack.  The Big Green finished the game ahead 54-5 at the final whistle, capping off a fantastic rugby weekend at the Corey Ford Rugby Clubhouse. 

Despite the strong culminating performance, head coach Gavin Hickie cautioned complacency yet again and reflected on the importance on being cognizant of Dartmouth’s long term goals for this year. "We have passed the midway point in our Ivy XVs season and while we are happy with our standings atop of the Ivy Conference, we know that we have won nothing yet and have a number of areas that need improvement. Our execution against Penn was poor and that is something we looked to rectify against Princeton. We were pleased with our improvement in Sunday's game but we are aware we have to get to another level.”  Hickie also acknowledged the premier performances of various DRFC players, namely the much-anticipated return of junior flanker Erik Warnquist.  "As a team, we are simply looking to perform the core skills under pressure. We are improving and that is satisfying. It was fantastic to see a number of new players represent Dartmouth over the weekend as well as welcoming back Erik Warnquist from a long term injury."

Dartmouth continues its pursuit of the Ivy League Championship with a game against Yale next weekend.  The 1st XV will kickoff at 11 am at the Yale intramural fields at 70 Central Avenue, New Haven, CT 06515. The 2nd XV match will follow. The field is across from the Yale Bowl, next to the softball field. For more detailed directions, visit http://yalemensrugby.com/schedule-results/directions/ If you cannot make it to the match on Saturday, keep up with the action live on Twitter by following the @dartmouthrugby account.

Dartmouth Rugby appreciates the longstanding support of our Alumni and Friends. Without this support, we would not be able to achieve the success we have enjoyed over the last six decades. We hope that we can continue to earn the support of all our Alums and Friends. To donate, please go to www.dartmouthrfc.com/support/ and click the "Support" button. Then select “Friends of Rugby” under the “Club Sports” section and fill in the required information to proceed to the billing page.

 1st XV vs. Penn:

1. Nick Brown 2. Pete Savarese 3. Keith Hamren 4. Hayden Aldredge 5. Jeff Foster 6. Phil Sheridan 7. Benji Hannam 8. Mike McDavid 9. Jake Levine 10. Curtis Oberg 11. Max Parker 12. Zack Fowler 13. Brendan Cronin 14. Will deChat 15. Ryan Maguire

Scoring vs. Penn

     Maguire 5

     Fowler 5

     Hannam 5, Oberg 2

     Oberg 3

     Hannam 5, Oberg 2

Halftime: Dartmouth 27 – Penn 0

     Ollie Engelhart 5

     Parker 5, Oberg 2

     McDavid 5

Final: Dartmouth 44 – Penn 10

1st XV vs Princeton:

1. Nick Brown 2. Pete Savarese 3. Andrew Berson 4. Hayden Aldredge 5. Keith Hamren 6. Phil Sheridan 7. Benji Hannam 8. Mike McDavid 9. Jake Levine 10. Dawit Workie 11. John Abraham 12. Zack Fowler 13. Brendan Cronin 14. Max Parker 15. Ryan Maguire

Scoring vs. Princeton

     McDavid 5

     Workie 3

     Fowler 5

     Levine 5, Workie 2

     Hamren 5, Workie 2

Halftime: Dartmouth 27 – Princeton 0

     Abraham 5

     Parker 5, Workie 2

     Hannam 5

     Fowler 5

     McDavid 5

Final: Dartmouth 54 – Princeton 5

Dartmouth Blanks Harvard in Boston

Dartmouth Blanks Harvard in Boston

Improves Ivy Record to 2-0

Cambridge, MA – Carrying forward the momentum of a 61-10 victory over Cornell in their Ivy League fall opener, the Big Green delivered another impressive performance in Boston this past Saturday.  Discussion across social media and rugby newsletters about Harvard’s 1-0 record abound, Saturday’s meeting with the Crimson held extra import.  Coming off a thrice-defeated year against the Dartmouth squad in 2014, Harvard was out for blood.  Despite Harvard’s hard charging attitude, the Big Green soundly defeated the Crimson at home, delivering 8 tries while allowing none in a notable 58 – 0 victory. 

Clear skies and bordering on broiling heat, Saturday was a beautiful day to play the game of rugby.  Maybe it was the heat, maybe it was the bus journey, but Dartmouth opened the game a bit on their heels.  Coupled with Harvard’s early physicality, unforced errors and lack of discipline caused a gradual start for the Big Green.  Turnovers and penalties piled up in the first stanza, yet Dartmouth continued to grind.  Flyhalf Dawit Workie helped tip the scales early in the game, converting an early penalty for points and setting up outside center Brendan Cronin for the first try of the game off an early turnover lineout   

Vehement tackling around the ruck from Captain Peter Savarese and senior prop Andrew Berson dismantled Harvard’s forward oriented attacking platform and characterized the gritty defense Dartmouth displayed around the pitch.  In addition to stalwart defense, the Big Green’s scrum repeatedly overpowered the Harvard pack, sending their backs scrambling to cover quick turnover ball.   As defense eroded Harvard’s composure, the Big Green began piling on the points.  Zach Fowler stiff-armed and steam rolled his way through the Harvard back line for tries under the post three times on the day.  Fullback Ryan Maguire and wing Will DeChatellus worked magic out wide, executing long runs and cheeky offloads – once converting a stolen Harvard lineout into a 90-meter try. 

Peter Savarese stepped in as team captain for the match as Madison Hughes, recently named captain of the USA Eagles 7s team, was in San Diego preparing for international tour.  Savarese commented after the match: "It's always fun to beat Harvard. We came in expecting them to play physically and they did manage to disrupt our game plan at the start. As the match progressed, we looked to get back to our basic skills and were able to execute more effectively. We had some very strong runs from our backline and our forwards dominated up front, largely containing Harvard's interior attack. Overall, it was a great team effort and a great result. We look at this as just the next step to our goal of winning the Ivy League and look forward to our challenge next weekend – a double header against Penn and Princeton. Congratulations again to our captain Madison Hughes on his appointment as captain of the American men's 7s team- we wish him all the best.”

After the game, Dartmouth Coach Gavin Hickie echoed the sentiments of Savarese, reflecting that "while we are relatively happy with our performance against Harvard, we know we are not as clinical as we aspire to be, yet. We will continue to focus our training on executing our core skills under pressure. We are starting to gel as a squad which is satisfying but we have a crucial week ahead with two big games against Penn and Princeton who will provide stern tests for us."

Dartmouth’s pursuit of the Ivy League championship continues with a big double-header weekend in Hanover.  The 1st XV will kickoff on Brophy Field against Penn at 11:00 am on Saturday, with Princeton to follow at 1:00 pm on Sunday.

Dartmouth Rugby appreciates the longstanding support of our Alumni and Friends. Without this support, we would not be able to achieve the success we have enjoyed over the last six decades. We hope that we can continue to earn the support of all our Alums and Friends. To donate, please go to www.dartmouthrfc.com/support/ and click the "Support" button. Then select “Friends of Rugby” under the “Club Sports” section and fill in the required information to proceed to the billing page.

1st XV:

1. Nick Brown
2. Pete Savarese
3. Andrew Berson
4. Hayden Aldredge
5. Keith Hamren
6. Phil Sheridan
7. Benji Hannam
8. Mike McDavid
9. Jake Levine
10. Dawit Workie
11. Will DeChatellus
12. Zack Fowler
13. Brendan Cronin
14. Max Parker
15. Ryan Maguire 

Dartmouth Rugby Demonstrates Academic Prowess and On-Field Talent with Strong Presence in All-Ivy, Academic All-American and All-American Selections

The end to the 2013-2014 rugby season once again exhibited the depth and breadth of the Dartmouth Rugby and its perpetual ability to craft dynamic players and distinguished scholars.  2014 saw a strong showing of DRFC players receiving honors of numerous accounts ranging from extensive Dartmouth presence in All-Ivy Selections and recently named Academic All-Americans to the captaining of the Collegiate All-American side by Madison Hughes ’15. 

All-Ivy Selections:

Selection for the All-Ivy 1st XV was dominated by DRFC presence, with eight of the 15 starters coming from the club. 

ALL IVY 1st XV

3     Rett Young '14

4     Dylan Jones '14

5     Ned Kingsley '14

7     Neil Greene '14

11     Kevin Clark '14

13    Zack Fowler '15

14    Wilson Chockley '15

15    Madison Hughes '15

Another two DRFC players were named to the All Ivy 2nd XV and six more members received honorable mentions.

All-Ivy 2nd XV:

8     Hayden Aldredge '17

10    Will Scheiman '14

All-Ivy Honorable Mention:

12    Rex Littlefield '14

14    James Sharpe '14

3     Jake Blair '14

2     Brian Flint '14

11     Tyler Morange '14

9     John Descalzi '14

Academic All-Americans:

Each year, USA Rugby recognizes intercollegiate scholar rugby-athletes who have demonstrated academic and athletic excellence during the 2013-14 academic year.

Candidates have met or exceeded the program criteria, which includes being a consistent starter on his/her intercollegiate rugby team and posting a cumulative grade point average of 3.7 (on scale of 4.0) or higher.

The DRFC boasted six of this years male Academic All-Americans:

Wilson Chockley                    Junior              Economics

Brendan Cronin                     Junior              Neuroscience

Jake Levine                           Junior              Spanish

Peter Savarese                      Junior              Latin American and Caribbean Studies

Will Scheiman                        Senior              Economics

Colin Walmsley                      Junior              Anthropology/Government

All-Americans:

In addition to academic prowess, DRFC members Madison Hughes ’15 and Zach Fowler ’15 both represented the club on a national level with selection to the Collegiate All-American trial camp.  Fowler, a football convert turned thundering power-center, attended camp with the squad before returning home with a shoulder injury; while Hughes, an international phenom for the USA Eagles on the IRB 7s circuit, was bestowed the distinguished honor of captaining the Collegiate All Americans.  Led by Hughes, the Collegiate All Americans recently laid down a decisive victory over Cambridge University’s Varsity XV on Dartmouth’s very own beautiful Brophy Field in Hanover, NH. 

End of Year Awards:

At the end of each season, the players and coaches of the DRFC vote to select players who they deem most crucial – on the field and off – to the success of the club.  The recipients of this year’s awards are listed below.

WAYNE YOUNG AWARD

This award is bestowed upon the player deemed Most Valuable to the success of the club by members of the first XV.

Maddy Hughes ‘15

DICK LEISCHING AWARD

This award is bestowed upon the senior who was not an officer of the club, but contributed the most to the DRFC on and off the pitch.

Will Scheiman ‘14

COREY FORD AWARD

This award is given to a non-senior whose dedication and enthusiasm on the field best exemplifies the spirit of the DRFC. 

Erik Warnquist ‘16

WALTER LUTKUS AWARD

This award is given to a freshman who has shown outstanding skills and a natural talent for the game of rugby.

Dawit Workie ‘17

Collegiate All-Americans v Cambridge University @ Dartmouth

The US Men's Collegiate All-Americans will host the renowned Cambridge University Varsity XV at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH, June 21, at 1pm. A second-side match against a Collegiate Barbarians, made up of University students in the greater Ontario province, will also take place against the Collegiate All-Americans 2nd XV, kick-off at 3pm. 

Current Dartmouth captain and US 7s Eagle, Madison Hughes '15, will be playing for the All-Americans for his third year in a row. Former Dartmouth co-captain and All-American, Nate Brakeley '12, will be presenting his Cambridge Varsity Blue jersey to Dartmouth at halftime. Brakeley is the first Dartmouth Light Blue. Vince Jones '52, on a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford, became the College's first Dark Blue, playing in the 1954 edition of the Varsity match. 

As noted by Cambridge, "the light Blues will be facing the All American XV in a bid to boost cross-atlantic relations and promote the sport of rugby within the Colleges of Boston and New Hampshire.

'Previously Cambridge has been blessed with tentacular grip of Nate Brakeley, an alumnus of Dartmouth (Dartmouth / Thayer class of 2012) and also a previous All American XV player. Dartmouth is a very highly regarded college, with excellent academic standards and rich sporting history that would provide a great basis for publicising the game of Rugby Union."

About the Collegiate All-Americans

The AIG Men's Collegiate All-American Team is made up of the nation’s best collegiate rugby players who are picked annually based on their performances in university-level undergraduate play. The All-American team has long been a precursor to international honors, with many All-Americans graduating to the USA National Team.  

The All American tradition of strong collegiate players goes back to the 1920 and 1924 Olympic gold medal winning teams which were full of the best college rugby players in the country at the time. The All-Americans, who wear the same crest as that 1924 Olympic team, are the modern-day version of that team, with student-athletes from our great universities that  represent those classic American ideals of determination, adaptability, creativity, and a will to succeed against the odds. 

About Cambridge University Rugby Football Club

CURUFC is a wholly amateur student rugby club aiming to offer a rugby environment that is as 'professional' as possible. There are three regular teams: the Blues, the LX Club and the U21 XV, together with occasional fixtures for the U21A XV and the Colleges XV. The Blues have a strong midweek fixture list incorporating top professional clubs and universities whilst the LX Club and U21 generally play at weekends. In addition in the Lent term an U20 XV competes in the RFU national constituent body U20 competition. 

Teams are selected on merit and all teams receive coaching, strength and conditioning guidance and medical support from our well-qualified staff. 

The club has a great tradition of touring, with different squads touring Japan, South Africa, Scotland and the USA in recent years. 

On midweek afternoons there are 20 College teams who compete in a structured league system. There are three leagues with each team playing against the other on a home and away basis. The Lent term is used for the knockout Cuppers tournament with the finals being held at Grange Road during the last week of term. In addition the season ends with a Colleges sevens tournament. 

Colleges rugby is very important in Cambridge and unique in that Division One is used to trial experimental laws for the RFU and IRB. The laws laboratory has run for twelve years and created a worldwide interest in its work. This scheme also attracts referees to come and referee in the Cambridge league and contribute to the friendship and fun which flourishes in our sporting environment. 

The ultimate aim of every rugby player at Cambridge should be to play in a 'Varsity' match. Annually there are now five Varsity matches played at Blues, LX Club, U21, U21A and Colleges level, ensuring that over 100 players gain the honour of playing against ‘the other place.' The Varsity series culminates at Twickenham in early December with the curtain raiser of the U21 match and then the world-renowned Varsity Match in front of approximately 40,000 spectators and a worldwide television audience.