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UD Rugby Club History

 

UDRFC 2006 EPRU Champions

 

The University of Delaware RFC was established in the Spring of 1972 by the two Scotts, Trouver and Nichols.  Both were grad students, formerly players from Susquehanna University.  The inaugural match was arranged against their former team, Susquehanna, and played on an open field behind the current football stadium with bolted together 2 x 4’s for goal posts and a keg of beer propped up in a tub of ice on the sideline.  Delaware surprisingly won the match by a score of 10-6, and was introduced to the social side of Rugby by a very sporting Susquehanna squad.  The Club played three matches that spring, finishing 2-1 with another win at Susquehanna and a loss against their first Club Side opponent, Doylestown C’s.  There was no inter-collegiate undergraduate rugby in those days, so the team was composed of undergrads, grad students and a rare recruit from the Deer Park.

The Hens played a full split season the following fall of ‘72 and spring of ’73, including a match against Penn on the newly installed Franklin Field Astro-Turf.  After compiling an undefeated season against five college sides and five club sides in the fall of 1973, the Hens earned an invitation to what was then called the EPRU Challenge Cup in the spring of 1974.  The Hens defeated Harrisburg and Whitemarsh to advance to the Finals where they were trounced soundly by the Philadelphia Club side, who had advanced by defeating South Jersey, by a score of 24-0.  But in the spring of 1975 the Hens returned, again through Harrisburg and Whitemarsh, to meet Philly in the finals.  This time the Hens powered into the try zone no less than five times, yet lost to Philly 4-0 as result of some very questionable refereeing.  Hence was born the Mighty Blue Hen Rugby Club and Tradition you are experiencing today.

Some characters to remember from the first few years were:

Peter and Kerry Kehoe, two brothers who had played at a very high level on their University sides in Ireland, were grad students at Delaware and the heart of the team at inside and outside half.

Bob “Navy” Gibson often practiced barefoot, but is perhaps best remembered for scoring the winning comeback-from-behind try on a cross kick from Kerry Kehoe vs. Doylestown A’s at Doylestown during injury time in the last game of the 1973 undefeated season.

John “Andy” Anderson scored ten tries from the #8 position during the 1973 undefeated season, and went on to play two years for the Los Angeles RFC and South Jersey A’s from ’77 thru ‘90.

Dan “Dirt” Morgan was a Little All-American Offensive Guard on the Blue Hens Football Team who played WF, because that’s where he wanted to play.

Bill “Beet” McKenna on the wing, was noted for his long flowing blonde locks as he streaked down the sideline and played many years for the Brandywine and Wilmington Rugby Clubs.

Pete “The Songmaster” Hesler was a utility back at the time who went on to play many years of fullback for South Jersey and the EPRU, but may be better known as one of the East’s top referees throughout the ‘90’s and keeping the post match ruggers’ songfest in vogue.

Dwayne “Stump” Reese at Hooker was its first elected Club President and went on to be an integral part of the growth of Rugby at the U of D.  Stump was a key figure in launching the Original Atlantic Cup Tournament.

Bill “OZ” Ozbourne was a long, lean crewer at Lock, and a premiere jumper in the lineout back when you had to jump.  Oz was also very instrumental in the administration of the first few Atlantic Cup Rugby Tournaments.

John Saunders was one of very few specialists in rugby, a fullback whose rugby skills were raw and undeveloped, but won more than one match with his ability to consistently hit a 40 yd PK.

Scott “Carrot Top” Douglas, the only forward who had ever played the game at the time of the club’s inception, taught the powerful Hen pack all they knew from his tight-head prop position.