Rugby at Vassar |
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Men's Rugby News & Notes
» Click to fill out the recruiting questionnaire « The program has steadily grown over the past decade. In 2006-07 the team went 19-3 winning a third Metropolitan New York Division title. The Brewers earned a No. 12 national ranking and won the Division II title at the Beast of the East Tournament. In 2007-08 the Brewers were 14-4 and second in the Metropolitan Division II. Vassar competes in the Metropolitan New York Rugby Union and have been Division I and II champions. In Fall 2002 Vassar were the Division I champions. In the spring of 2002 Vassar won the Rugby Imports "Beast of the East" Tournament in Providence, Rhode Island, taking the men's division II title. Prior to that the Brewers qualified for the Met. New York playoffs in 2000 and 2001, and captured the Stony Brook Open Division Tournament in 1998. The Vassar men have qualified for the playoffs for the last six years. The fall schedule features Met. New York opponents while the spring slate includes regional rivals and tournaments. Vassar has a strong alumni following and the annual alumni game is the finale to the spring season. The seniors play one half with the college and then join the Alumni XV. We are very grateful for our alumni support. Every two years at a minimum, Vassar tours overseas. In 2003 Vassar went to England and Wales and faced tough opponents - University College Northampton, Old Northamptonian Colts, and Swansea University. In 2001, the Brewers went to England and faced Exeter University, Seale Hayne College, and Topsham Rugby Club. In 1999, the team toured Ireland going up against Trinity College, Waterford, and University College Cork. In March 2002, Vassar traveled to Sydney, Australia and spent two weeks in the southern hemisphere practicing and playing games against Sydney University Colts, MacQuarie University, and Petersham Colts. In 2005 the men went to Argentina and went 1-2 earning their first overseas win. In 2005-06, Vassar went to England and France, defeating the Sorbonne in Paris 15-12. Last year, Vassar went to the Bahamas where they defeated Yale and then lost a close game to local Baillon Rugby Club. "The key to success on the field is player commitment and squad depth," Brown said. "The number of players is still a priority for Vassar men's rugby. A squad of 45 plus will produce the competition needed and provide better preparation. The end result will be a winning program at the national level." Players are generally on the field for 90 miutes to two hours maximum at a time; combined with preparation and post-practice activity, the total commitment is about two hours a day, three days a week.
Head coach Tony Brown |
The 2008-09 season will be a challenge for the Brewers as they return just five starters out of 15. Founded in 1975, men's rugby at Vassar quickly built a good reputation under Dennis Chanmugam and, in 1995 Tony Brown was hired as the first full-time head coach.
For more information about men's rugby at Vassar, please contact:
Vassar College Athletics124 Raymond Avenue Box 750, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604-0750 |