The Latest Rugby News

The Cornell University RFC has been invited to participate in the 47th annual Cherry Blossom Rugby Tournament, hosted by Washington RFC .  It is one of the largest tournaments on the east coast. The tournament has three divisions: College Men, College Women and High School Boys.

On a crisp autumn day at Cornell’s pitch the University of Pennsylvania Quakers and the Cornell Big Red battled to a 33-16 final. Penn, coming off a tie with the Princeton Tigers, looked to establish an early tempo.

Cornell travelled to Hamilton, New York to take on cross-state rival Colgate University on Saturday, September 8th. Cornell was fresh off a close defeat and looking for their first win of the season against a strong Colgate side. Colgate’s side, which went 13-0 only to lose in the national tournament last spring, suffered a loss to other Ivy, Yale University 28-0 the week previous. The ensuing match was one to be remembered. A storm swirled in from the west that brought with it two straight hours of rain.

After trailing 17-7 at the half, Cornell came charging back to take 22-20 on a try by Cornell's Andrew Sapozink with less than 20 minutes left. Columbia scored two late trys though, when it counted and overtook Cornell at the final whistle 32-22.

Cornell Men hosted Columbia University in its Ivy League home opener last Saturday. After a morning of consistent rain two hours prior, the weather cleared up in time for the noon kick-off. The Columbia side captured the win with the help of their stout defense 20-12.

Earlier this month, Tim Kelly, Cornell Faded Red’s Vice President of Men’s Club Affairs conducted an in-depth interview with Ron Schassburger, the new head coach of the CURFC. Ron’s rugby roots date back to 1960, and in this interview we learn of his tremendous love for the game, the pursuit of rugby perfection and the future trajectory of Cornell men’s rugby.

Williams, Cornell Class of 1915, is the only Ivy League rugby player to ever receive an Olympic Gold Metal. Paris 18 May 1924, Olympic Stadium of Colombes, Games of the VIII Olympiad: Competitors of the United States and France (17:3) battle during the final match of the rugby tournament.