Rugby Team Wins 2015 Little Three Championship

The Wesleyan Men’s Rugby Team, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, played Trinity College on Oct. 30 at the Long Lane field. The team, also known as the Wesleyan “Old Methodist” Rugby Football Club, now plays in a recognized New England Rugby Football Union league including the Little 3, Trinity and Connecticut College, and they can compete for both New England and National titles. In fact, Wesleyan beat both Amherst and Williams in league play this fall to win the Little Three championship!

Wesleyan won 19-15 over Williams on Sept. 26 and 48-35 over Amherst on Oct. 10. Rugby is coached by Peter Velcovsky and Dennis “Doc” Lyons.

Rugby is one of Wesleyan’s many club sports, which provide a competitive alternative to varsity athletics. Although schedules vary from team to team, many practice more than three times a week times and play games against other schools. All teams are run and organized by students and are supported by the Wesleyan Student Assembly and Wesleyan Department of Physical Education and Athletics.

Other club sports recognized by Wesleyan include: women’s rugby, cycling, equestrian, ice hockey, men’s and women’s sailing, co-ed Ultimate Frisbee, men’s volleyball, water polo, fencing, men’s lacrosse, badminton, Kung Fu, boxing and climbing (WesClimb).

More photos of the men’s rugby team in action are below: (Photos by Olivia Drake MALS ’08)