Dartmouth to Host the Rockwood RoyallRugby Classic Labor Day Weekend

After a successful spring highlighted by taking the title at the USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC), Dartmouth Rugby will return its focus to the 15-man version of the game Labor Day weekend as part of the annual Dartmouth Rugby Classic presented by Rockwood and Royall Lyme.The classic, as usual, will bring some of the best sides in the US and Canada to Hanover with McGill University, Queen’s University, and traditional rivals Army taking part. While the Big Green won’t have a chance to take on the Black Knights, whom they beat in the CRC Final, until two weeks later on September 17^th, they will have the chance to test their skills against their counterparts from north of the border. They’ll play Ontario champions, Queen’s, at 10 am on Saturday, Sept. 3^rd on Brophy Field, with a 2^nd XV game to follow. In the afternoon, Army will play McGill at 2 pm, followed by a match-up between their 2^nd XVs. On Sunday, September 4^th, Army will start things off by taking on Queen’s at 10 am, with a match between both teams’ 2^nd XVs to follow. The Big Green will then face Quebec champions, McGill, at 2 pm on Sunday, with a 2^nd XVs rematch immediately afterwards.

The Big Green will use the Rockwood RoyallRugby Classic once again to help with their preparations for the fall Ivy League 15s season ahead. “Preseason is an important time for the team to begin implementing the structures and systems that will hopefully carry us to Ivy League success, and we always look forward to testing ourselves against some of the strongest Canadian programs,” said Captain and All-American No. 8 Paul Jarvis ’12. “It also provides a chance to experiment with different combinations, both in personnel and tactics, and discover how to get the best out of the squad.” Coach Alex Magleby ’00, who will be starting his 11^th year as head coach of the Big Green, agreed, emphasizing the unique challenge of playing the two Canadian sides. "Both Queens and McGill have long traditions of championship rugby. They are well coached, and have some of the elite collegiate players in Canada, especially Queens in the strong OUA league. Canada university athletics is open to undergrads and grad student-athletes, so typically these teams provide a bit more physical presence than our American collegiate peers. And it's almost always a free flowing running rugby style with these two, which is fun in a preseason friendly." All games are free to the public and will take place at the Corey Ford Rugby Clubhouse, which is located at 9 Reservoir Road in Hanover, 1.8 miles north of the Hanover Inn, off of Lyme Road.

Dartmouth will be in action again the next weekend as they host the Granite State Cup on Sept. 10th.