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 SJU Rugby Football Club Spring of 1973.
Rugby was established at St. John's University sometime around 1934 (earliest date we have found so far). SJU RFC played in the earliest form of the Metropolitan Union. Their home field was the rock-piled Red Hook Field in Brooklyn. They played against teams like New York RFC, Harvard, Yale, and one or two more (unknown at present by this author). Sometime before 1938 the team was
shelved as most young men turned their attention to World War II. It wasn't until the Spring of 1973 when Alan Whelan and a group of other SJU ruggers were practicing as the newly formed SJU Rugby Football Club, that an Irish priest named Fr. Joseph Brown (head of Philosophy at the time) came down and relayed this history to the lads. Father Brown was
one of the original players during that time period and was elated that the lads had picked up the sport again for Saint John's. That Spring Father Brown
attended all of the "Johnnies" home games. He has long since passed away. We therefore honor his memory by considering Father Brown, the founding father of SJU RFC.
During the period 1973 to 1980, Alan Whelan served as coach and mentor of the club.
 SJU Rugby Football Club 1980's(partial team photo).
In 1980, the team toured Ireland.
This tour served as Alan's farewell and last hurrah with the club.Also at this time, team player Frank Kelly and faculty advisor Richard "Doc" Stalter, unofficially took over the reins of guiding our club. Although not official coaches or in charge, their input was greatly appreciated and assisted us in our "self-governorship". The club found itself to be "the forgotten team" at SJU.
It's funding and support from the university being scant.The haggard and abused field at the edge of "the pits" that we once called home, found itself briefly replaced by one of the girl's Sports fields and as soon as we put a few divits and dents in the field, we were quickly kicked off! We finally found ourselves taking matters into our own hands and practicing as well as hosting our
games at Cunningham Park!
If you have any additional club history to share--especially pre-1980, please email me at BlackWatch@SJURugby.com
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