It was the summer of 1969 when several young men met at Cathedral High
School to form the Springfield Rugby Football Club, the Rifles. Some of the
original group included: Tim Rabbit, Bill Cosgriff, Bob Crowley, John Del Negro,
Dan Desesa, Paul Rieker and Phil and Joe Ward.
In the earlier days, the members of the team primarily came from Chicopee and
Springfield. The team's first match was played against Schenectady, NY. At the
time New England was divided into three divisions. Springfield played in the
3rd division. The team later played a number of times for the Division 3
Championship.
The team had a handful of experienced players. What they lacked in talent,
they made up for in athleticism and hard play. "We were successful because
we had great athletes who were very physical" said founding member Paul
Rieker. "Typically teams like Albany and Boston had bigger and more
experienced players. We were sometimes undermanned in the set piece, but
often dominated the play by being extremely physical. Our aggressive defense
frustrated teams often causing them to make mistakes that we would capitalize
on." The team really had two watering holes, The City Line and St. Mikes in
downtown Chicopee. While the social life at home was fun, the away games
were an experience. "It was a long strange trip, the stories are outrageous"
said Paul.
School to form the Springfield Rugby Football Club, the Rifles. Some of the
original group included: Tim Rabbit, Bill Cosgriff, Bob Crowley, John Del Negro,
Dan Desesa, Paul Rieker and Phil and Joe Ward.
In the earlier days, the members of the team primarily came from Chicopee and
Springfield. The team's first match was played against Schenectady, NY. At the
time New England was divided into three divisions. Springfield played in the
3rd division. The team later played a number of times for the Division 3
Championship.
The team had a handful of experienced players. What they lacked in talent,
they made up for in athleticism and hard play. "We were successful because
we had great athletes who were very physical" said founding member Paul
Rieker. "Typically teams like Albany and Boston had bigger and more
experienced players. We were sometimes undermanned in the set piece, but
often dominated the play by being extremely physical. Our aggressive defense
frustrated teams often causing them to make mistakes that we would capitalize
on." The team really had two watering holes, The City Line and St. Mikes in
downtown Chicopee. While the social life at home was fun, the away games
were an experience. "It was a long strange trip, the stories are outrageous"
said Paul.
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