It was an evening with food, drinks, stories, songs, traditions and of course the age-old, 30-foot long arm versus 50 ducks question. It was an emotional night for all, but none more so than for the aforementioned co-captains. Stephane and Flint spent the year developing the team on the practice field and leading it on the match pitch. They were relentless in their dedication to the team, organizing and running three practices a week throughout the year and spending countless other hours for the advancement of the club. Stephane and Flint passed the torch to next years co-captains, Liam Patrick (NC) and Jeff Todd (HLS) . Liam was one of the many outstanding additions to the team from the MBA Class of 2008. He demonstrated his rugby skills and on field leadership from the outside center position all season. This was Jeff Todd’s second year on the team and he actually served as club co-president this year. After a dominating year in the front row, the club decided at their annual spring elections that he would be better suited as an on the pitch captain. Both men will have big shoes to fill.
The club’s other president this year was John Doran (OB). John distinguished himself on the pitch from the full back position all year but most notably during the recent MBA Rugby World Championships at Duke. John also took the lead in fundraising for the club this year. His hard work resulted in mid-season contributions from Lehman Brothers and The Boston Consulting Group. John and Jeff will be replaced Mark De Ambrosis (NF) and Allen Rowe (ND). Mark played both scrum half and fly half this season and his deep understanding of the game and leadership skills made him an obvious choice for club president. Allen spent the season delivering bone crushing hits from the blind side flanker position. Both men have hit the deck plates running and have already organized the leadership for next year’s team and are working hard to make next season even more successful than this one.
There were several other notable turnovers at leadership positions. Tony Frangie (OB) and Matt Commons (OD) both did superb jobs in the thankless position of tour director by organizing outstanding tours to Wharton, McGill, London and Duke. This years Argentina spring break tour director Rafa Soto (NF) and Mark Cuthbert (NA) will be responsible for organizing next year’s tours. Sam Gray (OI) passed the duties of fiscal responsibility onto next years treasurer Neil Campbell (ND). The venerable social director, Scott Pasquini (OF), did such an amazing job that he had to be replaced by two men: Jon Oka (NJ) and Craig Canton (NJ).
It was a bellwether year for HBS Rugby. One that lead through the finals of the Wharton Hogfest Tournament, the NERFU Division III playoffs, the London Business School Tournament Finals, virtually the entire country of Argentina and the finals of the MBA Rugby World Championships. The team has the leadership of the MBA Class of 2007 to thank for that great success. As they look to next year, the HBS RFC and it’s 2008 leadership intends to carry on that winning tradition and make the 2007-08 season an even greater success than this one.
The team will begin practice the first week of class of the fall 2007 semester and welcomes all members from the MBA Class of 2008 and 2009, as well as students from all the Harvard graduate schools, to become part of the finest athletic and social club at the Harvard Business School: The HBS Rugby Football Club [Est. 1963].
Lastly, the Harvard Ruggers would like to thank our sponsors Lehman Brothers, the Boston Consulting Group, Sierra Nevada, and Anglo Irish Bank for helping to make the season possible.
