Alumni – we had our annual Alumni / Dinos game on Saturday, Sept 17 at the CRU fields under perfect conditions for rugby. This game traditionally has been about engaging our alumni with the Dinos team to inform them of the history of rugby at U of C. It also serves as one of the first games of the year for the coaches to see new players and try to put together our teams for the coming ‘season’ of play. This year it was very important from the viewpoint that we have somewhere in the order of 40+ new registrants combined with 30+ returning players…..not a bad dilemma!
As normal the alumni team never knows what it’s makeup will be until just before KO. This year we were short of players so it was decided to utilize as many of the returning players as possible to go against mainly a Dinos team made up of new registrants. We played four 20 minute periods with rolling substitutions so that everybody got into the game and the coaches were able to get a good idea of the skill level of the players. The game was very entertaining with lots of scoring and true to form the Stags/Dinos came through victorious 41 – 34 (7 tries to 6), our conversions giving us the cushion! We had sufficient front rows for both sides allowing us to play contested scrums which also helped the coaches view this important part of the game.
From the alumni side we had 19 guys out with 10 who strapped on the boots and played. The playing alumni were Luigi Giancarlo, John Pierce & Dean Kittleson from the original Stags ably backed up by Dave Exley, Todd Freeborn, Dylan Hill, Dave Lougheed, Mitch McLeod, Ryan Olivier & Chris Storey all Dino players who became Stags upon graduation since 2001. There were many plays made by alumni but 2 stand out above the rest…..Dave Exley winning a lineout and bursting through from 40 metres out to score and the second was a resounding goal line tackle made by Luigi to prevent a score!! Impressive by both and basically it finished both of them as they were gassed!
The remaining alumni were the sideline support that is always greatly appreciated by all the players. Ben Barrington, Harry Irving, Al LaBerge, Colin & Ethel Lumby, Dex Nelson and Roger Pinches from the original Stags era and Scott Appleby, Rob Dorran and Ian Thorner from the new Stags era. Thorner who is fit and could easily have played conveniently arrived late and without his gear!!! Maybe next year Ian.
As always the post game libations on the deck at the CRU led to many discussions about status of the game of rugby today vs when some of us played. The one common thread however is the camaraderie around the game and the old & new friendships made that have and will stand the test of time.
Registration can be done online at the 
