Philadelphia Whitemarsh Old Boys now play a busy over thirty-five schedule both in the fall and spring. Anyone interested in joining the club to rekindle the boy in themselves or would just like to watch a match, please contact Matt Hull. We try to schedule as many fixtures that are possible at the same pitch as our younger sides so to promote Club unity and the game of rugby itself. Take a look at the schedule section of the web page, and the directions under the facilities section.
Highlights:
02/24/2002 Fort Lauderdale Old Boys Tournament (Away)
11/10/2001 Wilmington Old Boys (Home)
05/12/2001 2nd City Old Boys (Away)
03/24/2001 Wilmington Old Boys (Home)
The Philadelphia Whitemarsh Old Boys, often refered to as the Dirty Dogs, play a mild spring and fall schedule, as well as 7s in Cape Fear, NC in early each July and a trek to Saranac at the beginning of each August for 15s.
On a more general note we hope to increase the Old Boys exposure both inside the club as a whole and outside as a recruiting force. We will be taking orders for personalized PWRFC - OLD BOYS beer steins for use at clubhouse functions (you can also order extras for home and office use). The steins are $15 each or two for $25.
Old Boys History
The Old Boys for Philadelphia Whitemarsh RFC trace their roots back to Philadelphia Rugby Club’s Old Boys team known as the Extra Bs. It was started in the spring of 1980 by Tony Studdy to ensure his selection. About the time of the merger the old boys decided to enter a team in the London Golden Oldies Rugby Festival. Several team names were considered. Philadelphia Area Senior Team, International Tour or PAST IT was one. However the final choice was Middle Aged Rugby Side or MARS as several of the original Mid Atlantic Rugby side were now in middle age and Al Little and Tony Studdy figured it would save designing a new logo and uniform.
The Mid-Atlantic Rugby Side had been formed in 1977 for a tour of the UK. It consisted mainly of players from clubs in the EPRU, but also included guest players from other Middle Atlantic states, hence the name. MARS name stuck during the UK tour and generated considerable comments. That group included players, administrators and thirty- five women Rugby players. The eighty players were split into two groups. The first of which won one, lost three and tied one. The other group won one and lost four. The women also played Exhibition matches, two in England and one in Wales. Despite the match record, the tour was enjoyed by all.
In 1987 MARS traveled to Auckland for the Golden Oldies followed by a week in Australia hosted by the Funnelwebs and Vintage Blues who they had played in London. MARS received all kinds of great press. One head line read Rugby Game out of this World and discussed the arrival in space ships. The side was also very lucky to draw the Silver Ferns, a side made up of all Ex All Blacks.
In 1989 MARS was off to the Golden Oldies in Toronto. MARS hosted the Funnelwebs and Old Golds before and after the Festival to return the wonderful hospitality they had received in Australia.
In 1991 MARS continued its touring ways traveling to the Golden Oldies in Perth and on to the Cane Toads in Cairns and the Funnelwebs again in Sydney for more wonderful hospitality.
1993 found the MARS side at the Golden Oldies in Dublin, and after the Festival the Castlebar Old Boys in the west of Ireland did the Martians proud.
1995 MARS went to Christchurch New Zealand and 1997 Vancouver. Many of the Martians continue to play irregular Saturday matches under the guise of Philadelphia Whitemarsh Old Boys. By 1996 there were so many former players from Philadelphia Whitemarsh starting to play on alternating Saturdays that the side decided to call themselves by that name and use the colors of the Club instead of the famous orange jerseys of MARS. Do not be alarmed at this as the MARS side is still alive and touring to Golden Oldies Festivals were ever they may be held. In 1998, Cape Town and on October 17th-24th, 1999 Adelaide, Austrailia.