Rugby union at the 1920 Summer Olympics was played in Antwerp, Belgium. Two nations entered the rugby union event at the 1920 Summer Olympics — France and the United States. The French team were thought to be assured of the gold medal and came in as raging favourites in the event. However, the United States team surprised everyone when defeating France by eight points to nil.[1]
The rugby football Olympic tournament consisted of only one match. It was played between the United States and France. The US squad was made up of American football players from California universities, notably Stanford, California, and Santa Clara. Due to American football becoming an increasingly violent sport, these and other west coast universities chose to instead play rugby union from 1906-1914.[2][3][4]
On the other side, the French team was composed of players from four clubs near Paris: Racing Club, Olympique, Club Athlétique des Sports Généraux, and Sporting Club Universitaire.
United States player Rudy Scholz wrote about the match:
It started at 5 PM, (time here for all big matches) and there was a crowd of about 20,000 present, despite the fact it was raining. At a council of war we decided that because the ground was wet and slippery and the ball likewise, we would make it a forward game. The French tried a backfield game, and they lost although they were fast. The slippery ball and field proved their undoing...[5]
On 19 September, in Lyon, United States defeated a team representing the southeast of France 26–0. The American team also achieved victories against a southern French team (in Toulouse) and a southwest side at Bordeaux. United States was later defeated by France 14–5 in Paris.[5]
Rugby Commissioner and President of the California Rugby Union, Harry Maloney, was Coach and Trainer of the team.
James Fitzpatrick is missing in the IOC medal database but he did compete in the match.
James Winston is listed in the IOC medal database but he did not participate.
Bill Muldoon was also a squad member of the American team but did not compete (and is not listed in the IOC medal database).
Raymond Berrurier is listed in the IOC medal database but he did not participate.
Constant Lamaignière, Eugène Soulié, and Robert Thierry were squad members for the French team but they did not play (and were not listed in the IOC medal database).
^Elliott, Orrin Leslie (1937). Stanford University – The First Twenty Five Years 1891–1925. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. pp. 231–233. ISBN9781406771411. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
^Park, Roberta J (Winter 1984). (PDF). Journal of Sport History. 11 (3): 5–40. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-08-07.
rugby, union, 1920, summer, olympics, played, antwerp, belgium, nations, entered, rugby, union, event, 1920, summer, olympics, france, united, states, french, team, were, thought, assured, gold, medal, came, raging, favourites, event, however, united, states, . Rugby union at the 1920 Summer Olympics was played in Antwerp Belgium Two nations entered the rugby union event at the 1920 Summer Olympics France and the United States The French team were thought to be assured of the gold medal and came in as raging favourites in the event However the United States team surprised everyone when defeating France by eight points to nil 1 Men s rugby unionat the Games of the VII OlympiadVenueOlympic StadiumDateSeptember 5Competitors33 from 2 nationsMedalists United StatesFrance 19081924 Contents 1 Summary 2 Match details 3 Medal summary 3 1 Medal table 3 2 Medalists 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksSummary EditThe rugby football Olympic tournament consisted of only one match It was played between the United States and France The US squad was made up of American football players from California universities notably Stanford California and Santa Clara Due to American football becoming an increasingly violent sport these and other west coast universities chose to instead play rugby union from 1906 1914 2 3 4 On the other side the French team was composed of players from four clubs near Paris Racing Club Olympique Club Athletique des Sports Generaux and Sporting Club Universitaire United States player Rudy Scholz wrote about the match It started at 5 PM time here for all big matches and there was a crowd of about 20 000 present despite the fact it was raining At a council of war we decided that because the ground was wet and slippery and the ball likewise we would make it a forward game The French tried a backfield game and they lost although they were fast The slippery ball and field proved their undoing 5 After the Olympic competition the US team toured England and France in 1924 playing three games in England as preparation for the 1924 Olympic competition 6 7 On 19 September in Lyon United States defeated a team representing the southeast of France 26 0 The American team also achieved victories against a southern French team in Toulouse and a southwest side at Bordeaux United States was later defeated by France 14 5 in Paris 5 Match details EditUnited States 8 0 France XVTry HunterCon TempletonPen TempletonReportOlympic Stadium Antwerp Attendance 55 000 8 Team details USA FranceDink Templeton FB 15 FB Andre ChiloCharles Tilden c W 14 W GrenetHeaton Wrenn C 13 C Francois BordeJohn Patrick C 12 C Rene Crabos c Erwin Righter W 11 W Edouard BaderRudolph Scholz FH 10 FH Adolphe BousquetCharles Mehan SH 9 SH Raoul ThiercelinGeorge Fish N8 8 N8 Robert LevasseurCharles Doe F 7 F Alphonse CastexDaniel Carroll F 6 L Alfred EluereMorris Kirksey L 5 L Jean BrunevalJoseph Hunter L 4 L Maurice LabeyrieJames Fitzpatrick H 3 P CurtetJohn O Neil H 2 H Pierre PetiteauJohn Muldoon P 1 P Jacques ForestierMedal summary EditMedal table Edit Rank Team Matches Points Avg Tries Avg tries United States 1 8 8 1 1 France XV 1 0 0 0 0 none awarded Medalists Edit Above United States gold medal below France which lost 8 0 Event Gold Silver BronzeRugby union United States USA Trainer Selector Harry Maloney Player Coach Daniel Carroll Charles DoeGeorge FishJames FitzpatrickJoseph HunterMorris KirkseyCharles MehanJohn MuldoonJohn O NeilJohn PatrickErwin RighterRudolph ScholzDink TempletonCharles Lee Tilden capt Heaton WrennHarold Von Schmidt did not play the game Matthew E Hazeltine Sr Colby Slater James Winston France FRA Edouard BaderFrancois BordeAdolphe Bousquet Jean BrunevalAlphonse CastexAndre ChiloRene Crabos CurtetAlfred EluereJacques Forestier GrenetMaurice LabeyrieRobert LevasseurPierre PetiteauRaoul Thiercelin did not play the game Raymond Berrurier none awardedNotes EditRugby Commissioner and President of the California Rugby Union Harry Maloney was Coach and Trainer of the team James Fitzpatrick is missing in the IOC medal database but he did compete in the match James Winston is listed in the IOC medal database but he did not participate Bill Muldoon was also a squad member of the American team but did not compete and is not listed in the IOC medal database Raymond Berrurier is listed in the IOC medal database but he did not participate Constant Lamaigniere Eugene Soulie and Robert Thierry were squad members for the French team but they did not play and were not listed in the IOC medal database Morris Kirksey also won gold for the United States in the 4x100 metre relay at these games References Edit Rugby in the Olympics on University of Idaho website Many changes in rugby game The Evening News San Jose September 14 1906 Retrieved November 10 2010 Elliott Orrin Leslie 1937 Stanford University The First Twenty Five Years 1891 1925 Stanford California Stanford University Press pp 231 233 ISBN 9781406771411 Retrieved November 10 2010 Park Roberta J Winter 1984 From Football to Rugby and Back 1906 1919 The University of California Stanford University Response to the Football Crisis of 1905 PDF Journal of Sport History 11 3 5 40 Archived from the original PDF on 2010 08 07 a b Rugby at the 1920 Antwerpen on Sports Reference Gallagher Brendan 15 May 2016 Olympic spirit was forgotten amid violence and acrimony The RugbyPaper No 400 pp 32 3 CalBear81 1924 Rugby A Wild Olympic Rematch Retrieved 18 May 2016 OLYMPICS Antwerp 5 September 1920 17 00 local 16 00 GMT espnscrum Retrieved 6 May 2021 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rugby union at the 1920 Summer Olympics Rugby at the 1920 Summer Olympics at SR Olympics archived Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rugby union at the 1920 Summer Olympics amp oldid 1120138614, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
