A History of Williams College Rugby
The Williams Rugby Football Club (WRFC) and the Williams Women's Rugby Football Club (WWRFC) are intercollegiate club sports teams at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. These clubs have cultivated a vibrant community marked by fierce competition, enduring camaraderie, and rich traditions. From its humble beginnings to its present-day status, Williams Rugby has become an integral part of the college's athletic and social landscape.
The Genesis of Men's Rugby at Williams: WRFC
The Williams Rugby Football Club (WRFC) was founded in the spring of 1959 by David Coughlin '61, who developed an enthusiasm for the sport after studying abroad at Oxford University as an English Speaking Union exchange scholar. Inspired by his time abroad, Coughlin sought to introduce rugby to Williams College. Starting with a handful of incoming freshmen with experience playing rugby while studying in England, the Club was formed and supported by Peter Pearson, the first Williams Rugby coach. Coughlin, serving as the club's first captain, recruited an initial nucleus of five players-including himself, another classmate with British study experience, three incoming freshmen who had played rugby in England, and an English student-before expanding to about 15-17 members through further recruitment.
J. Peter Pierson, a key supporter and the club's first coach, played a pivotal role in overcoming early institutional reluctance from Williams College's athletic department by providing donated equipment, including rugby balls and proper uniforms sourced from his former teammates at Huddersfield RFC in England. Pierson's financial contributions, leadership, and personal hospitality were essential to the club's survival in its formative years, as the team lacked formal college funding and relied heavily on such private donations.
The following fall, the WRFC entered the Eastern Rugby Union (ERU) and, competing in the club’s historic claret and gold-colors and crest gifted by Huddersfield RFC in England, won the ERU Championship in 1960 with a 5-0-1 record. The distinctive Williams Rugby Football Club crest was designed by Coughlin and Pearson, and the team colors, claret and gold, were borrowed from Pearson's home team Huddersfield RFC. During the initial days of Williams Rugby, the college was reluctant to endorse and support the Club, so Pearson contacted his teammates at Huddersfield who provided the initial contributions of balls, equipment, and claret and gold uniforms.
Following a 1961 tour in England, support and recognition from the College increased dramatically. Over the decades, the club has built a reputation for fierce competition, deep camaraderie, and storied traditions, from the semi-annual rivalry match against Amherst to the John Donovan Memorial Tournament.
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The Rise of Women's Rugby: WWRFC
The Williams Women's Rugby Football Club (WWRFC) was established in 1976 by John Greer and Dave Libardi, six years after Williams College transitioned to coeducational status in 1970. Like the men's team, the women's club faced initial challenges from limited institutional support, depending on donations and grassroots efforts to secure equipment and field access. The team shares a founding history with the men's squad and emphasizes post-co-ed integration by providing an inclusive entry point for women new to the sport, fostering bonds through its physical demands and team-oriented culture.
Currently, the WWRFC competes in New England Rugby Football Union (NERFU) Division II during both fall and spring seasons. The team has experienced significant growth in recent years; previously small with shared jerseys, it fielded a full roster of Williams students-complete with substitutes and sideline support-for the first time last season, contributing to an undefeated tournament record. As of 2025, the roster supports diverse participation, making it the most varied club or varsity sport at the college in terms of student backgrounds.
Team Structure, Culture, and Traditions
The men's team of the Williams Rugby Football Club (WRFC), nicknamed the "White Dawgs" for its undergraduate players, serves as the primary competitive unit within the club, competing in the New England Rugby Football Union as part of the National Small College Rugby Organization. The alumni contingent is known as the "Olde Fartes," maintaining connections through events like annual reunions. Their men's motto is "Nihil in Moderato", loosely-translated Latin for "nothing in moderation". Current leadership is student-driven, with Arthur Johnson ’26 serving as president, focused on upholding the team's values and identity, and co-captains Kaan Coffin ’26 (fly-half) and Michael Pasko ’26 (center) emphasizing team chemistry and brotherhood through shared challenges.
The roster typically comprises over 40 players, including a mix of seniors, juniors, sophomores, and first-years, with positions spanning forwards (such as props, locks, and flankers) and backs (including scrum-halves, fly-halves, centers, wings, and fullbacks). The team prioritizes community building and a safe social environment, guided by a Player Code of Conduct that sets standards for behavior and fosters unity among members striving to be their best selves. This approach extends beyond the field, creating a supportive network that enhances individual athletic achievements and team cohesion. The rugby team makes no cuts, which is unique among club sports at the College, according to co-captain Paul Kaan Coffin ’26. “[Being a no-cut sport] improves our dynamic as a group of people, because there isn’t a built-in hierarchy upon entry,” he said. Despite the demanding nature of rugby, the team has grown to over 40 players, according to co-captain Michael Pasko ’26. “If you’re willing to go through the challenges of playing a contact sport, we are more than happy to welcome you to the team,” Pasko said. Overcoming those shared obstacles and building mutual trust gives WRFC its defining sense of brotherhood. “You can’t do anything by yourself,” Coffin said. Johnson described the team culture as one that combines grit and heart. “We refer to ourselves as a family and a brotherhood,” Johnson said. “We all come from different places.
Unique to the WWRFC are its longstanding traditions, including an extensive repertoire of bawdy songs sung after matches-often shared with opponents-and initiation rituals for rookies that reinforce team unity. The WWRFC plays a vital role in building community for women at Williams, promoting diversity and personal growth while hosting events that engage alumni and supporters. Like other sports teams at Williams College, both the men's and women's teams have a long-standing rivalry with Amherst College. The WWRFC has a long-standing tradition of wearing their jerseys for the entire week prior to their annual game with Amherst.
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The Amherst Rivalry
Like other sports teams at Williams College, both the men's and women's teams have a long-standing rivalry with Amherst College. A distinctive tradition of the rivalry involves the starting lineups wagering their game jerseys as a bet; the losing team forfeits their jerseys to the winners, who often display them during practices leading up to future matchups. Each year, WRFC and Amherst wager a jersey on the outcome of their matchup, a tradition that dates back to the start of the club in the spring of 1959, according to Pasko. “You bet your jersey before the game starts,” Pasko explained. Scores of alums return annually to watch the Amherst game, some wearing the jerseys they won decades ago, according to Pasko.
Known as "Amherst Week," the buildup to each game features heightened practices, alumni involvement in scrimmages, and communal gatherings for storytelling and team bonding, amplifying the event's cultural significance. For instance, in fall 2003, Williams's "White Dawgs" were photographed wearing captured Amherst jerseys following a victory, symbolizing the tradition's playful yet competitive edge.
From 2015 to 2019, the rivalry produced several closely contested matches that highlighted shifting momentum. In spring 2015, Amherst secured a decisive 55-5 win over Williams at home, leveraging a strong first-half performance with six tries. Williams responded with a 13-5 victory in fall 2018 at Bruce Memorial Field, marking their seventh consecutive win and celebrated alongside the club's 60th anniversary. However, Amherst reclaimed bragging rights in fall 2019 with a 19-15 triumph on Williams's turf, where a 70-yard try by Williams's Nate Medow provided a highlight but could not overcome Amherst's defensive stand.
In recent seasons, such as the fall 2024 15s campaign, the White Dawgs secured a decisive 55-21 victory over archrival Amherst-the widest margin in that matchup under current coaching observation-en route to one of the club's most successful years. On Saturday, Oct. 18, the team played its biggest match of the season, taking a 55-21 win against longtime rival Amherst. “There was a penalty against Amherst down at their 10-meter line, and we have a special play where we give it to one of our biggest players, [Elijah Adu ’27],” Johnson said. “He took it in, ran over a guy and scored it. You could see it in the Amherst players’ faces afterwards - they were hesitant going into contact. Pasko recalled an impressive play, known as a “maul,” as another display of the team’s discipline and teamwork. “[A maul] is when the ball goes out of bounds, and we throw it in, and the guy catches it … turns around, and a bunch of guys push him down the field,” Pasko said. “We had a 20-meter push and then got it out to the back line and scored. After the successful maul, the team finished strong.
These encounters significantly boost team morale, fostering unity and motivation through the high stakes and communal rituals, while drawing broader college community participation that strengthens alumni ties and campus spirit. The women's teams also share in the rivalry, though specific historical outcomes and traditions for them are less extensively recorded compared to the men's program.
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Spring Sevens and Continued Growth
Following the fall 15s season, WRFC turns its focus toward the spring sevens season, featuring a faster-paced variation of rugby with seven players on each side and shorter halves. The upcoming spring sevens season will emphasize speed and athleticism to further strengthen camaraderie. “You tend to have to be less good as a team at rugby as a sport to be good at sevens,” Coffin said. Above all, the team hopes to continue strengthening their camaraderie and show their school spirit as they play. “We are part of Williams, and we’re really proud to be part of Williams,” Johnson said.
The John Donovan Memorial Tournament
Every year, the men's rugby team hosts the John Donovan Memorial Tournament in the springtime, a rugby tournament and fundraiser to support the mental health services at the Brien Center.
Notable Alumni and Influence
The Williams Rugby Football Club has produced notable alumni who have excelled in public service and beyond. United States Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut was first introduced to rugby during his time at Williams College, where the sport played a key role in his early development as a leader. Similarly, Virginia State Senator J. The club's alumni form a tight-knit network across sectors including politics, venture capital, technology, and banking, maintaining strong connections that extend well beyond graduation.
In addition to individual accomplishments, the club exerts broader influence by instilling values of leadership, resilience, and community service that alumni apply in their careers and personal endeavors.
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