History of the WRFC

The Williams Rugby Football Club (WRFC) was founded by David Coughlin '61 in the spring of 1959 following spending a year studying abroad at Oxford University in England. 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. 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. 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. Today, WRFC continues to honor its history while welcoming new players into a proud legacy more than six decades in the making.