About Us
About Us
About Dan River Rugby
About Dan River Rugby
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The Dan River Rugby Football Club origins date to the mid 1970’s when North Caroline State graduates returned home from school to Caswell County, North Carolina (the county directly to the South of Danville, Virginia). Many of these graduates had played rugby at North Carolina State and organized to form the Dan River Rugby Football Club. Over a period if 15 years approximately 80-90 members enjoyed the sport of rugby as the Dan River Rugby Football Club. The majority of the members of this original team came from Caswell County, but as time passed more members began to join from Danville, Virginia and other surrounding municipalities.
The "Old Boys" of the original club established a rugby legacy and made substantial contributions to the future of rugby in the Dan River Region that the current team benefits from today. For one, the original club became one of the first rugby clubs on the East Coast to purchase and own their own pitch. Purly Downs, as the field is known is located off of Rt 86, about four miles North of Yanceyville, North Carolina. It is known far and wide as a premiere rugby location. The original club also started the tradition of holding an annual fund raiser/blowout bash called the "RuggerRoast". The first incarnation of the "RuggerRoast" lasted for thirteen consecutive years, undoubtedly many a Caswellian, and Danvillian owe their very existence to the merriment that was the RuggerRoast. The original club also held an annual Rugby Seven’s tournament for 5 years (a two day event that attracted teams from Virginia, North Carolina, and several military teams from east coast bases), the current team is exploring bring this tournament back to the area.
The original organization faded out in 1989 as many of the old boys retired from the game and started families or found other interests. Today these men who brought rugby to the Dan River Region have become community and business leaders, true pillars of the communities in which they live, a short list of some of our rugby fore fathers, and certainly leaving out a great many: North Carolina State Senator George Daniel (Attorney), The Honorable Lee Stillwell (Danville General District Judge), Dan Pleasant (Dewberry & Davis), Robert Whitt (Attorney), “Pete” Pruitt (Pruitt-Wells Insurance Agency), Keith Walden (Riverside Roof Truss), and Marc Thomas (Thomas Bros. Oil and Gas).
THE REBIRTH OF DAN RIVER RUGBY AND THE SILVERBACKS TODAY
Dan River Rugby was revived in the spring of 2002 largely by the efforts of Sam McKelvey and Hershel Stone. As each year progressed more individuals stepped up to take an active role in building a strong and viable rugby organization in Danville. In November of 2003 the club was incorporated as a not for profit non-stock Virginia Corporation, officially with the name Dan River Rugby Club. That same year the Silverback was adopted as the team's mascot. In 2004 the new team because a full fledge member of the North Carolina Union and Rugby South. Today the team averages between 14 and 30 members per season. Initially the new club with the blessing of the Old Boys utilized Purly Downs the Caswell County pitch. After several successful seasons and mini tournaments held at Purley Downs, the City of Danville offered to construct a multi pitch (six regulation size pitches) tournament grounds. Over the last several years these pitches have hosted state, regional, and even the international grad school rugby tournament. Currently (as of October 2007) these pitches are under reconstruction and should be ready for use again by the summer/fall of 2008. In the future Dan River Rugby looks forward to hosting matches and tournaments at both our Caswell County and Danville facilities.
THE RUGGERROAST
What is the RuggerRoast? Each year in late March the Silverbacks host an all day tournament and unequivocally the best party in the Dan River Region. We think pretty much it is the mother of all rugby socials. It is our annual fund raiser for the club, we use the proceeds to pay property taxes on our facilities in Caswell County, to pay ref and league dues, to purchase and maintain equipment, to make considerable charitable contributions to the community (we always give to the life saving crew, and support various other worthy causes), and to throw rugby social events throughout the year. The RuggerRoast is good food, really good libations, the best band(s) around, dancing, and of course, beautiful rugby playing people.
Who is invited? Everyone of legal age, there is of course the small entrance fee (usually $30.00), which covers all your libations, food, and entertainment.
How long has the RuggerRoast been going on? The 2008 RuggerRoast will be the 6th annual RuggerRoast since the team was reconstituted in 2002. If counting from the original series of RuggerRoast events, starting in the 1970's the original Dan River Rugby Football Club held thirteen consecutive RuggerRoast events, thus the 2008 event will be RUGGGERROAST XIX
RUGGERROAST XIX is currently scheduled for March 22, 2008
The "Old Boys" of the original club established a rugby legacy and made substantial contributions to the future of rugby in the Dan River Region that the current team benefits from today. For one, the original club became one of the first rugby clubs on the East Coast to purchase and own their own pitch. Purly Downs, as the field is known is located off of Rt 86, about four miles North of Yanceyville, North Carolina. It is known far and wide as a premiere rugby location. The original club also started the tradition of holding an annual fund raiser/blowout bash called the "RuggerRoast". The first incarnation of the "RuggerRoast" lasted for thirteen consecutive years, undoubtedly many a Caswellian, and Danvillian owe their very existence to the merriment that was the RuggerRoast. The original club also held an annual Rugby Seven’s tournament for 5 years (a two day event that attracted teams from Virginia, North Carolina, and several military teams from east coast bases), the current team is exploring bring this tournament back to the area.
The original organization faded out in 1989 as many of the old boys retired from the game and started families or found other interests. Today these men who brought rugby to the Dan River Region have become community and business leaders, true pillars of the communities in which they live, a short list of some of our rugby fore fathers, and certainly leaving out a great many: North Carolina State Senator George Daniel (Attorney), The Honorable Lee Stillwell (Danville General District Judge), Dan Pleasant (Dewberry & Davis), Robert Whitt (Attorney), “Pete” Pruitt (Pruitt-Wells Insurance Agency), Keith Walden (Riverside Roof Truss), and Marc Thomas (Thomas Bros. Oil and Gas).
THE REBIRTH OF DAN RIVER RUGBY AND THE SILVERBACKS TODAY
Dan River Rugby was revived in the spring of 2002 largely by the efforts of Sam McKelvey and Hershel Stone. As each year progressed more individuals stepped up to take an active role in building a strong and viable rugby organization in Danville. In November of 2003 the club was incorporated as a not for profit non-stock Virginia Corporation, officially with the name Dan River Rugby Club. That same year the Silverback was adopted as the team's mascot. In 2004 the new team because a full fledge member of the North Carolina Union and Rugby South. Today the team averages between 14 and 30 members per season. Initially the new club with the blessing of the Old Boys utilized Purly Downs the Caswell County pitch. After several successful seasons and mini tournaments held at Purley Downs, the City of Danville offered to construct a multi pitch (six regulation size pitches) tournament grounds. Over the last several years these pitches have hosted state, regional, and even the international grad school rugby tournament. Currently (as of October 2007) these pitches are under reconstruction and should be ready for use again by the summer/fall of 2008. In the future Dan River Rugby looks forward to hosting matches and tournaments at both our Caswell County and Danville facilities.
THE RUGGERROAST
What is the RuggerRoast? Each year in late March the Silverbacks host an all day tournament and unequivocally the best party in the Dan River Region. We think pretty much it is the mother of all rugby socials. It is our annual fund raiser for the club, we use the proceeds to pay property taxes on our facilities in Caswell County, to pay ref and league dues, to purchase and maintain equipment, to make considerable charitable contributions to the community (we always give to the life saving crew, and support various other worthy causes), and to throw rugby social events throughout the year. The RuggerRoast is good food, really good libations, the best band(s) around, dancing, and of course, beautiful rugby playing people.
Who is invited? Everyone of legal age, there is of course the small entrance fee (usually $30.00), which covers all your libations, food, and entertainment.
How long has the RuggerRoast been going on? The 2008 RuggerRoast will be the 6th annual RuggerRoast since the team was reconstituted in 2002. If counting from the original series of RuggerRoast events, starting in the 1970's the original Dan River Rugby Football Club held thirteen consecutive RuggerRoast events, thus the 2008 event will be RUGGGERROAST XIX
RUGGERROAST XIX is currently scheduled for March 22, 2008