A history of Aggie Rugby across the years

By Dave Berry ‘87

University Farm, later UC Davis, was founded in 1908 during the USA’s Golden Age of Rugby. Enlightened University Presidents at Stanford and Cal ushered in this Era by mutually agreeing to rugby’s primacy over gridiron football from 1905 to 1915. The Big Game became a rugby match -- drawing as many as 30,000 fans.

Most area universities, colleges and high schools followed suit, installing rugby as their primary sport. The University Farm fielded its first team in 1910 from a student body of 77 undergrads and went 4-1-1 under Coach V. Spaulding. This regional developmental groundwork saw its ultimate success when USA Eagle teams won back-to-back Olympic Gold medals in 1920 and 1924 with teams made up almost entirely of homegrown Northern California ruggers.

UC Davis enjoys an outsized share in this glory. The very first Eagles team in 1912 featured Aggies J.L. McKim (Prop) and Sterling Peart (Winger), Eagles #8 & #12 respectively, from an enrollment of 168 undergrads. Eagle #43, Aggie Colby “Babe” Slater won Olympic Gold in 1920 and in 1924. Babe’s epic journey is documented in Mark Ryan’s 2009 book “For the Glory: Two Olympics, Two Wars, Two Heroes”. His two Gold Medals remain on display at Shield’s Library’s Special Collections.

Leading into the Olympics, in late 1919, Davis put down a marker of what could be the All Time Ringer team. A contingent of around 100 officers returning from World War One, primarily ANZAC Australians, enrolled at the campus to learn state of the art agricultural practices on their way home. Keen to keep their rugby skills fresh, they solicited the student government for kit, then slated two matches against Stanford. They lost the away fixture, but won the home fixture. That Stanford team featured several soon to be Olympic Gold medalists!

1960’s

In the modern era, the UC Davis Men’s Rugby Club came storming back in 1963 on the strength of “a number of students from the British Commonwealth who are extremely good” according to a Cal Aggie report. Coached that year by Bob Brooks, then Lional Ward & Fred Courson, they went 4-4. Beginning the next year, under new Coaches Mervyn Ashton & John Landers, the Picnic Day match tradition began.

In 1965, under Club sponsorship, Rugby becomes a regular IM sport. Highlights of the decade include: a 1967 match in front of 500 paying fans against a touring Auckland University side featuring 5 All Blacks -- Ags put up more points against them than any other of their US competitors; first defeat of Cal in 1968; a 30-3 loss to a touring Sydney University side including 4 Wallabies in front of 1,400 paying fans; Third place in the 1969 All Cal Tournament; and a second victory over Cal.

1970’s

The Ags opened the decade going 14-10-1 in 1970 with Dave Clerici named to the All University Touring side to New Zealand. Beginning in 1971, the Ags regularly fielding 3 sides with their A side ranked nationally in the Top 20 that year. Early in 1972, UC Davis defeats Stanford, ranked the nation’s #1 side at the time. Later that year, the Ags take 6 th Place at the prestigious Monterey International Invitational Tournament. In 1973 Ags reach national #14 ranking send Dave Clerici to All Cal Team Australia Tour.

That same year, Aggie Peter Dempsey kicks an American record 67 meter penalty and Aggies host a touring side from Wales EBBW Vale Club side that includes the Welsh national team captain / British & Irish Lion Arthur Lewis among a squad that is half Welsh national team members. 1,500 fans witness the match. In 1975, Coach Bill Ekern tenure begins and Men’s Club sponsors first UC Davis Women’s team, who go 10-2 their first season. Mike Lewis takes over as Coach in 1976 and leads team to nearly undefeated season with just a single loss to UCLA. 1978, Ags go undefeated to win Ruggerfest in Utah AND take tourney’s social trophy. The following year, Aggies host University of Sydney and announce summer tour of Wales & Ireland on their way to a 16-3 season.

1980’s

Colby “Babe” Slater named to the Aggie Hall of Fame in 1980. Phil Meyer coaching era begins in 1982. Aggies take 2nd Place in 1983 All Cal Tourney. Samoan National Team member Arona Palamo joins Aggies and is named Santa Barbara Tournament MVP that year. Aggies defeat Merivale Club from Christchurch handing them their only tour loss in 1983. Martin Tolich named Coach in 1984 and leads team to 15-3 record and Pacific Coast Collegiate Championship in Corvallis. Arona named to the first All American team at Fullback. In 1986 the Club fields up to 5 teams for their over one hundred members.

Ags take 2nd Place in 1987 All Cals and 4th Place at Monterey. Jim Crenshaw coaching era begins in 1988, Aggies tour New Zealand in 1989 going 2-1 and make it back to the Pacific Coast Collegiate Championship in Santa Barbara. Ian Sherman & Lawrence Honma named All Americans that year.

1990’s

Davis hosts University of Auckland to open the decade. In 1991 they travel to Daytona Beach for the Beach Bowl where they beat a 6th ranked national powerhouse Harvard. 1993 marked the beginning of the Coach Rob Salaber era, assisted from 1993-1997 by John Riddering. Ags take 3rd Place at 1993 Santa Barbara Tournament. In 1994, UC Davis reaches a 10th Place national ranking and finished at the top of NorCal Division B. In 1995, Ags step up to NorCal Division A. Ags start the 1996 campaign with a big win over Stanford, ranked 2nd in the country at the time leading to a Elite Eight finish. That summer, two Aggies, Scott Lopker & Todd Giuntini, tour Australia with USA U23 side. Ranked 4th in the nation going into the 1997 campaign, the Ags go on to win OMBAC Tournament and secure a place in the national Sweet Sixteen. They make the Final Four on the strength of wins over Navy and Dartmouth, then finish year as 3rd best team in the country. Aggies return to the Elite Eight nationally in 1998 beating Ohio State in the Sweet Sixteen. Davis alums Todd Giuntini and Kevin Linzey/Henderson named USA Eagles that same year. Ags enter the final season of the decade ranked 6th nationally and tour Canada over Spring Break. All American honors for the decade include: David Foster (’92), Mike Ortiz (’95), Scott Lopker (’95, ’96, ’97, ’98), Jason Perez (’96), Jason Alcoser (’96), Jim Brown (’96, ’97), Todd Giuntini (’96, ’97), Larry Huber (’96), Richard Terry-Lloyd (’97), Joseph Castagnola (’97) and John Knauer (’98). Scott Lopker was also awarded UC Davis’ first Woodley Award (now the Scholz Award aka the “Rugby Heisman”), as the best collegiate rugger in the country in 1998.

2000’s

2000 saw the Ags return to the Sweet Sixteen and finish ranked 9th nationally. Walker Sullivan named an All American in 2001. USA Eagle Steve Gray coaching era begins in 2003. Assisted by coach Barry O’Connell, the team makes Sweet Sixteen and earns a national 4th Place ranking in 2004. Year also sees unveiling of Babe Slater Olympic Gold Medals in Library’s Special Collections. Aaron Latzke and Ben Reynolds named All Americans. In 2006 Ags make Sweet Sixteen again. End year with a 9th Place national ranking and end following year with a 13th Place ranking. Coach Andy Malpass Trouty takes the reins in 2007 and Ags close out the decade with 4 consecutive years of Top 25 national rankings. Toshi Palamo, fellow Aggie Arona’s son, named to USA Eagles 7s. Tyler Harrison also made the the All-American team in 2009.

2010’s to Present

Tyler Harrison makes All-American team again in 2010 and 2011. Also in 2011, Ags invited to the USA Rugby National Collegiate 7’s Tournament. Later, the Ags win back-to-back National Division 1AA Championships in 2015 and 2016 with assistance from USA Eagle Mike Purcell coaching. Women’s Club matches achievement with overlapping titles. In 2016 Kal Incendy takes over Head Coaching responsibilities aided by Michael Taylor and Aussie Nick Conaghan. Aggie Robert Meeson begins his pro career with Sacramento Express, later plays for Seattle Saracens (2017) and Houston Sabercats (2018-2019). Andy Malpass takes back the Head Coaching reins in 2017 and is aided by Eugene “Cobra” Mountjoy. Men’s side narrowly misses three peat with a 2nd Place finish nationally in 2017. In 2018, the Aggies stepped up to Division 1A. Argentine National Team member Marcelo Bosch joins coaching ranks in 2022. Aggie sustain competitive Division 1A standing with regular Top 25 national rankings. For the 2024-2025 season Head Coach Ismael Aramburu era begins.

The Future

Rugby at UC Davis has maintained a unique enduring tradition as a largely self-funded Club Sport run by students. This legacy is shared by close to a thousand Aggie ruggers who have played over the years. Through our many decades, through wins and losses, through good times and tough times, through road trips and tours, we’ve all seen the Club remain rooted in courage, commitment, character and camaraderie. This is the legacy that current Aggies carry forward, and every year the Club introduces new student athletes to the greatest game in the world. As the cycle continues, the future is bright!