Mount Allison, History of Sports, Rugby Football

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Rugby football

King of Sports

Rugby football was declared the "the king of sports" at Mount Allison by The Argosy in November 1902. The varsity team faced a punishing schedule that year. Following games against Fredericton, Moncton and St. Joseph's, all in New Brunswick, the football team then scheduled a three day trip to Nova Scotia, playing games against Acadia University, Dalhousie and the Halifax Wanderers.

The team Mount Allison generated the most rivalry with in the years leading up to WWI was Acadia. The two teams had played each other annually since 1895, and in 1903 they, along with UNB, formed an intercollegiate league and began competing for the King-Richardson Cup. Before meeting in a championship match in Truro on 23 November 1910, Acadia and Mount Allison were tied for the greatest number of King-Richardson Cup victories. On the eve of the championship match, the Sackville Tribune newspaper (21 November 1910) predicted:

"It is expected that the game will be one of the greatest football contests which has ever been played in the provinces..."

The game was won by Mount Allison on a winning try by future New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame member William S. ["Bill"] Godfrey, and thereby increased Mount Allison's lead in the cup standings to three over Acadia's two.

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Mount Allison University rugby football team, 1902

Mount Allison University rugby football team, 1910

Mount Allison University rugby football team, celebration, 1910

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This project was funded by the Marjorie Young Bell Endowment Fund