Honoring Carleton Rugby’s Legacy and Sharing Our History
We are celebrating the legacy of a sport rooted alongside the Hill of Three Oaks in 1968 and 1977. A Founders Memorial Grove will be dedicated next to the pitch. The planting of oak trees and commemorative plaque will honor President John Nason ’26 (Carleton Rhodes Scholar and Oxford Rugger), Professor Bill Hartley and Pixie Newman ’78. A tree celebrating the 2011 women’s national championship will also be planted.
Carleton’s Rugby Alumni are proud of our clubs’ ability to retain high standards of sportsmanship, ethical behavior and fair play. The clubs’ charter was built on a platform of teamwork, understanding, co-operation, bringing honor to Carleton and respect for fellow participants.
In full cooperation with the College, Carleton Rugby Alumni will initiate an ongoing fundraising effort to reinforce the cherished values of our charter. An Alumni Advisory Committee will work with the College and current students to set specific monetary goals for designated spending each year (on a forward basis). Your gifts will be used specifically to support rugby.
Meals and Entertainment
It’s the Game that Matters Most, but the Party Rocks, Too
Rugby’s intensely physical and athletic characteristics are the reasons that such great camaraderie exists. The long-standing tradition of players from competing teams enjoying the others’ company off the pitch and in a social context remains at the very core of the game. The Committee worked hard to create the Ultimate Social—planned to be unplanned, spontaneous. We set the stage to unite with old and new friends in a beautiful place, add some great dance music, awesome eats, a big tent (think Circus/Revival) and some refreshing beverages. Maybe a chance to see another sunrise together…
Friday is a Party Day!
Things kick off on Friday night with the dedication of the Founders Memorial Grove, adjacent to the pitch. An amazing dinner will follow the dedication on Friday night, followed by the best dance band in Minneapolis, The R Factor, performing a mix of rock, soul and funk, including an incredible Prince tribute. Kudos to the Class of 1993 for co-hosting the band! The R Factor will take a break at 10:00 for a fireworks display over Lyman Lakes. Following the last set, the bonfire on the Hill of Three Oaks will be ablaze.
Saturday is a Rugby Day!
Carleton’s Parade of Classes around the Bald Spot starts off the day—including Rugby Kilts! At 1:00, the competition and exhibition matches will begin. We have planned an afternoon of rugby, beer drinking and conversations that might be summed up with “the older we get, the better we were…” After the last matches, the stage will be open for alumni bands that want to perform before, during and after our traditional barbecue. The reunion will conclude with another evening bonfire on the Hill of Three Oaks.
While housing can only accommodate those in the 2018 reunion classes, RV and camping space will be available for rugby attendees who wish to stay closer to the pitch at the Twin Oaks Driving Range, across the road from the Arb.
Zone of Totality Campground (rugby attendees only)
($15 per night + $10 one-time facilities charge, available Thurs-Sun)
Reunion Classes
(3s and 8s) on-campus with Reunion Registration
Northfield and Surrounding Area Hotels
Check the links at the Carleton website and register NOW!
Founders Grove
Anyone who would like to help support this initiative may give by check or online. To allow time for site preparation and planting, please send contributions by April 1, 2018. All gifts will be recognized in Carleton’s Annual Report on Giving. Restricted Gifts are not eligible for class/AAF credit.
Ways to give:
- Online Giving Form – (in gift instructions box, please indicate that the gift is part of the Founders Grove project)
- Check – payable to Carleton College (include Founders Grove in the memo line or an accompanying note). Mail to: Carleton Gift Accounting, One N College St., Northfield, MN 55057
Carleton Athletic Initiative
Gifts from rugby alumni made to the Carleton Athletic Initiative (CAI) will be used exclusively to position Carleton among the best small college rugby programs in the United States. These gifts are tax deductible and will also receive Alumni Annual Fund credit.
Ways to give:
- Online Giving Form – (select “Carleton Athletic Initiative” as your designation)
- Check – payable to Carleton College (include “CAI“ in the memo line or an accompanying note). Mail to: Carleton Gift Accounting, One N College St., Northfield, MN 55057
- Gifts of stock