University of Virginia Library

True Commonwealth

Though the Rugby Club was again the
bridesmaid in the Commonwealth Cup this
year, the University emerged a definite
winner. As one player for Old Blue said, "This
is the best-run tournament in Rugby." So
even though its effort on the field fell a bit
short Sunday, the Rugby Club proved itself of
championship calibre in staging the tournament.
For the second straight year, the Cup
was covered by a national magazine, and those
who know the sport will testify that the level
of play in the Cup was better this year than
ever before. It can be expected to continue to
improve. And we hope that the fellowship and
exuberance displayed by the participants, an
element too often missing in intercollegiate
competition, will never wane in future
tournaments.

But the Cup has developed about as much
as the individual resources of the Club
members will permit. A total of $3,000 was
necessary to run it this year and improvements
will cost more. Ruggers and Athletic
Department officials have always looked upon
each other with mutual hostility, each
believing the other corrupt and incompetent.
This year, the ice was broken a bit when the
Athletic Department opened its training room
to contestants in need of physical therapy on
Sunday morning. More co-operation of this
sort, especially in terms of adequate playing
fields and other small emoluments can only
benefit the ruggers and the athletic image of
the University. The Athletic Department has
to realize its responsibility to foster all
University sports, especially those as successful
as Rugby, and the ruggers have to realize
that Athletic Department assistance need not
spell the end of the game's amateur spirit.
Both would benefit far more from cooperation
than hostility.