Rugby: Teams play for titles, charity at 6th Annual Rickerson Cup

In addition to functioning as the state championship, the Rickerson Cup also has a philanthropic purpose. Last year, donations and T-shirt sales at the tournament raised over $30,000 for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

“It’s not only the New Jersey state tournament, which crowns the best rugby team in the state, but it also raises money for pancreatic cancer awareness,” junior Phil Halsey said.

The tournament is directed by Elaine Bigelow ’10, a former women’s team captain. Bigelow lost her father to pancreatic cancer while she was a senior in high school and has since become an outspoken advocate for pancreatic cancer awareness.

According to a press release for the Rickerson Cup issued by the Princeton Rugby Club, pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States and receives disproportionately little funding. Bigelow, the tournament sponsors and participants wish to change this by combining their passion for rugby with a good cause.

“Rugby is a great sport because it can find a place for players of all sizes, shapes and athletic abilities,” Bigelow said.

Given its large size, the tournament can expose the sport of rugby to those who are unfamiliar with it.

“If you’ve never seen the game before, you’ll absolutely love it,” Halsey said. “It’s one of the most exciting sports to watch, and this tournament should be a good showcase of the sport because there is a wide variety of teams and skill levels.”

Sophomore Peter Na agreed that rugby is an exciting spectator sport, even for those who have never watched it before. “The tournament does a great job of raising awareness, and both the men’s and women’s teams will be playing,” Na said.

For the men, the field of competitors will include William Patterson University, Seton Hall, The College of New Jersey, Montclair State and Drew University; the competition for the women will be Drew, Rutgers, TCNJ, Harvard and Penn.

“It’s a very significant tournament, and it raises money for a very significant cause. I hope to see a lot of Princeton students out there,” Halsey said.

Games will begin at 9 a.m. at West Windsor Fields. The championship games for both the men and women will take place around 3 p.m.