First Televised WWU Rugby Match
Western’s first year Rugby team will play UBC on February 1st in Vancouver according to Coaches Lorne “Joe” Davis and Roland “Red” Smith. Davis a Canadian himself, observed “I am really pleased to how well the boys are picking up a game that is strange to them” The Western-UBC game will be televised on CBUT-TV. channel two, Vancouver. (We are attempting to reach CBUT-TV as still on the air or a historian from UBC to see if the film of this match may be archived.) If somehow still available, will put on video for members to view. Western Ruggers played to a 3-3 tie in this televised match. Don Burgess kicked the goal to put the Vikings in the lead. They led with only one minute remaining when the Canadians booted the final tally to tie the score.
The following week the Western squad played in Vancouver vs a strong West Vancouver Barbarians squad. Western shutout the Barbarians in this match 8-0. The West Vancouver Barbarians and North Shore All Blacks merged in 1969 to form what is now known as Capilano Rugby Football Club.
Jesse Owens the famous winner of 4 gold medals at Berlin Olympics in 1936 was the guest speaker on campus as part of an Artist and Lecture series. Owens was a leader in the movement to inspire athletically -minded athletes young people with the principals of good sportsmanship and fair play. Too bad Owens did not take up Rugby as would have been one heck of a winger!
Winter quarter of 1958 saw enrollment of 2,164 students.
