Rugby union at the 1920 Summer Olympics

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Rugby union was played at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp. Two nations entered the rugby event - France and the United States. The French team were very much thought to be assured of the gold medal and came in as raging favourites in the event. However, the United States caused a massive shock, defeating France in the only game, eight points to nil.

1 Overview
2 Result
3 Medalists
4 External links

[edit] Overview

The rugby union event at the 1920 games was unique, in that only two teams competed. However both Czechoslovakia and Romania had supposedly entered the event - but pulled out before the games commenced.

The United States team was the first rugby side to enter the games, whereas France had competed at one earlier, as well as having pulled out of another. The idea of sending an American side in the rugby event was thought of after a Cal-Berkeley tour to British Columbia went undefeated earlier in the year. The United States Olympic Committee sanctioned the invitation, but did not provide funding. The California Rugby Union raised the appropriate money through a number of community fundraisers and events. The young American team was composed of mainly Stanford, Cal-Berkeley and Santa Clara footballers.

Since Czechoslovakia and Romania did not compete, only a single game was played to see the medal positions. The game between the United States and France was played at Antwerp Stadium, in front of 50,000 people. The game was locked at zero-all at half time. The Americans went on to win eight points to nil, shocking the French as well as the rugby world.

[edit] Result

? United States 8–0 France

[edit] Medalists

Event	Gold	Silver	Bronze
Rugby union	United States (USA) Daniel B. Carroll Charles Doe George Fish Joseph G. Hunter Morris Kirksey Charles Mehan William Muldoon John Muldoon John T. O'Neil John C. Patrick Cornelius Righter Rudolph Scholz Colby Slater Robert L. Templeton Charles Lee Tilden, Jr. James Winston Heaton Wrenn	France (FRA) Edouard Bader Raymond Berrurier François Bordes Adolphe Bousquet André Chilo René Crabos Curtet Alfred Eluere Jacques Forestier Grenet Maurice Labeyrie Constant Lamaigniere Robert Levasseur Eugène Soulie Raoul Thiercelin Robert Thierry	none awarded

[edit] External links

Rugby union at the Summer Olympics
1900 • 1904 • 1908 • 1912 • 1920 • 1924 See also: List of Olympic medalists in rugby union

Events at the 1920 Summer Olympics (Antwerp)
Archery • Athletics • Boxing • Cycling • Diving • Equestrian • Fencing • Figure skating • Football • Gymnastics • Hockey • Ice hockey • Modern pentathlon • Polo • Rowing • Rugby • Sailing • Shooting • Swimming • Tennis • Tug of war • Water polo • Weightlifting • Wrestling