On September 14th, 2024, Jay Ziesmer, MSU Rugby Alumni Chairman, presented a new on-field Medical / First Aid Kit to Jessi Helmich-Mans on behalf of the MSU Rugby Alumni. Jessi takes care of our players on Match Day.

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The story behind the naming of the MSU Rugby Field, PETERSEN PITCH.

If you have had any exposure to MSU Rugby over our 50+ years, then you know of BIG PETE. He is, Dr. James Petersen. For the last 45+ years he as been the most important single person in the existence of both Men's and Women's rugby at MSU. Pete's background with the University has been as Professor of Park and Rec and as the Department head for many of those years. His dedication to MSU Rugby has been as a player, coach, advisor, and leading alumni for donations to both clubs.

MSU would not have the current pitch without the decade long commitment and work he did with the "powers that be" over the years at MSU. When it was announced that the MSU Rugby pitch was going to be taken over to build Preska Hall, a new dorm. Pete had a meeting with the University to start the process of getting MSU Rugby it's own pitch as a "forever home" for rugby. The next year, 2007, the University kicked us off our pitch and we had to make due with a field behind where the current softball complex is until 2012. During these 5 years Pete was being persistent with MSU that rugby needs it's own home on campus. With the on-going work of Dr. Petersen, working not only with the University, but also with the State of Minnesota to get the funding for the rugby pitch, we were proud to have our first season on the current pitch in 2012. Pete made sure that this was not just going to be a place to play. He made sure it was done right. Enclosed rugby pitch, flood lights, domed pitch, and irrigation system. A few years later, Pete gave a large gift to help fund the scoreboard. Thus becoming the best college pitch in the state.

This where it gets interesting. During late 2021, MSU Rugby Alumni Jay Ziesmer and Bob Eichens have been working to get the rugby pitch named for Dr. Petersen, for all of this work and dedication to both the University and Rugby. During this time there were several members of the University involved with what these two alumni were trying to do. Finally, in late 2022, the Board at MSU asked for a formal proposal for the naming rights of the rugby field. In February of 2023 this proposal was presented to the MSU Board. For six months they heard nothing back. After repeated calls to the University, Ziesmer and Eichens were asked to have a face to face meeting with someone from the University to go over the proposal. This un-named person (for her own protection) told them how impressed everyone was with Dr. Petersen and the proposal that was presented. Here comes the huge "BUT". They were told that in all cases where facilities on campus being named after someone there is one time donation of between $100,000 and $50,000 to get this approved. Of course this was not part of the plans that was in the proposal. They told us that this money would be given to the University to "help and keep up the facilities for MSU Rugby". The University would have total control of these funds, and there was no commitment that this donation would go directly to MSU Rugby teams.  The University also said that they would except a $5,000 per year "Scholarship" each year for the next 10 years. This would be spent on paying expenses to students that wanted to play rugby at MSU.

After some discussion, the University was told that this would not work for two reasons. The first is that they, the University, in this case did not "know their audience" in this case. The amount they were looking for was not part of what was the goal of having the pitch named for Dr. Petersen. We told them by the facts, actions, and service that Dr. Petersen has given the University and MSU Rugby this was case alone for having the naming rights. Second, even if we (the MSU Rugby Alumni) were to donate any kind of funds to the University for naming rights, it would be very hard to get rugby alumni to donate, though the University, as the funds would not go direct the MSU Rugby.

After the $100,000 / $50,000 bombshell, action was needed to be taken. The decision was made to go ahead and have the UNOFFICIAL name of the rugby pitch be PETERSON PITCH, THE HOME OF MSU RUGBY. Taking into account the rugby clubs     50+ year history with MSU, they have their way of doing things, and MSU Rugby has ours! The Pitch will forever now be known as PETERSEN PITCH, we will hang the banner on each match day, and make sure that recognition is given to Dr. James "Big Pete" Petersen for all of his hard work and dedication to MSU Rugby.

NOTE: going forward the MSU Rugby Alumni will be doing fundraising. This way we know that 100% of the money we take in will go DIRECT to help MSU Men's and Women's Rugby. You will be getting updates via our Facebook site and this website.

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At the last reunion there were lots of comments about how many of the rugby players were sporting the MSU Rugby Logo. Here are a few that our Alumni sent in.

MSU Rugby Family Photos

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New for the Fall of 2022!

When you go to a match you will now see the 'HOME OF MAVERICK RUGBY" banner at the pitch

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