picture #3
I enjoyed looking at the pictures posted on the RATS.
I saw some old opponents and old friends.
However,picture#3 is not of the RATS per se. Although
the players appear to be wearing the RATS'grey
jerseys, the picture actually shows the United RFC
right after the merger. We took 2 sides that year to
the Mountain Cup Tournament in Blacksburg over Labor
Day Weekend. One team was designated the red team
and wore the old Richmond RFC fade. The other team
was desigated the grey team and wore the RATS
tournament jerseys. Both teams were a mixture of old
Richmond player and RATS players, several Richmond
players are identifiable in the photo, including
Stuart Corker,Bill Strauss,Marc Butler,and yours
trully(Tom Oxenham).
With a split squad I was the head coach of the red team and Carl Schmitt was head coach of the grey team. I hate to admit that Car's team did better than mine. While the reds lost a close early game to Charlotte's Olde Originals and dropped into the loser's bracket, the grays using the play of English imports Steve Trethowan and Gee Jones, went undefeated on the first day and played host Blacksburg for the championship on Sunday. Unfortunately, the host proved ungracious and won the championship but United got a measure of revenge the next week when the combined side beat the boys from Hokie Land in both the A and B matches for United's first league victory ever. We went on to be undefeated in Div III that season, did well in the Ed Lee Cup and used the play of Steve and Gee to defeat Roanoke in the promotion/relegation match at the end of the season to advance to DivII.
Cheers
Otis
picture #4
cute picture---somewhere in their history,though,it should be mentioned that the nationally ranked women's team IRIS started as an offshoot of the RATS, and we had to wear those ugly brown jerseys a few times AFTER the men had played in them! Jan
Posted Jan 9th,2005
Steve William Seal, 51, of Richmond, died suddenly on Monday, January 3, 2005 at his home. He is survived by his wife, Susan Diane Seal; and beloved daughter, Maicy Linn Seal; his parents, Ralph and Dorothy Seal of Cumberland; brother, Craig Seal (Jill) of Chester. He was preceded in death by his only sister, Linda Seal Blunt. He is also survived by his nephews, Justin Thomas Blunt (Sarah) of Sandston and Mathis William Seal of Chester; nieces, Amy Blunt Milby (Douglas) of Sandston, Mallory Lambeth Seal of Chester; and a great-niece, Karyss Milby. Also surviving is a host of aunts, uncles and cousins who loved him dearly. Steve loved his family and celebrated life every day. He graduated in 1976 from VCU and started his teaching career that year. He taught in Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Henrico, and most recently at St. Joseph's Villa. He was an avid fan of rugby and played for many years for VCU and the Richmond, R.A.T.S. Friends and family will be received at Discovery United Methodist Church at 13000 Gayton Road from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, January 4. The funeral will be held at Discovery United Methodist Church on Wednesday, January 5, at 10 a.m. Interment will take place at Washington Memorial Park. Contributions can be made to Discovery United Methodist Church and Richmond R.A.T.S.
Published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on 1/4/2005.
