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| The rugby club at Southwest State University was founded in the Fall of 1998. Matt Rosdahl, a transfer from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA was the club's founder. Matt had played rugby for just one season at Coe, but as all ruggers know once you get a taste of rugby there is no going back. Matt began small by holding meetings and setting up informational booths until he was able to attract enough members to try to field a team. Sixteen brave souls made the treck to St. Peter to play the first rugby match in Southwest State University history. The then Fighting Hellfish rugby club lost 0-5 to Gustavus Adolphus College. A week later that same group played again at South Dakota State University. The club would pick up its first tie and win weeks later at the All-Minnesota Tournament. A tie with Macalester started out the weekend. The win came agsainst Gustavus Adolphus College, who would develop into the closest thing SSU has to a rival. |