William Darsie

William Pettigrew Darsie (January 6, 1891 – January 30, 1954) was an American rugby union player who played at flanker for the United States men's national team in its first capped match against New Zealand in 1913.

William Darsie
Darsie with the US team in 1913 (pictured back row, fourth from left)
Full nameWilliam Pettigrew Darsie
Date of birth(1891-01-06)January 6, 1891
Place of birthPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Date of deathJanuary 30, 1954(1954-01-30) (aged 63)
Place of deathSanta Clara, California
SchoolPalo Alto High School
UniversityStanford University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1911–1914 Stanford University ()
Correct as of January 2, 2019
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1913 United States 1 (0)
Correct as of January 2, 2019

Biography

William Darsie was born on January 6, 1891 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,[1] the son and one of three children of William W. Darsie and Jean P. Darsie (born Pettigrew).[2] Upon his father's retirement in 1905, Darsie moved with his family to Palo Alto, California where he attended Palo Alto High School.[2] While in high school, Darsie played rugby with his school's team.[2]

After high school, Darsie attended Stanford University and was a member of the university's rugby teams.[2] In 1913, Darsie was the acting captain of the Stanford rugby team.[3] While at Stanford, Darsie was a member of the California Beta chapter of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.[2] On November 15, 1913, Darsie played for the United States at flanker in its first test match against New Zealand—a 51–3 defeat.[4]

After attending Stanford, Darsie worked as a vegetable farmer and chaired a California agricultural advisory committee during World War II.[2] Darsie married Mildred S. Powers, with whom he had two children.[2] Darsie died on January 30, 1954 in Santa Clara, California at the age of 63.[1]

References
  1. "William Darsie". espn.co.uk. ESPN. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  2. Casey, Patrick. "William Pettigrew Darsie". The Rugby History Society. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  3. "Harvard Won; Score 3–0". The Riverside Daily Press. XXVIII (267). Princeton, New Jersey. The United Press. November 8, 1913. p. 1. Retrieved January 2, 2019 – via the California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  4. "New Zealand Tour - Berkeley, 15 November 1913". espn.co.uk. ESPN. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
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