William Darsie Explained

William Darsie
Fullname:William Pettigrew Darsie
Birth Date:6 January 1891
Birth Place:Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Death Place:Santa Clara, California
School:Palo Alto High School
University:Stanford University
Ru Position:Flanker
Amatyears1:1911–1914
Amatteam1:Stanford University
Ru Amupdate:January 2, 2019
Repteam1:United States
Repyears1:1913
Repcaps1:1
Reppoints1:0
Ru Ntupdate:January 2, 2019

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.

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. While in high school, Darsie played rugby with his school's team.

After high school, Darsie attended Stanford University and was a member of the university's rugby teams. 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. 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. Darsie married Mildred S. Powers, with whom he had two children. Darsie died on January 30, 1954, in Santa Clara, California, at the age of 63.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: William Darsie . . espn.co.uk . . January 2, 2019.
  2. Web site: William Pettigrew Darsie . Casey . Patrick . . The Rugby History Society . January 2, 2019.
  3. News: . Harvard Won; Score 3–0 . . . . November 8, 1913 . XXVIII . 267 . 1 . . January 2, 2019.
  4. Web site: New Zealand Tour - Berkeley, 15 November 1913 . espn.co.uk . . January 2, 2019.