Frankfurt American Logo and Jersey

(by Jim Tartari, 1980)

The Third Armored Division Rugby Club has had some problems with its identity. It has been through several name changes and numerous uniforms and colors as well. (As a matter of fact, we are occasionally seen playing in a variety of jerseys!) In 1974 the club was founded as the Third Armored Division (R....d), termed Frankfurt for short. Early newspaper articles referred to the team as the "Spearheaders". The German Bundesleague, although not officially recognizing the club, gave it the designation ARC (American Rugby Club), Frankfurt. When Jim began playing in January 76, the club was called the 3rd AD "Roughriders" a term perhaps extracted from the statue of the horse outside the Edwards kasere, across the street from the Division HQ (housed in an old cavalry stables converted to office use). Other 3AD teams were referred to as "The Herd". Our uniforms were purple, black and white hoops alternating (and always a few blue, black and white jerseys) worn with black shorts. In 1977 we were sponsored by Kook cigarettes (thanks to our scrum half Gerry Classey who was their sales rep) and the jerseys they bought us were white with a large green hoop with gold border, resembling a pack of Kool's, of course.