Portal:Frankfurt American 1974-1975 Men/Intro

Kurt shared that this fall was the first full season for the team, with the opener against the British Staff College at Camberley (arranged through the British Liaison officer to 3rd Armor, Major John Tower). This rivalry was continued with a Thanksgiving match in the UK, the first of many annual tours to play for the glass enclosed Cam-Furt Owl, the symbol of the staff college, which we competed for twice a year, home and away. The team went 13-3 in the fall and defeated teams from Zambia, the French Army (Strasbourg), Kehl and several British regimental sides.

The spring schedule included visits to Brussels, Berlin, international tournaments and Paris (Saw Scotland and France and found a last minute game against ? maybe Vincennes RC. They had been kicked out of the league and showed us an amazing time) Probably the finest moment in club history occurred at the spring 1975 Heineken Sevens when the team lost the opener to a French side, won the next two and were pitted against the London Welsh side (who were winners of three previous tournaments). In a stunning match, marked by ferocious American tackling, the team upset the 'Voyagers', 11-6, as a crowd of thousands yelled "Go Yanks GO". This resulted in a three way tie for first in the pool but the tournament rules put us in the lower bracket. We won convincingly, the final against Cambridge, 22-0 capturing the treasured Heineken Boot trophy. Kevin Hines played the final match with a broken collarbone. As expected, the London Welsh went on to win the upper bracket handily.

This is the last time we find documentation of the team referred to as the "Rough Riders". Hereafter the reference is the 3rd Armored Division Rugby Club until Fall 79 when "The Frankfurt Americans" reference began.