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I literally found my spirit playing rugby. I started when I was 11, at Dulwich College in England. Overcome with a feeling I'm sure many will recognize, I couldn't believe this much fun was legal. My family moved to California in 1964. I thought rugby was finished. The joy was gone. Then I was lucky enough to play for the fabled Dennis Storer at UCLA, beginning in 1966. After playing for UCLA for 6 years (rules were flexible in those days), I was part of a group that formed Santa Monica Rugby Club in 1973. I continued to play for Dennis on representative sides up until the Eagles tour of England in 1977, just before which I broke my hip in a car accident. I recovered enough to join the Old Bats in winning the National Senior tournaments in Aspen and San Francisco some time in 80's (memory fades). 

I am now enjoying a re-acquaintance with the game and its new, young participants. We older participants remember rugby fondly and the best of us old folks are now coaching the younger players. I have learned, in retrospect, how valuable that time on the field was, and how we have all preserved those moments whenever possible. We scrounged everywhere for old photos ... and everybody had some. I wanted to add to the tradition that our friend, Frazier McClean, started.

Carl Jung defined the numina as the invisible forces that can only be perceived by the imagination, yet they shape every perception and shadow every dream. In our hearts, we know that it is the spirit that counts ... spirit that takes the measure of every man and woman. Where we see spirit, we know the soul is alive and well. It's why I'm a photographer - what you see is what you get. What you think it means depends on the moment.

1973 National Champions at Monterey

Standing: John McDermott, Jerry Walter, Frank De Genero, John Brown, Mike Fenerin, Gordon Moir, Greg Schneeweis, Dean Sweeney, Craig Sweeney, Dennis Murphy, Gordon Bosserman, Fred Khasigian, Brad Andrews, Vic Lepisto, Mark Smith. Sitting: Tom Mahoney, Bill Eakland, Dave Stephenson, Ron Nisbet, Larry Petrill, Bob Thrussell, Tim Desmond, Dennis Storer.

2005 National Champions at San Diego (Supporting Roles)