The face of Rugby

George Lepeltier has been involved with the Norwich men's rugby team for roughly 25 years. His time and commitment to the team has earned him the unique position as the team's special advisor, according to Bob Weggler, the head coach.

"When I first came on board (Lepeltier) always got water for the team," said Weggler. "(He) said it made them play better."

However, during a past season, a trainer did not agree with the idea of water being provided to the team by a source outside of the university. Because of this Lepeltier was no longer allowed to provide water for the team, explained Weggler.

"So (Lepeltier) became my special advisor," Weggler said. "I just call him my special advisor, but he is just really supportive. He follows the rugby team like a parent would."

Lepeltier is "kind of like the great-grandfather type of figure," Weggler said.

Originally from France, Lepeltier moved to the United States to be with his wife, an American citizen, according to Weggler. He moved to Vermont with his wife and four children in July 1975.

"I was interested in this campus by two things," Lepeltier said. "I was interested by the library, and I quickly became a life member of the Friends of the Library organization. I am a book worm, and I consider Norwich's library one of the best in New England."

Lepelteir took his son to the men's games to encourage him to play the sport. "I am a rugby fan, and I encouraged my youngest son to play rugby," he said.

Now Lepeltier provides advice and moral support for rugby players, said Jon Wright, a junior nursing major from Middlebury, Vt.

"We joke around, he is kind of like our mascot," Wright said. "He tries to be at all of the games, he says hi to all of us."

Lepeltier also provides advice about which players should be put into the game, or what the coach should or should not be doing, explained Wright.

"He puts his input in about what coach should be doing, he is just there for morale," Wright said.

Players also receive individual advice and encouragement from Lepeltier, "He is kind of like the good cop, bad cop. When coach has to be tough on us George is reassuring," said Pat McGrath, a junior biology major and pre-med student from Marshhead, Mass.

"If you play a good game (Lepeltier) will never not congratulate you on it," said McGrath. "He makes sure all the good plays get noticed."

"He brings smiles," said Weggler.

Players also benefit from Lepeltier's knowledge about the game and his willingness to share that knowledge, according to Gianni Miceli, a junior criminal justice major, from Burlington, Vt.

"Rugby is not just a sport, it is an education," Lepeltier said. "It is a sport for gentleman."

To be a gentleman in rugby is to show good sportsmanship. "You are very cordial toward your opposing players," Miceli said. "It is a tough game and things get a little rough, and you might do a little punching around but at the end of the game you're all done."

Lepeltier stresses this good sportsmanship behavior, according to McGrath.

A yellow card will be shown to players by a referee if they are being cautioned or temporarily suspended, according to Rugby rules.

"Getting a yellow card has a negative feeling of unsportsmanlike play," McGrath said. "(Lepelteir) will have talks with people who get into little scraps in the games."

Rugby requires its players to be fast, strong and smart. "And the third one is the most important, because it is a game of possibilities," Lepeltier said.

"At practice (Lepeltier) helps out with the technique and the form," Miceli said. "You want to be low, that's what he always yells at us for."

Lepeltier is also known for singing the U.S. national anthem at games, said Austin Hall, head coach for the women's rugby team

"He sings our American national anthem in his deep French accent, and it's great to hear that," Hall said. "I think it's classic."

Lepeltier has lived in Northfield for 14 years, and spends much of his time on campus in the library most mornings and the fitness center in the afternoon.

This routine is becoming difficult for Lepeltier because of his increasing age. "The problem now is I am afraid to fall on the ice or so, and break a leg. I am feeling more secure in my car, which is not good because I need to walk."

Lepeltier may spend part of the winter outside of Vermont.

"I have a good friend who teaches French at the Citadel and who lives in Charleston," Lepeltier said. "I will probably spend part of the winter in Charleston now."