Though they called it rugby, the early university teams played gridiron football.
In the autumn of 1925, the season consisted of four exhibition games against the City of Saskatoon. Coached by E.B. Nagle and quarterbacked by Captain E.K. (Kent) Philips, Varsity split the series played at Cairns Field.
The most notable aspect of the season was the persistent rain and snow.
Varsity was to play the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg in the “international rugby series,” but the event was cancelled.
Over the next few years, the U of S would continue to play the City of Saskatoon but would also play several games with the universities of Alberta and Manitoba, solidifying the beginnings of inter-university competition in Western Canada.
The above cartoon was taken from the 1925 Yearbook.