OK, I am a little embarrassed by this, since I've been following Cal Rugby for many years now, but frankly, I don't know squat about the scrum axe. I know it is a real artifact (I've seen an image of it via Google), and I know it is retained by the annual winner of the Cal/Stanford men's rugby game, but that's all I know.

Does anyone out there have a better understanding of the dam' thing? How did it get started? What the hell IS it? Is it brought to every Cal/Stanford game for a possible transfer (I certainly don't remember ever seeing it paraded around as they do the Stanford Axe at football games)?

chalcidbear;842454093 said:

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OK, I am a little embarrassed by this, since I've been following Cal Rugby for many years now, but frankly, I don't know squat about the scrum axe. I know it is a real artifact (I've seen an image of it via Google), and I know it is retained by the annual winner of the Cal/Stanford men's rugby game, but that's all I know.

Does anyone out there have a better understanding of the dam' thing? How did it get started? What the hell IS it? Is it brought to every Cal/Stanford game for a possible transfer (I certainly don't remember ever seeing it paraded around as they do the Stanford Axe at football games)?

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let google be your fingers cal-sid (confessing i don't know) excepting of course don't dare peek thru links to bbs competitors. which sadly is why i can't share a closeup image of the darned thing.

from cal's wikwiki page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Golden_Bears):

Quote:

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[U]Scrum Axe[/U]
Although California's main rival in rugby is British Columbia, the rivalry between California and Stanf*rd in rugby has been going on for more than a century. The trophy awarded to the winner of the California-Stanford rugby match is known as the "Scrum Axe", which is a play on the "Stanf*rd Axe", the trophy awarded to whichever school wins the annual football contest. California is the current holder of the Scrum Axe, winning their 17th straight meeting over the Cardinal 176-0, on January 26, 2013 in Berkeley.[42]

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Thanks for the pic smh. Unfortunately, none of the answers to my questions appear to be available via Google. I'm hoping some Old Blue can step up on this one.

A brief mention of the Scrum Axe history, stating the tradition is over 100 years old, can be found on www.calbears.com. Go to Sports, Rugby, then click "History" on the drop down menu. I tried to link here but it didn't work.

Having gone 5-0 as Cal Rugby player and 2-0 as a Cal assistant coach in the battle for the Scrum Axe, I should know more, but unfortunately do not. The 1985 National Championship team is having a reunion on 2/27 and 2/28. I will try to remember to ask Jack Clark then, as I'm sure he will have a lot more info than I regarding this issue.

Probably don't have to worry too much about Stanford changing any of the historical scores on the Scrum Axe trophy.

Has this thing ever been at risk at all to spend a season in Palo Alto?

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Thanks Beardog, that is the first place I looked. But sadly, it is lacking the details I crave. And northendbear: Stanford won the Axe in 1996. In 1998, the NC came down to a game between the Bears and the Cardinal, so they were a power to be reckoned with in the 90s. (Not so much since).

northendbear;842454386 said:

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Probably don't have to worry too much about Stanford changing any of the historical scores on the Scrum Axe trophy.

Has this thing ever been at risk at all to spend a season in Palo Alto?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]4315[/ATTACH]

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Scrum Axe
Although California's main rival in rugby is British Columbia, the rivalry between California and Stanf*rd in rugby has been going on for more than a century. The trophy awarded to the winner of the California-Stanford rugby match is known as the "Scrum Axe", which is a play on the "Stanf*rd Axe", the trophy awarded to whichever school wins the annual football contest. California is the current holder of the Scrum Axe, [COLOR="#0000FF"]winning their 17th straight meeting over the Cardinal 176-0, on January 26, 2013 in Berkeley.[42]
[/COLOR]
Apparently that inconceivable act occurred 1996.

Kicking ass and taking names. Go Bears!

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The origins of The Scrum Axe trace back to The Axe of 1899, a standard 15-inch lumber axe. In 1933, The Axe was designated as the annual trophy exchanged between Cal and Stanford following the Big Game. Rugby's version of it, the Big Scrum Axe, began after that. A true ceremonial Indian battle axe, the The Scrum Axe is described on the back of its plaque by Prince Lightfoot of the Yurok Tribe of Northern California as follows:

CALIFORNIA-STANFORD RUGBY TROPHY AXE

It took 10,708 beads and 80 hours' beading time to express the story told in the handle of this axe.

This pattern, designed and interpreted by its designer, symbolized the Rattlesnake. Starting at the nose or head, you will note a tassel of beads forming the tongue of the snake. The first diamond indicates the head, and right behind this diamond the zig-zag line shows the trail of the snake as it slithers over the ground. Back of the wedge-shaped stone the lines blend into several diamonds, which is the back of the snake, and from the tail end of the handle the rattles displayed by the heavier tassels.

Colors of red and white and blue and gold have a dual purpose. While representing the colors of the two schools, they also mean the following:

RED for the fullness of the heart with understanding and life-giving blood full of compassion.

WHITE for purity and sincerity. Without these, it would be difficult to reach life everlasting.

BLUE for the clear blue sky with its freshness in helping create clear straight-thinking, to sidestep detrimental and evil trends.

GOLD for the sun of warm strength and energy. Without it there would be sickness and decadence of the body.

BLACK representing the unknown darkness of eternal sleep which we know must come some day, delivered by the snake's bite.

Prayers must always be said when handling the axe, for only then will it function properly in its designed power.

"THIS AXE IS RECEIVED AS A GIFT FROM THE GREAT CREATOR. IT SHALL BE USED, NOT TO HURT MY BROTHER, BUT ONLY TO DEFEND ME FROM MY ENEMIES. I SHALL USE IT WITH GREAT HONOR. ONLY THEN WILL IT BE STRONG AND HAVE THE POWER TO PROTECT ME THE HEAVENS HAVE MADE IT SO."