1966 Mizzou Rugby

Mizzou Rugby Season Archive

First Season · Spring 1967: 5–2–2

The Founding Season

Where Mizzou Rugby began.

The Missouri University Rugby Club was founded in Columbia in the fall of 1966 by William K. “Chip” Maxwell of Creve Coeur — an Air Force veteran who had played with the Rambler Rugby Club in St. Louis — and Warren Sutton of Auckland, New Zealand, a mathematics doctoral candidate at Mizzou who had been one of New Zealand's top rugby referees. The first officers were Maxwell as President, Gino Tutera as Vice-President, Wilson Beckett as Treasurer, and Mike Rigg as Secretary (succeeded by Iain Christison), with Sutton coaching and Joe Bowen — a former Cornell footballer who picked up rugby in Africa with the Peace Corps — captaining the “A” team.

The club's first full playing season came in the spring of 1967, and the new side posted a remarkable 5–2–2 record. The highlight was the April 7 defeat of a strong Harvard University side in Columbia; the Black & Gold also beat both Iowa and Kansas, and fielded two full teams at the St. Louis Easter Ruggerfest in March.

From “Missouri University Rugby Club — The First Years” by Dan McGuire, and the club's Spring 1967 program.

1966–67 Season Roster

The founding season of Mizzou Rugby — Fall 1966 to Spring 1967.

Missouri University Rugby Club Team 1 photo, Fall 1966 to Spring 1967, with player names printed beneath
Team #1, Fall 1966 – Spring 1967. Back: J. Hurley, M. Hensgen, M. Fisher, E. Wellmeyer, L. Miller, M. Rigg, P. Howard, B. Bates, J. Reynolds, J. Primm. Front: J. Whitaker, J. Roberts, J. Bennecke, B. Georges, G. Tutera, C. Maxwell, J. Bowen, T. Bland; sitting, W. Sutton. Not pictured: M. Rosen.
Missouri University Rugby Club Team 2 page from the Spring 1967 program, with player names printed beneath
Team #2, from the club's Spring 1967 program. Back: M. Crocker, T. Hoffman, C. Schmitt, I. Christison, R. Bernsen, K. Peltier, C. Lozier, M. Hosheider, J. Cochran, G. Lambeth, J. Schmitt. Front: C. Stecher, B. Newbold, W. Beckett, S. Smith, M. Sagan, S. Feldman, B. Upjohn, M. Hoffman, S. Steiner; sitting, W. Sutton. Not pictured: B. Beckett.
NameHometown
Bill Aimonette
Bill BatesStorm Lake, IA
Bruce Beckett
Wilson Beckett (Treasurer)
Jay Benecke
Rich Bernsen
Ted Bland
Joe Bowen (Captain)Wooster, OH
Iain ChristisonGlasgow, Scotland
John CochranHannibal, MO
Mike Crocker
Stan FeldmanUniversity City, MO
Mike Fisher
Bill Georges
Jay Hasheider
Mike HensgenKirkwood, MO
Bob Herbold
Mike HoffmanSouth Pasadena, CA
Tom Hoffman
Phil HowardBrentwood, MO
Joe Hurley
Gary Lambeth
John LeetColumbia, MO
C. Lozier
Chip Maxwell (President)Creve Coeur, MO
Larry MillerTulsa, OK
Bill Newbold
Andy OrfSt. Louis, MO
Ken Peltier
John Primm
Jim Reynolds
Mike Rigg (Secretary)
Joe Roberts
Mark Rosen
Mike SaganUniversity City, MO
Chuck SchmittSt. Ann, MO
John Schmitt
Steve Smith
Charlie StecherSt. Louis, MO
Sandy Steiner
Bob Stoessel
Warren Sutton (Coach)Auckland, New Zealand
Gino Tutera (Vice-President)Kansas City
Bryant UpjohnKansas City
Ed WellmeyerSt. Louis, MO
Jim Whitaker

From the Missouri University Rugby Club Combined Roster 1966–69, compiled by Dan McGuire from original club programs and rosters. Spot an error or a missing teammate? Use the form below.

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