1968 Mizzou Rugby

Mizzou Rugby Season Archive

Fall 1968: Three Sides Undefeated · Heart of America Champions

The 1968–69 Season

Three undefeated sides and a tournament championship.

By the fall of 1968 the Missouri University Rugby Club had become a Midwest collegiate powerhouse, fielding three undefeated sides. The best weekend of the year was the inaugural Heart of America Rugby Tournament in Overland Park, Kansas, on November 16–17: the Seconds beat Rockhurst 5–3, upset the Kansas City Blues — then ranked 13th nationwide — 9–6, and blanked the Kansas City RFC 17–0 in the final to win the championship, while the Firsts beat Kansas 3–0 in non-tournament play. The Kansas City Times covered the weekend; other entrants included the Denver Barbarians, a Kansas University second side and two St. Benedict's sides.

The highlight of the spring came April 5–6, 1969, when the club traveled to Washington, D.C. for the Third Annual Cherry Blossom International Rugby Tournament, played on the South White House Ellipse. After an opening loss to Old Blue of New York, the Black & Gold beat Colgate before dropping the fifth-place match to Army, 9–8, in a field that included Montreal, Nassau, Baltimore, Washington, and George Washington University.

SideResultOpponent
MU IW 14–8St. Louis U. Billikens
MU IW 28–5Clayton RFC
MU IW 3–0Iowa
MU IW 33–0Rolla
MU IW 3–0Kansas
MU IIW 8–3St. Louis U. Blues
MU IIW 9–8Clayton II
MU IIT 6–6Iowa II
MU IIW 23–3Central Missouri State (Warrensburg)
MU IIW 29–0Westminster
MU IIW 5–3Rockhurst · Heart of America
MU IIW 9–6Kansas City Blues · Heart of America
MU IIW 17–0Kansas City RFC · Heart of America final
MU IIIW 6–3Rolla II
MU IIIT 3–3Rolla II

Fall 1968 results from the club's period scoresheet and Dan McGuire's “Missouri University Rugby Club — The First Years, Fall 1966–Spring 1969,” presented at the inaugural meeting of the Mizzou Rugby Alumni Association on October 28, 2011. The Heart of America weekend was covered by the Kansas City Times of November 18, 1968, and the Cherry Blossom trip is documented in the tournament's April 5–6, 1969 program.

1968–69 Season Roster

The club's third season — Fall 1968 to Spring 1969.

Missouri University Rugby Club team photo, Fall 1968 to Spring 1969, with player names and club officers printed beneath
Fall 1968 – Spring 1969. Back: Stan Feldman, Ray Crocker, John McLaughlin, Tom Kausch, Jim Michie, Greg Miller, Stark Rucker, Dan McGuire (Captain II), Ed Lampitt, Lee Potts, unknown, Sam Forsea, Larry Miller, Rick Mongler, Scott Seddon. Middle: Jay Hashieder, Terry Jost, Burt Weinstein, Bill Williams, Keith Eickenhorst (Treasurer), Jack Campbell, Bob Buente, Rocky Rowan (Vice President), Dirk Peterson, Don Carmen, Jack Russell, Ron Bonnell (Captain I). Front: Keith Julian, Jack Coates, Iain Christison (Coach), Bill Jenkins (Coach), Phil Howard (President), Ray Fox, Mike Fulk, Tom Mohan (Secretary), Gordon Doak, John Early, Steve Bax, Jim Larson.
The full Fall 1968 Missouri University Rugby Club squad in black jerseys and donated white football jerseys
The full Fall 1968 squad — enough players for three complete sides, in club jerseys and the numbered white football jerseys donated by the university. Photo: Carl Voss.
NameHometown
Steve Anderson—
Ron Barker—
Steve BaxKansas City
Wilson Beckett—
Ollie Bohlman—
Ron Bonnell (Captain I)St. Louis, MO
Bob "Curly" Buente—
Jack Campbell—
Donald Carman—
Iain Christison (Coach)Glasgow, Scotland
Jim "Country" ClarkLagator, WI
Jack Coates—
John CochranHannibal, MO
Bill Cottom—
Ray CrockerSt. Louis, MO
Gordon DoakOsborn, MO
John EarlyCameron, MO
Chris Edlin—
Keith "Ike" Eickenhorst (Treasurer)St. Louis, MO
Pat Eng—
Brian Falson—
Stan FeldmanUniversity City, MO
Sam Forsea—
Ray FoxBrentwood, MO
Rick Fox—
Lance Friesz—
Mike Fulk—
Wayne Gottman—
Lonnie Harris—
Jay Hasheider—
Phil Howard (President)Brentwood, MO
Gordon Hunter—
Bill Jenkins (Coach)Pretoria, South Africa
Terry Jost—
Keith Julian—
Tom Kausch—
Ron Kellerman—
William Dean Klink—
Steve Koch—
Ed Lampitt—
Jim Larson—
Jerry Lee—
Dean Lubbs—
Jim MaxwellSt. Louis, MO
Dan McGuire (Captain II)St. Louis, MO
Don McGuireSt. Louis, MO
John McLaughlin—
Don Miller—
Greg Miller—
Larry MillerTulsa, OK
Jim MitchieCaruthersville, MO
Tom Mohan (Secretary)Overland, MO
Greg Moloney—
Rick MonglerMexico, MO
Gene Olsen—
Bob Peters—
Durk Peterson—
Allen Pollack—
Lee Potts—
Bruce Read—
Rocky Rowan (Vice President)—
Stark Rucker—
Jack RussellCarthage, MO
Scott SeddonClayton, MO
Ronald Smith—
Craig Spitzfaden—
Charlie StecherSt. Louis, MO
Joe Tamony—
Gino TuteraKansas City
Jerry Vauga—
Joe Waeckelle—
Burt Weinstein—
Ed WellmeyerSt. Louis, MO
Bill Williams—
Jim YustJennings, MO

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

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