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 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 club history.

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 Coats, 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 Coats
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
Jim MitchieCaruthersville, MO
Don Miller
Greg Miller
Larry MillerTulsa, OK
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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