Memories from the 1972–1973 Season | Mizzou Rugby Alumni Association

“Rugby” — from the Savitar

The University of Missouri yearbook's page on the club, and the two photographs that ran with it.

Savitar yearbook page headed rugby, with a column of text and a photograph of a Mizzou player being tackled while carrying the ball on a muddy field — The yearbook spread: a ball carrier held up in the mud, alongside club president Tom Leicht's account of the season.

Two rugby players on the ground in deep mud after a tackle, from the Savitar yearbook rugby page — The second photograph from the same spread — tackler and ball carrier down in standing water.

What It Says

The Missouri Rugby team had its problems this year. The spring season was plagued with wet grounds and generally miserable weather.

“There were just no good days all spring,” said Tom Leicht, Rugby Club president. “In fact, against Iowa State, it was so wet that the field just wouldn't hold any more water.”

Also there was little money. The Rugby Club gets its money for equipment and uniforms from dues and money-making projects. One party netted the team $80.

“We asked MSA for $1,900 this last spring. We'll be lucky to get $500,” Leicht said.

But in spite of everything, it all worked out well anyway. The team record climbed to near the .700 mark as opposed to last year's .500 season.

The team came off with two second place tournament finishes in the St. Louis Easter Rugger Fest, and the tournament at the University of Missouri-Rolla.

In the St. Louis Tournament, the team competed against powerful schools from the Mid-West and Canada. And now the club looks forward to bigger and better things for the 1973-74 season.

Transcribed word for word from the yearbook page. It looks back on the spring of 1973 and closes by looking ahead to the season that followed, so it is a record of this season written on the eve of the 1973–74 Big Eight championship year.

From Jim Dierker’s Collection

A photograph kept by the second-row forward who joined the club in 1971.

Missouri and opposition forwards contesting a lineout, Jim Dierker at left in black — Forwards up at a lineout, Jim Dierker at left in black. Dierker labeled it 1973, which by the club’s own reckoning — seasons named for the spring — places it in the 1972–73 season.

Have More from 1972–73?

Photos, programs, clippings, scorebooks — we want to see them.

The fall 1972 record is still missing entirely, and the roster is far from complete. Anything you have helps.

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