Memories from the 1991–1992 Season | Mizzou Rugby Alumni Association

A Shoebox Opened

Thirty-four photographs, most of them never seen outside a drawer.

Ramona Sparks Hicks posted this set to the Mizzou Rugby Old Boys group: “Finally dug out a few pics, mostly from fall 91/spring 92. If I had anything written on the back, I put it in the caption.” Sixteen of them carry names that way, and those names are reproduced below exactly as she gave them. Hicks played for the Mizzou Ladies rugby team and today coaches that side.

A note on the dating: the thread itself is not unanimous. One reply reckoned the set is “a mix of the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons,” and Kent Allen thought some might be earlier still, saying he was playing for the Blues in 1991. Hope Dunn dated one of them to October 1991. They are gathered here on the board’s instruction; if you can place any of them more precisely, we will move them.

Named on the Back

The photographs that came with identifications.

Coach Ian Hermann in a white hat on the touchline, black and white photograph — Coach Ian Hermann on the touchline.

Coach Ian Hermann smiling on the touchline among players, black and white photograph — Hermann again, among the players. He guided the club for twenty-one seasons, from 1981–82 through 2001–02 — his tribute is on the memorial page.

Chris Justice holds up a black and gold hooped jersey numbered 12 — Chris Justice with the number 12 shirt.

Chuck Bruder and Chris Justice photographed together on a sunny day — Chuck Bruder and Chris Justice.

Chris Justice and Pete Fisher on the touchline, black and white photograph — Chris Justice and Pete Fisher.

Chris Justice with a teammate in front of autumn trees — Chris Justice and a teammate — the note on the back stops there.

Chris Justice, Mark Blaine and Rob Hoens contest the ball in a maul — Chris Justice, Mark Blaine and Rob Hoens.

Doug Card, Tim Tajkowski and Chris Justice standing together beside the pitch — Doug Card, Tim Tajkowski and Chris Justice — October 1991, by Hope Dunn’s reckoning in the thread.

John Tajkowski and Rob Hoens with teammates on the touchline, black and white photograph — John Tajkowski and Rob Hoens.

John Tajkowski and a teammate known as Taz out on the pitch — John Tajkowski and “Taz”.

Tim Tajkowski standing at the side of the pitch — Tim Tajkowski.

Bob Rimel in a white shirt beside the pitch, black and white photograph — Bob Rimel.

Colin Schmidt leaps to take the ball in a lineout, black and white photograph — Colin Schmidt, up for the ball.

Players walking toward the camera into low autumn sun — Jason Jent, walking in against the light.

John Cohen and Joe Zwillenberg with others outside a building after a match — John Cohen and Joe Zwillenberg.

The Rest of the Batch

Same shoebox, nothing written on the back — though three have since been identified.

A scrum packs down on a bare pitch with a wooded hillside behind — A scrum forms under the hillside.

Players jump for the ball at a lineout, one side in gold — Up at the lineout.

Play moves across an open field in autumn — Ball in hand, across the open field.

A maul seen from the far touchline on a wide open pitch — A maul, seen from a long way off.

Players chase across the pitch in hazy sunshine — Chasing across the field.

Players spread across the pitch waiting for a restart — Waiting on the restart.

Two sides walk together across the pitch after a match — Both sides, walking off.

Players walk across a pitch ringed by autumn trees — Autumn behind the pitch.

Pat Fogarty out on the pitch, turning out for the Royals — Pat Fogarty whoring for the Royals.

Two men talk on the touchline, one leaning toward the camera — On the touchline.

A group in striped rugby shirts posed with match balls and a keg — Posed with the balls and the keg.

The same group in striped rugby shirts, a second frame — The same group, a second frame.

Rob Rasnic and Rob Hoens sitting on the grass bank watching another match — The Robs (Rob Rasnic and Rob Hoens) catching another match.

Players and friends lie on the grass beside the pitch between matches — Stretched out between matches.

Ramona Sparks Hicks and Rob Rasnic beside parked cars after the match — Ramona Sparks Hicks and Rob Rasnic hanging out after the match.

A low-angle photograph of players sitting on the ground with drinks after a match — After the final whistle.

Nothing was written on the backs of these sixteen. Three have since been named by the board — Ramona Sparks Hicks, Rob Rasnic, Rob Hoens and Pat Fogarty appear above. If you recognize a face, a ground or a match in the rest, tell us and we will caption them properly.

Also from This Season

Two photographs added earlier.

A large Mizzou squad in gold jerseys and tracksuit tops posed under the posts — The squad under the posts. Joe Zwillenberg posted it with a single line: “Just found this, love kicking KU’s Ass.”

Three Mizzou players in training kit indoors before the club’s 1992 New Zealand tour — Training in Columbia ahead of the 1992 New Zealand trip, posted by Tim Lewis with Patrick Hess.

Have More from 1991–1992?

Match photos, team pictures, programs — we want to see them.

This is now the best-documented season of the club’s first thirty years. If you have a shoebox of your own, the form on the season page is the quickest way to reach us.

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