2016 Mizzou Rugby

The fall's decisive match was played in Topeka against Kansas State. “I cannot remember, in my 37 years of being involved in this sport, a harder fought or more intensely competitive match,” Don Corwin wrote afterwards. Missouri won 14–7 with both tries coming in the first half — James Glavin from a J.T. Schlegel pass five meters out, then Kellen Shockley at full pace after Brian Navarro intercepted a mishandled Gareth Jones kick.

The spring reopened an old rivalry. Missouri and Saint Louis University revived the Langenberg Cup — named for Harry Langenberg and contested for the Missouri Rugby Union collegiate championship back in the early 1980s, and gathering dust since — and Missouri took it 44–19 at Epple Field. A week later Washington University were beaten 87–3, eight different players scoring and the lead at half-time already 52–3 despite a spell a man short.

Missouri won the conference, beat Brown 55–17 in the opening match at Spartanburg, South Carolina, and went out to Florida State in the Division I-AA national semi-final — the Seminoles going on to meet UC Davis for the championship. It was the furthest the club had ever gone in the postseason. The 14–7 win over Kansas State in October proved decisive: it was the Wildcats’ only conference blemish, and it sent Missouri to nationals in their place.