In 1977 David “Scoop” Thornton had his job transferred to Springfield from Kansas City where he had been playing for Kansas City RFC for 2 years. Scoop then played with S.M.S.U. for 2 years and became their coach in 1979. From 1979 to 1982 characters such as Jim Stewart, Jon “Pappy” Moore and Doug Jena appeared on the rugby scene at S.M.S.U. In 1981 an attempt was made to start a city side but with no more than 7 people expressing an interest to play the idea was abandoned although a practise was held at Silver Springs Park. Then in 1983, with John Behr in his sixth year of SMS rugby, the time was right to attempt the start of Springfield RFC once again. After a meeting held at Pappys Place on January 10th 1983, with 10 people in attendance, we knew we were on our way. Since 1999, to mark this momentous event in rugby history, the club has held an alumni weekend, organised by Scoop, on the second weekend in January.

Those initial stalwarts that played in SRFC's first game on Saturday March 5th, 1983, have become recognized as the Warrensburg-18. Besides those already mentioned some of those early members include Stan Bess, David “Animal” Logan, Paul Lipscomb, Harold Watts and Matt Wilson. Ten of these original team members returned for the 20th anniversary alumni weekend in 2003. 

Not an original, but one of the club's early members was Christopher Whitcomb who went on to an interesting 15 year career in the FBI and finally  wrote about his experience. He began his FBI career in 1987, as a Special Agent in the Kansas City Field Office, Springfield, where he learnt to play rugby and also distinguished himself as an assaulter and sniper, winning the FBI's Medal of Bravery for exceptional courage in the line of duty. He went on to participate in many high-profile federal investigations including the L.A. riots, shootings at Ruby Ridge, the Branch Davidian standoff, the World Trade Center and Olympic bombings and the Montana Militia standoff among others. Unfortunately his books didn't mention the importance of rugby and SRFC in his life to be able to have a successful career in the FBI!

The first training sessions were held at Silver Springs Park with one session having 21 players present. Our first match was played March 3 1983 against C.M.S.U. at Warrensburg, MO. Eighteen men made that trip and it is rumored that a few of them were never heard from again! C.M.S.U. won 16-12 with John Behr scoring the first try for Springfield RFC. He also sustained the first injury by falling down the steps at the post-match party.

On January 10, 2023 an event was held at Pappys BBQ, 943 N. Main, Springfield to commemorate the original meeting of January 10, 1983. 10 people, Scoop, Pappy, Behr, Stewart , Bess, Butler, Lipscombe, Lorenz, Jena, (+1  unknown) gathered for the very first meeting to organize Springfield Rugby Football Club. 40 years later, Scoop, Pappy, Behr, Stewart , Butler, Bess of the original 10 were present to celebrate the event (Lipscombe sent apologies for not being present).

 During the spring of 1983 our matches were played at L.A. Wise park in west Springfield. With little in the way of parking, the preacher or the police regularly interrupted our matches requesting we move our cars off the church parking lot. A tie with Wichita 16-16 was as close as we came to a victory. In the fall of 1983 an event took place that changed the history of Springfield RFC and maybe the history of the world, Ron Kitchens purchased the “Rugby Bus”. Emblazoned with “Singing the Gospel” on the side the green and white striped rugby bus became our symbol for several years. Also during the fall of 1983 we won our first match when Doug Velliquette scored the only try in the game and we beat S.M.S.U. 4-0. A total of sixteen players from this first year of Springfield RFC returned for the 20th anniversary Alumni weekend in January 2003. 

  In the fall of 1989 we hosted a touring side from Canterbury University, Christchurch, New Zealand. This resulted in an excellent game tied at 21-21 against a fit youthful team. We had two touring sides visit us in the spring of 1992. In early May we lost 12-20 to Strathendrick RFC, from Scotland, having quite decisively won the first half 12-0, before making several changes to the team at half time! We again played Rumney RFC, who quite obviously enjoy touring the Heart of America. This time they brought their weather with them and on a very wet evening in early June we lost 10-17. Springfield RFCs hosting qualities have travelled well throughout the valleys of south Wales and another south Wales club, Whitchurch RFC, Cardiff, visited here in May 1993. With the conditions again cloudy and with a few rain showers during the match an excellent high scoring game occurred with the visitors finally winning 47-36. 

Kansas City RFC invited Springfield on their England-Wales tour in 1985 starting a special rugby relationship between Springfield and South Wales. Springfield RFC had its first overseas tour in 1987 with just 10 players going to England and Wales. The most recent tour for the club was in 1994 when more than 20 players went for games arranged against Strathendrick RFC in Scotland, Pill Harriers RFC of Newport and Rumney RFC in Cardiff. SRFC lost all 3 games but it was a rewarding experience for all the players. In addition to the rugby there were a number of social functions in which the touring side were able to participate such as golfing, a tour of a local whiskey distillery and a traditional ceilidh after the game in Scotland. In Wales the team was treated to a civic reception by the mayor of Newport where the town and club plaques were exchanged and the team was able to tour the historic Cardiff Castle.

       In its short history Springfield RFC has had a remarkable record for hosting rugby touring sides from overseas, mainly the British Isles. In the spring of 1985 the Pill Harriers RFC from South Wales visited Springfield and somehow Springfield RFC won the match 3-0. An estimated 500 people watched that game. The Pill Harriers revisited Springfield in 1987 when the home side again won the game with a score of 18-12. The Springfield Rugby Club and the Pill Harriers have continued their association over the years with the original connection between the clubs making an interesting story.

   In 1988 Rumney RFC, South Wales, toured this area playing games in Denver, Kansas City and Springfield. This game was won by Rumney RFC 16-22. A few members of the Pill Harriers RFC came on tour in the spring of 1989 and formed a combined team with Springfield RFC to beat the Heart of America representative side. The close association between Springfield RFC and both Rumney RFC and the Pill Harriers continues on as demonstrated by a visit to Springfield by a group from these two clubs to join in the 20th anniversary celebrations held in June 2003, and a full tour by Pill in 2007. Since then Pill Harriers competed in the Springfield 7's Tournament in 2009 and beat SRFC in a 15's game in June 2012.
For a more detailed description of the link between SRFC and Pill Harriers click the link.

Springfield RFC has contributed a number of players to the select sides for the Heart of America Union, the Western Territory and the USA national team. This started to occur very early in the club's history reflecting the success the club was having on the field. After a few successful years in Div II of HOA the club gained promotion to Div I in 1990 and remained there until 1994. Following a period of re-structuring the club came back strongly to win the Heart of America Division II championship in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. In both 1999 and 2001 SRFC took second place in the Western Territory Championships behind The Woodlands from Houston, TX. At the following National Sweet 16 Tournaments, the club finished 10th in 1999 and 7th in 2001.

It took a few years for the club to rebuild after the success of  the club at the end of the 90's/start of 2000's but by the end of the 2010's the club had a squad looking to get to the top, but then came Covid and all rugby came to a halt for about 18 months!! With resumption of play SRFC finished the 2021-2022 Mid-America Div III season in second place behind the St L Bombers, who were then disqualified for the next season due to fielding ineligible players. After winning the  2022-2023 season SRFC travelled to Chicago for the Midwest Northern Super Regional where they beat Detroit Rugby (17-13) on Saturday but lost to Colorado Springs Grizzlies (5-31) on the Sunday and therefore SRFC finished in the top 8 of DIII clubs nationally.

  In 2002 SRFC came third in the Div II Western Championship and was able to move into the Sweet 16 round due to previous successes of Western Territory clubs allowing for 3 teams in the final 16 and this time finished 5th. In 2003 after another successful season winning the HOA championship the club won the Western Territory Championship but again was defeated in the Elite 8 round of the National Championship in Newport, RI and finished the season ranked 7th in Division II. The club was promoted into US Division I for the start of the fall 2003 season and played at this level for 3 years before dropping back to Division II. In the summer of 2010, after two difficult seasons, it was decided that it would benefit the club to play Division III rugby starting in the fall 2010.

In the Spring of 2013 SRFC traveled for the Western Territorial Div. III tournament in Omaha, NE. The club lost to Aberdeen, SD in the first round and beat the Hornets in the next match to finish their season strong. 

Scoop served as president, coach, captain and secretary-treasurer for the first season. In the spring of 1983 elections were held on his patio when Scoop was again returned as both president and coach. John Behr was elected captain, the secretary-treasurer was Steve Ellis and Jim Stewart became match secretary. Tom Shea was our second coach after Scoop stepped down in 1985 and Ron Kitchens became the next president in 1985 serving in that capacity until 1991 when John Behr was elected president. In 1992 Ron became president of the Heart of America Union.
Continuing with the Presidents of the Club through the 1990s to the present -:
John Behr 1991 - 1995 
Larry Spurgeon 1995 - 1996 
Wolfgang Huff 1996 - 1998 
Cam Collins 1998 - 2000 
Rhett Smillie 2000 - 2003 
Mark Owings 2003 - 2006 
Scoop Thornton 2006 - 2011
Rhett Smillie 2011 - 2012 
Mark Owings 2012 - 2013 
Bryan Bevel 2013 - 2022.
Benjamin Thomas 2022 - Present

 All have served admirably as the President of this club.
Following the original club captain, John Behr, the club captains have been Jon “Pappy” Moore (1985-1987), Andy Hampton (1987-1988), Ray Sipple (1988-1990), Greg Gurke (1990-1993), Mike Green (1994), Jim Waring (1994-1995), and Chad Lugar (1996-1999). Since 1999 a club policy has been implemented whereby the captain has been appointed by the coach on a game-to-game basis. 

Following on from Scoop and Tom Shea, Cam Collins was elected coach in 1987 and served in that capacity until Colin Jones took over in 1988. Jon “Pappy” Moore was the next club coach from 1996 for 3 years until succeeded by Andrew Baines from Pill Harriers RFC in 2000. Unfortunately, after a trip back home, Andrew found that he could not sidestep the US immigration authorities and consequently was not available for 2001. The club survived a period without a coach before Melan “Mudge” Mudgway (originally from NZ) arrived in spring 2002 via Fresno, CA, where he had been successful in taking that club to the National Division II Finals. Mudge's stay in Springfield proved to be brief for in December 2002 he moved on to coach at Scioto Valley RFC, OH.  Chad Lugar then took over as the clubs temporary player-coach while a search continued to replace Mudge as coach.  This situation continued until 2008 when Sam Tahhan was appointed to the position and Chad could step down from his 'temporary' assignment. Sam was a former SRFC player and a successful golf teaching pro who brought all the necessary coaching credentials to SRFC. Sam coached the Club through a difficult time for the club as several 'vets' retired and new players started learning the game. To try and spread the game among college students in Springfield Sam organized a club scrimmage at Drury University in the Fall  2009. With a marriage on the horizon, Sam resigned in the fall of 2012 when Chris "Jacko" Jackson, from Grafton, NSW, Australia, was able to take over as coach. Jacko led the team to its first playoff birth since the early 2000's, and helped complete Sam Tahhan's efforts to revitalize the club.

Bryan Bevel agreed to take over coaching duties for Spring 2014 when Jacko stepped down to begin a family. For the Fall 2014 season John Walkman was appointed coach and after returning from his job on cruise ships John was appointed Head Coach in 2015. John played rugby in England for various junior teams, British Forces (SEME) and also at high senior  level. He had also completed level two coaching courses.  In mid-season of Spring 2018 John Walkman resigned and again Bryan Bevel agreed to take over coaching duties for the remainder of the season. Bryan Bevel was appointed Head Coach for the 2018-2019 season, but in order for Bryan to continue to referee regularly, Mark Owings was also appointed as a club coach. During the 2018-2019 mid-winter break Bryan resigned as Head Coach due to his other commitments in rugby and work and MarkO was appointed Head Coach after acquiring his Level 200 coaching certificate. Unfortunately for SRFC, MarkO had to resign as club coach in the Fall 2020 due to him taking on a new job which would involve a lot of travel. In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic Daniel Moore was appointed coach in January 2021 so the club will be ready for whenever rugby can start again. At the end of the Fall 2022 Season Daniel informed the club that he wanted to be able to be a club player again and therefore resign as coach. After a brief search the club was ableto appoint Chris Jackson as the new head Coach.

For the first few years of SRFC's existence games and practices were held on Nichols Street, a remote location in West Springfield. With a few patches of grass on an undulating surface that was unsuitable for any sport, SRFC survived about 3 years here before moving to a location near the downtown airfield on West Division St. Two years later the club moved to a more permanent location on National Street, conveniently, some people would say, near the 2 Springfield Hospitals. With new building's going up around the field it was only a matter of time before the playing area would be developed. So in 2000 it became time to spend the well-earned Casino Night fund raising money and buy a piece of land for SRFC's permanent Home field. A suitable property was eventually located and purchased in early 2001. After considerable work was done to convert a cow field into a reasonable playing surface during that spring and summer, the first game was played there in the Fall of the same year. Since then the area was been slowly changing with the addition of floodlights (2002), a small shed (2003), a Pavilion (2007), storage container (2016) and plans included getting CU electricity to the field. But in the meantime power was provided by a 15KW mobile John R Hollingsworth Diesel Generator.

In 2020 all development plans for this field came to a halt when the club agreed with Convoy of Hope to exchange this land for a new facility provided and developed by C of H. Over the course of almost 2 years C of H purchased a 14 acre plot, landscaped 2 full-sized pitches, built a new pavilion and parking area, installed electricity, a well, and a set of floodlights. SRFC took over this new facility on August 1, 2022 and the first event o be held there was the annual SRFC 10's Tournament 3 weeks later.

SRFC's new Home field is a jewel for the rugby community of the Mid-West. With two full-sized pitches for regular use throughout the Spring and Fall seasons. The club has the ability to host Tournaments and other rugby events such as a convenient half-way location for other teams to play their matches.

Between 2011 and 2019  the Home field was used by the Springfield Contractors Association (SCA) as a venue for its Annual Chickenfeed BBQ Fundraiser to raise money for scholarships. So each year on a Thursday evening in early September the facility became a parking lot for a few hundred trucks, except for the pitch itself. Here, SRFC played a game against an invited team, such as Rolla S & T or Pitt State, as the evening light faded.  This event was a useful fundraiser for SRFC until Covid-19 brought on changes which are still ongoing.

SRFC Home Field is available for hire by any other Rugby Teams.
This can be done very easily because we own our Field.
If two Clubs want to decrease traveling time/expenses they can hire our field - Please Contact the Club President via the Contact Page.

On Saturday 19th November 2016 St Louis University played OK State University (Result - 31-22) and were the last two Clubs to take advantage of our location.

In 2018 the Frontier Union found that it was great venue for Regional Championships. In April Wichita defeated Columbia 72-7 in a last 16 game for the D2 National playoffs. Later in May, SRFC hosted the 3 matches for the Women's D2 Frontier Regional playoff games where St Louis Sabres beat KC Jazz in the final 41-17.

More recently two eager high school sides met for their first match of the season! Bixby Rugby Club, OK and the Kansas City Jr. Blues Rugby Club played on a very cold afternoon in February 2022 at the Springfield Rugby Pitch.

Covid-19 - The Coronavirus pandemic brought all rugby to a  halt worldwide in the Spring of 2020. In early March USARugby suspended all sanctioned rugby activities through April 12. So after one Merit Table game and the team playing well SRFC's spring season came to an end. Both the SRFC Summer 7's and 10's T's then had to be cancelled and in early August Mid-America RFU cancelled the competitive 15's season for the 2020-2021 Season. SRFC was able to get back to 15's rugby in 2021 by organizing a few friendly matches  in late spring, hosting a 7's Tournament in June and a 10's T in August.  A full 2021-2022 Merit Table season was scheduled but due to Covid one of these games had to be cancelled. For the Merit Table schedule that was played SRFC was successful in reaching the MARFU playoffs and in the final losing to the St L Bombers 38-19. 

In March 2022 Arkansas RFC, Springfield RFC and KCRFC initiated the Brotherhood Through Rugby Trophy - this will be an Annual event for Over 45's played at SRFC around St Paddy's Day honoring the Brotherhood of rugby exemplified by Lee Sanford and Robert Ridenhour, who were both captains of KCRFC during the 1980's. 

In 2022 the SRFC Foundation started a fundraiser whereby anyone could donate $100 to the Foundation and thereby have their name engraved on a paver to be arranged near the Hall of Fame slab. Players can add the first year they played for SRFC, any other Friend of the Club can add a few words to their paver.
 

For a donation of $100 to the SRFC Foundation fund, (a 501c(3) organization) managed by CFO, a personalized brick paver will be engraved using laser technology and set in the designated area.

The order needs to be done in 2 parts - 

1) Click here to donate.
cfozarks.org/rugby

2) Send the desired engraved message to 

srfc1983@gmail.com

The pavers have started to be placed in an area near the pavilion and will eventually go well beyond the Hall of Fame wall. Each paver is engraved with a person’s name and the date that that person first became associated with SRFC. 

The first Summer 7's Tournament held here was in 2009 and included a side from Pill Harriers, South Wales. Although this was a successful day of 7's Rugby it didn't become an annual event. A 7's Tournament was again held in June 2018, for both men's and women's teams and the club intended to establish this as a yearly event.  However the 2019 Tournament had to be cancelled due the condition of the pitch which was not mowed in May and was in a poor state through June, then in 2020 all rugby came to a halt due to Covid-19, but 2021 saw a very successful T with 12 Men's teams, 6 Women's teams and 4 High School men and 3 High School women's teams competing. The winner of the men's division was Genesis from Salt Lake City, UT, after easily defeating the KC Blues.  In the other final games St Louis Sabres defeated Omaha Goats for the women, Academy defeated Independence Warriors for the boy's HS and Independence Lady Warriors defeated Liberty United/Park Hill Dragons combined side in the girl's HS division. The Tournament in June 2022 was the last 7's T at the old field - "The Last Hoorah at the Farm" - Eureka Kings (a combined St L team) beat SRFC in the final.

In 2016 the club organized a successful 10's Tournament on the last weekend in August with 8 teams participating and KCRFC the Tournament winner. In 2017  there were 7 men's teams, 5 women's teams and both fields were in use. The Arkansas Gryphons won the Men's Tournament and KC Jazz the Women's.  For the 3rd Annual 10's T in 2018, there were 9 Men's teams and 4 Women's teams with the KC Blues winning the Men's and KC Jazz again winning the Women's T. There were 7 Men's teams and just 3 Women's teams in 2019 with the Royal-Ramblers pulling out early in the T due to one of their older players suffering a stroke with tragic consequences at the field.  SRFC and the Chaos each won their respective group. After a years break due to Covid the 10's T was again held in late August 2021.  With 5 men's teams and 4 women's teams SRFC beat the Gryphons in the final, 14-7, and the Chaos came 3rd in the women's In 2022 Eureka Kings won the men's division from an entry of 8 clubs. The Tournament grew to 12 Men's teams competing in June 2023 which was won by KCRFC Reds beating SRFC in the final.

SRFC's new facility was completed in July 2022 and SRFC 10's Tournament was the inaugural event to be held there with 5 men's teams and 4 women's teams participating.  Ameto Gelu now has the honor of scoring the first try for SRFC on the new pitches. In the final SRFC beat St L Royals Ramblers 29-19 to complete a very successful day for SRFC. The event is improving and planning has started for the event in August 2023.

The Club established a Hall of Fame for members who have made a worthwhile contribution to the club  in various ways. In 2007 an area was set aside as both a memorial site for former players and the Hall of Fame Rock with their names attached.

With the move to the new location a more substantial Hall of Fame wall was installed and provides a basis for the on-going paver fundraiser project.
 

Adee Phelan and Iain Ward dropped in to watch the Div III MARFU Semi Final on Saturday 15th April 2023 on their  bicycle journey of 3400 miles across 8 states in aid of mental health and charity Mates in Mind.  Whilst filming a documentary called Living with a Killer which will cover their journey and raise awareness to mental health. 

Adee and Iain decided to donate the funds raised by their efforts to causes that have a personal connections with them. Adee lost his father to cancer and also has struggled with depression for over 30 years and Iain is living with a terminal brain tumor and was given an estimated 5 years left to live 2 years ago.

Adee is a celebrated hairdresser from Birmingham in the UK, but now living in London,  who shot to fame by cutting the locks of stars including David Beckham, Girl’s Aloud singer Sarah Harding and Oscar winner Liza Minnelli.