From across the great sea comes the return of the Rugby Immortals – the Pill Harriers – cunning Vikings, fleet-of-foot, directed only by instinct and a compass pointed directly at Springfield, Missouri.  From the moment these boys arrive (May 30th) to the time they leave once more (June 5th), Springfield Rugby Football Club will play host to the finest bunch of gentlemen Ruggers the world has ever known.   Join us this summer as there is sure to be plenty of ale to toast and legends to boast of as these two clubs reunite for what is sure to be one helluva day for Rugby. 

  

Today, Springfield thanks the Pill Harrier for the welcoming embrace they have allowed our boys over the years.  During our time together, over 40 boys have traveled as diplomats of Springfield into the tight binds of the Pill.  These boys include:

 

Bryan 'Cooter' Bevel                                                Josh Jones
Greg 'Hicksy' Hicks                                               Brian Graves
Charles 'Chuckie Cheese' Hicks                           Jeff Kristek    
Chad 'Luges' Lugar                                               Tom Butler
Mark 'Nelson' Nelson                                              Jim Waring
Rhett Smillie                                                             David Moore
Paul Snider                                                               Mike Chittum
Bryan Wilson                                                            Tim Carroll
Bill Wilson                                                                 Kevin LaSalle
Kevin Bennoch                                                         Jeremy Wright
Quentin 'Crispy' Friend                                            Dan Peters
Bob McIntyre                                                             Scott St. George
Clint 'wormy' Moore                                                 Terry Quinn
Mark 'MarkO' Owings                                               Bruce Stansell
Jim Ripple                                                                 Jerry Garner
Stacey 'T-Spoon' Thornton                                     Mark Wojciechowski
Jon 'Pappy' Moore                                                   Colin Jones
Alex Greene                                                              Duane Fabro
David ‘Scoop’ Thornton                                          Alan Summers
Jimmy Stewart                                                          Mike Green
Doug Velliquette                                                      Fred Lawrence
Ron Kitchens                                                          Wolfgang Huff                                                        
Matt Wilson
 

On behalf of Springfield Rugby, thanks for the memories!  And welcome back to your home away from home!  Cheers Mates!

Story by Scoop Thornton

as retold by Sam Tahhan.

 

Springfield RFC

Standing left to right:
Bryant Moore, Ryan 'Thorco' Heiskell, Rhett Smillie, Justin Guy, Bryan 'Cooter' Bevel, Dale Palmer, Justin 'Meats' Vogt, Aaron Wesson, Kelly 'weber' Weber, Jeremy 'Gabe' Gabris, Brian Keller, Brian 'Oscar' Weimer, Jeff 'LURCH' Bosaw, Ernest Moore, Benjamin Ferrand, Caleb Reed, Greg 'HICKSY' Hicks, Chad 'LUGEY' Lugar, PJ Sheridan

 

Kneeling left to right:
Adam Schmitt, Cameron Loechl, Jordan Sheibeh, Ryan Lane, Jack Hume, Mark 'Nelson' Nelson, Bill Wilson, Charles 'Chuckie Cheese' Hicks, Colby Smith, Paul Snider

 

PILL HARRIERS

Standing left to right:
Dai Prichard, Richard Essery, Paul Barnett, Dean Corner, Louis Yendle, Brendan Lampitt, Andrew Hillier, Ibby Ali, Gareth Hassell, Phil Davy, Jamie Nicholls, Lee White, John Nelmes, Dai Hurn, Richard Cueto, Tommy Miller, Tim Sullivan, Boyd Dwyer.

 

Seated left to right:
Mark Thomas, Carl Barnett, Craig Lloyd, Luke Williams, Kristian Lampitt, Gareth Lloyd, Paul Batty, Tony Howells, David Leyshon, Lee Hussain, Adam Ames, Matthew Quatrini, Rob Shuttleworth.

 

Missing from picture:
John Batty, Jack Davies, Mike Gibbon

 

 

PILL HARRIER’S AGENDA:

 

Wednesday, May 30 – The Pill Harriers arrive at the hotel around 2:30.

Everyone will be meeting at the Springfield BrewCo at 5:30 p.m.

 

NOTE: We will need some people to swing by the Pill boy’s hotel around 5 p.m. to pick them up. Check with Scoop if you can help.

 

Thursday, May 31 –              Float trip arranged by John Behr leaving Springfield at 8am.

Thursday P.M. –                   Cocktails at Ernie Biggs starting at approximately 8 p.m.

 

Friday, June 1 –                    Stacey Thornton’s day at Bull Creek.

Friday Night –           Old Boy's BBQ at Cam's at 6:30 (See attached).

 

Saturday, June 2 –                Match day! Match starts at 3 p.m. with a color guard and choir singing the national anthem. There will be a beer garden; concessions with shirts, cookies, food and ties; plus a post match BBQ with pig supplied by John Behr.

 

Sunday, June 3 –                   Lake day at Joe Bald campground. Plan on leaving Springfield around noon.  WE NEED BOATS, HELP WITH TRANSPORTATION AND SOMEONE TO GET TO JOE BALD EARLY ENOUGH TO CLAIM A BEACH AREA!!!

 

Monday, June 4 –                  Banquet that night TBD.

 

Tuesday, June 5 –                 Wish them bastards good riddance and then get back to our sad little lives. Immediately start telling stories about who did what.

ADDITIONAL INFO:

Come with your significant other and meet some old mates and/or their son’s at an Old Boy’s BBQ at Cam’s on Friday, June 1st starting at 6:30 pm
There will be plenty to eat and drink but please bring some extra lawn chairs.

If the Welsh boys bring their wet weather, come to the pavilion at the pitch.

 
DIRECTIONS TO CAMS: Go east on Sunshine from 65 one mile to Forrest Heights and take a right going south. Take the second left onto Eastmoor and follow it one block to Cobblestone (you will see the back yard from here). Take a right on Cobblestone a half block to Latoka and my house is the second on the left (hopefully with a crowd).
 

DIRECTIONS TO THE BULL CREEK BEACH AND SKEET CLUB:
Take Hwy 65 South to the last Ozark exit and go east/left toward Sparta on Hwy 14 approximately 2 miles. Just outside the Ozark city limits turn right on Hwy W. Stay on W approximately 6 miles. Take a left on Center Rd (just past the fire station and the Victory
Baptist Church) Go approximately 3 miles and cross the Bull Creek slab, go 100 yards to first/only driveway on the left.  B.Y.O. AMMO. 

Please bring lawn chairs, flip flops and refreshments!!!