THE PITCH
We are proud of our home in Republic, Missouri with 2 full sized rugby pitches on either side of a large pavilion.
PITCH DIRECTIONS
4035 E Sawyer Rd, Republic, MO 65738
We are located directly East of Brookline Cemetery on Sawyer Road (W Farm Rd 156) near the Amazon warehouse. Parking is free, NO DOGS ALLOWED, no glass allowed, bring a chair, don't litter, and please be respectful.
NEW PITCH
In August 2022, SRFC relocated to a new field provided by Convoy of Hope, surpassing the previous facility. The upgraded site features two full-sized rugby pitches with technical zones, pavilion, floodlights, power, well water supply, and security fencing. The official opening took place on August 20th, marking the beginning of the 2022-2023 season, with future plans including the development of changing rooms, bleachers, and more field lighting.
Two New Pitches and a New Pavilion
A NEW BEGINNING
Rugby is a club sport that typically does not charge admission to matches. The majority of American rugby clubs do not own the field they play on. Instead, they move from place to place, relying on the good graces of a park board/school district, or paying to use the field temporarily.
Since 1999 Springfield Rugby Club has been one of the very few clubs in the US that owns the field they play on. This means we can have matches, training sessions, events, and gatherings whenever we choose. A gathering will always take place after our matches, where we will sit under our pavilion, enjoying the afternoon until the sun sets and beyond.
In August 2022 SRFC moved to a completely new field which was bought and fully prepared by Convoy of Hope in exchange for the old field. This new field will be the envy of many rugby clubs in the USA with 2 full sized pitches complete with Technical Zones & Sideline Management Guidelines to USA Rugby standard, a Pavilion (80ft x 30ft), floodlights for one pitch, CU power, well water supply and security fencing. The new facility is definitely an improvement on the old facility and will be the home of SRFC for many years to come. The plan is shown at the top of this page and work started on the new field in the 3rd week of September 2021. Getting the field ready as a sports field required a lot of work. The two pitches were watered 24/7 for almost 3 months during the dry summer of 2022 in order to get them ready for the Annual 10's Tournament in August. On Saturday August 20th, with a TV crew present, the new pitches and the pavilion were officially opened for the 2022-2023 season. Future plans include redeveloping a shed on the edge of the property into 2 changing rooms and adding flood lights to the practice area.
How We Got the Pitch and What it Means
HOW IT HAPPENED
The club played its first year at L.A. Wise Park but in the spring of 1985 we moved, with the help of Terry Quinn, to the Downtown Airport on Division Street. In 1986 we moved to the pitch in south Springfield at National and Montclair near Mercy Villa. One goal of the club was to have its own field and clubhouse where we could enjoy rugby and the social atmosphere in comfort.
Finally, after many fund-raising events, SRFC bought 10 acres of land for $26.6K on Farm Road 144 to the west of Springfield in April 1999. After an extensive period of preparation the first game played on this pitch took place on October 6, 2001.
In August 2022 SRFC opened its new facility on Sawyer Road in Brookline with a 10's Tournament. The move had come about as a result of a land swap with Convoy of Hope buying the new property and developing it for rugby in exchange for the old property. This brought about a huge improvement for SRFC with two full sized rugby fields, CU power, a well, an improved parking area and a larger pavilion. This new property should be SRFC's Home field for many years to come with plans to develop a practice field and construct a changing area in the new shack.
The tremendous effort and work put in by all those who contributed to the acquisition of the original pitch cannot be acknowledged enough. Every Mudpuppy, visiting player, and spectator who has enjoyed their experience at the pitch owes a great deal of gratitude to the men and women who made this place possible. Our pitch ensures the longevity and consistency of rugby and SRFC in the Southwest Missouri area for years to come.
Work started on the development of SRFC's new field on Sawyer Road, Brookline in August 2021 and construction was completed in May 2022. After 3 months of irrigation through the hot summer of 2022 there was enough grass on the pitches to host a 10's Tournament at the end of August 2022.
In 2006/2007 funds were raised for the building of a pavilion situated in line with the center of the playing field. The pavilion was completed in time for the match with the Pill Harriers on June 2, 2007 and named the Matt Wilson Pavilion in honor of one of the founding members of the club who died of cancer in 2006. It was a great improvement for the fans who could congregate under the pavilion on an especially hot or rainy day and also gather around for a post-match feed.
In January 2016 after 3 years of discussion about what the club should buy/build to store, protect, and most importantly, keep the club's equipment safe, the answer arrived in the form of a 20 foot storage container.