River City Rugby Football Club

I see it only fitting that I go back to 1972 and tell my readers here about how the sport of Rugby came to be in Mason City, Iowa, and how that occurrence had a direct affect on my life since I became part of the team in 1992. In a nutshell, here is the beginning of the story:

It all began with an itinerant Irishman by the name of Henry Bird. It seems that Henry had been hiding out in the rugged mountains of Missoula, Montana when a fierce Chinook wind swept him up in the Fall of 1972 and deposited him on the steps of the Globe-Gazette newspaper in Mason City, Iowa.


Henry had picked up the tools of the advertising trade while in Missoula, and he quickly asserted himself within the Globe. Ah, but recreation was a problem for the roving Irishman, and following a few short weeks of boredom, he launched a search for a more physical sport than girl chasing.

The immigre Irishman called on his European background and assembled a collection of brawny but idle ex-athletes from the dimly lit confines of local pubs. With only the minimum of practice and know-how, the novice ruggers attacked a simple four game schedule. The result? An 0-4 record.

From those first 17 players the history of River City Rugby began. The years have past. Over 275 players have donned the team's colors and represented our Club on the pitch. Through it all one expression has held true: "Since 1972 The Tradition Continues".

My introduction to the sport of Rugby, and River City Rugby occurred on a Fall day in 1991 when my best friend gave me a call to see what I was doing. It so happened that my schedule was open (I was recently divorced and living at the local YMCA. Yeah, I was free), so I rode with him to Iowa Falls, Iowa to watch him play in a Rugby match with River City. My first reaction on viewing the action on the pitch that day was "those guys are crazy"! Yet, just five short months later I would find myself in shorts and an old pair of football cleats attending my first practice in the Spring of 1992. Yes, an overused expression, but, as they say, the rest is history.

My first couple of years with the Club were as a seldom used reserve (which I didn't complain about), and as head grill master for the 3rd halves. Since my grilling of burgers and brats for the after match festivities were unparallelled, I was given the moniker "Burger Bill".

In 1994 I started to see the pitch a little more often. My team mates at that time were some of the best to ever step on the field of play wearing our team's colors. We battled with some of the best teams in Iowa and the Midwest, and for the most part, had very good win-loss records. At first I played flanker, then moved to hooker in 1995 or 96 when the player who played #2 retired. I played actively until the end of the 1998 season, then decided my 38 year old body couldn't take the punishment of competitive play any longer. There were younger, stronger, and much fitter players to step in, and they did just that. Here is a pic from my playing days getting ready to hook in a scrum. Our team is wearing the red/blue jerseys.

During my Active Side playing days I held the position of Club President for three years. I admit, and others will as well, I was better on the organizational side of the team than I was as a player! During my active side playing days I never recorded a try, but think I may have assisted on a few! One of my fondest memories of those years was traveling to Chicago for the Junior Cup Playoffs in 1993. Man, we had a great side that year, and only lost to the Cup Champions Nashville that weekend. Great weekend!

In my next post I'll look back on my first tour with The Olde Barking Dogs, and what the years following have been like. Thanks for stopping by!