The Beginning

Rugby at Indiana University began in the Fall of 1962, when Bob Pace (a South African student studying International Law) posted fliers around the campus to drum up interest in starting a rugby club. A couple of others, Dr. Walter E. Burnam of International Services and Geology student Bob Sharwitz, shared his interest. Rugby was virtually unknown in the Midwest at this time and the initial response to the first recruitment attempt was low, but within a matter of months a team had been formed.

The only two teams in the area at this time were Notre Dame and a Chicago team. IU played its first game against Notre Dame. They not only lost the game, but also suffered a broken pelvis, a broken leg, and one case of concussion. While the won-loss record of the club was below .500 prior to 1964, a solid core of ruggers developed during this time under the leadership of Dr. Norman Pounds, Professor of Geology. Dr. Pounds served as the coach, faculty sponsor and referee.

In these days, rugby games were more than they seemed. The team had an announcer, Israel "Izzie" Abramoff and were accompanied by the Rugby Baroque Ensemble which played chamber music from the press box at halftime and whenever play was dragging.

1964-1970

In the Fall of 1964, Art Stump became the captain of the squad and the team became serious about conditioning. After touring the East Coast and playing five Ivy League teams in four days the team returned home and defeated Notre Dame in the Old Stadium with a short up-and-under kick by Mike King to himself for a score. This began IU's longest winning streak. In the Spring of 1966 I.U. won both the Mid-America Cup in Chicago and the Big Ten Tournament in Bloomington.

1967 and 1968 were the glory years of rugby at Indiana University. Both the A and B sides were undefeated. In 1967 the team won the Mid-America Cup in the driving rain on a 45 meter drop goal by Tony Pryor. In a tournament in Davenport, Iowa, with a 24 game win streak on the line Tom Wacker won the hook to help IU score a pushover try in the closing seconds of the game. The team was voted "Number One Club in America" by sportswriters and held an unmatched national ranking.

1968 featured the biggest scrum to ever play for Indiana up to that time. With tight forwards Mel Whitesides (6'3 240), Gary Leinberger (6'9 290), Art Smith (6'6 230) and Eric Smithburn (6'4 220), the pack dominated. Under captain wing forward Pat Brown, Indiana defeated the Redstone Arenal from Huntsville, Alabama 55-0. After losing the 2nd Big Ten Championship to Wisconsin in double overtime 9-6 in Madison, the Hoosiers beat the Chicago Lions and presented their coach, Neville Robertson, a blazer bearing the IURFC crest.

1969 brought the graduation of many key players, but the team, under the leadership of captain Scott Hanley, had a record of 8-3-1 in the Spring and a third place finish in the Big Ten. An unfortunate leg injury to inside center Tony Pryor contributed to IU's first round loss in the prestigious Virginia Commonwealth Cup, which was won by New York Old Blue. A number of IU players went to the Mardi Gras Tournament as spectators.

1970-1975

Some consider the Spring 1970 team to be IU's best team ever. Captained by Greg "Mad Dog" Michalos and coached by Englishman Dave Scrase, the team won the Big Ten Championship in Champaign, Illinois and finished runner up in the Mid- America Cup in Chicago, losing in the closing seconds to the Chicago Lions, 6-5. I.U.'s Austrailan center, Tony Pryor, was named the tournament's MVP.

The following 1970/71 seasons were rebuilding ones for Indiana Rugby. Unfotunately, the ruggers were forced to rely upon drink and song to make it through their 1-8 Spring season. Things improved in the Fall of 1971. Coaches Merv Litzow and Mike Roberts brought the team up to a 5-5 record. The Spring of 1972 brought a winning season, outside of a disappointing first round loss at the Big Ten Tournament.

The Fall of 1972 was a disappointing one, but the antics of the Rugby Auxiliary Band helped brighten a 5-6-1 record. While IU managed to maintain its position of power among the Midwest party rounds, the rugby had slipped to a level of mediocrity. In the Spring of 1973, with Eric Smithburn as captain, Indiana had it's first undefeated home season in four years. The team was reported to have won the 1973 Mardi Gras Championship. The Fall of 1973 saw Indiana with a 4-7 record. The season was highlighted by a bus trip to Madison Wisconson where the Hoosiers were lost a close battle (18-8) to the Big Ten Champion Badgers. In the Spring of 1975, IU finished 5-4-1, showing consistant improvement throughout the season.

The Fall of 1974 saw a renewed commitment to raising the status and image of rugby at Indiana. With two new sets of jerseys and a organized Ad Book containing a History of Indiana Rugby, the team was clearly looking towards building a solid lasting program. Club President Lynton R. Hayes explained in a letter to 'friends of rugby' that "There is more history, more tradition, more rugby achievements and more spirit in Indiana Rugby than most Midwest clubs. We feel there is such a wealth of old stories, collections of old photographs, a tradition of old battles and glories that it is time to document the highlights of the history of the club". To top off the season , the team played the Gary Indiana RFC in Memorial Stadium after the IU/Michigan football game. In 1975 the team hosted the Big Ten Tournament and the first ever Hoosier Rugby Classic.

1975-Present

In the making..