NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
ST. LOUIS RUGBY COMMUNITY WAVES GOODBYE TO ITS COUSIN
ST. LOUIS (Jan. 26, 2016) – With the departure of the St. Louis Rams, the St. Louis Crusaders men’s rugby team says the local rugby community is ready to stand at the forefront of the new chapter in St. Louis. The sport first arrived here in 1933 and is now home to 10 rugby teams.
Rugby, the older cousin to football, was brought here by Harry Langenberg, who co-founded the Missouri Rugby Football Union (MRFU). The community has since grown to include nine men’s and one women’s teams. As one of the leaders promoting inclusion within the rugby community, the Crusaders are reaching out to the people of St. Louis and inviting them to come support a team.
“Rugby is an open and supportive athletic community,” said Adam Ruppert, President of the St. Louis Crusaders. “Ruggers can spend 80 minutes on the field tackling, rucking, and scrumming, striving to win but afterwards, both teams have a beer and are family.”
The typical season for Missouri rugby runs from August to November and resumes in February through April, with playoffs in May. Most local matches are generally held in Forest Park at the rugby pitches by the Visitor’s Center on Saturdays. During the summer, rugby still prevails for those who have not had their fill with the normal season. Summer 7s is a shortened rugby match played with only seven players on each team. Its season runs May through July. Matches are played in Forest Park but held on Thursdays.
Season kick-off starts in approximately one month and each team is looking forward to a successful season. If you are interested in joining the Crusaders, contact Mike Mackillop, Director of Recruiting at secretary@stlouiscrusaders.org or visit crusadersrfc.org for more information including links to all other rugby clubs in the area.
The list of teams in the Greater St. Louis area is as follows:
Men’s:
Franklin County Rugby
SMRF Mercenaries
St. Louis Bombers
St. Louis Crusaders (the only International Gay Rugby team in Missouri)
St. Louis Hornets
St. Louis Ramblers
St. Louis Royals
Sunday Morning
Rowdies Rugby
Women’s:
St. Louis Sabres
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About St. Louis Crusaders:
The St. Louis Crusaders RFC (Rugby Football Club) is a men’s rugby team that welcomes anyone over the age of 18 to participate in the sport regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, height, weight, build, level of fitness, or level of experience. It is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization under Team St. Louis, a member of USA Rugby and of the International Gay Rugby Association & Board (IGR). The St. Louis Crusaders will head to Nashville, TN in 2016 representing St. Louis in the international Bingham Cup. For more information about the team, please visit crusadersrfc.org
About Team St. Louis:
Team St. Louis (TSL) is organized to educated the gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual, and transgender (GLSBT) public concerning various methods of promoting general health and the benefits of participation in local, national, and international compete sports as a specific means of health promotion. Its values include providing an environment free of discrimination in any form and encouraging athletes to perform at their personal best. Furthermore, TSL seeks to foster a safe environment in which individuals are encouraged to express themselves freely through athletic and culture endeavors.
Cover Photo by Phil Stopher