From Our Staff News Leader September 2000
The Springfield Rugby Football Club opens its 2000 season on the road Saturday with hopes of defending its crown at the St. Louis Royals Fall Tournament.
Springfield has won the tournament two years in a row.
Andrew Baines, from Newport, Wales, returns to coach the Springfield rugby team.
“There are more new, experienced players training and our returning players have something to prove,” Baines said in a press release.
“They all want to build on the reputation that Springfield plays good, tough rugby.”
Springfield, which plays its home matches on the fields at National and Montclair, also announced the acquisition of land between Springfield and Ozark, near Price Cutter Park, for two new playing fields.
“Plans to build two new regulation pitches (playing fields) and stands are being finalized,” club president and player Rhett Smillie said.
Smillie said plans are to have the fields ready for play by the spring of 2001.
Members of the Springfield team played in tournaments throughout the summer to get in shape for this season.
“With so many players active, we have never been so prepared before a season,” Baines said. “The players all know what it takes to be nationally competitive; all they have to do is get there.”
Practices, open to new players, are at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
2000 Springfield Rugby Club Schedule
Sept. 9 at Royals Tournament (St. Louis)
Sept. 16 COLUMBIA
Sept. 23 at Little Rock
Sept. 30 NORTHLAND
Oct. 7 at Heart of America Tournament (Kansas City)
Oct 14 at Johnson County
Oct. 21 at St. Louis Ramblers
Oct. 28 K.C. BLUES
Nov. 4 PITTSBURG STATE
Nov.11 at Ozark Tournament (Little Rock}
Home matches at the field at National and Montclair. Matches start at 2pm.
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