Wichita Rugby History

The Wichita Barbarians Rugby Football Club is trying to raise the level of play and awareness of rugby in Wichita. Should you have any questions about the club, contact David Farris at 262-6800. Social member dues are $30 a season. The fall season runs from September to November, the spring season runs from March to May and the summer season runs from June through July.

The Wichita Rugby Union Football Club was formed in 1973 by Air Force Captain Vern Francis. He and several others who had played on both the East and West coast gathered a group of young men that summer. Many of these men had never heard of or played the sport before. For the first several years the team was not very successful.

In 1975, Bryan Morrison from New Zealand offered to coach the club. New Zealand has a very strong rugby tradition. He recruited several players from California to play for the team. Under his guidance, the club started winning matches. In 1977 two Wichita Rugby Union players, Dan Culbertson and Bruce Henderson were selected to play for the international side (or caps). Dan never made it off the bench but Bruce was capped. A well prepared Canadian side won 17-6.



In 1977, another rugby club sprang up -- Old Yeller Rugby. The team was mostly made up of former KU and Washburn ruggers. A majority were lawyers who didn't want to play for Wichita. It seems that the Wichita club had beaten their former sides so badly they didn't want to play for Wichita. They wanted to form their own team and defeat Wichita. By 1979, they had begun to win against the aging Wichita side. Wichita was having problems recruiting new players and many veterans were retiring.

In 1982, the Wichita Rugby Union Football Club merged with Old Yeller Rugby. They formed the Wichita Barbarians Rugby Football Club. These two clubs formed a very strong rugby team. They were extremely competitive in Division I of the Heart of America Union.

But once again, the inability to recruit and to replace retiring veterans was sapping the club. In 1990 the Wichita Barbarians folded. For a very short while there was a WSU club side -- this did not last either.

David Farris, former Cornell, Kansas State University/Fort Riley RFC member and Topeka Wizards RFC member, moved to Wichita in 1993. Dave had been the club president in Topeka and had the knowledge, so he contacted several veterans and began reorganization of the club. The Wichita Barbarians Rugby Football Club was reformed. At first, with only ten members and little financing, the team was less than competitive. But by 1994 an influx of new talent, as well as backing by Budweiser and the Old English Pub, helped the Barbarians become more competitive.