An anecdotal history by S.G.B. Tennant, Jr. can be read in the PDF “The First Decade”. Below is a summary of the founding clubs and defining moments in our history.
You can also view the presentation at the Inaugural 2016 Hall of Fame where we celebrated inductees and the “founding clubs”. 2016 TRU Summit Hall of Fame Presentation.
1968
Baylor Med
Dr. Grover Bagby
Dr. Ralph Rucker
Galveston Medical / UTMB
Dr. Larry Priano
Ken Long
Austin RFC
Al Hagan
Nat Davis
1969
South African Roger Boos (at Texas A&M)River University
Ira Gruber
Dallas Football “Texans” (Dallas RFC)
Dr. William Woodfin
Andy Csvenko
Houston Rugby Club
Wayne Baxter
Jim Savage
Lee Garner
Gail Tennant
Houston hosted and won the first Lone Star Invitational Tournament in November of 1969.
Texas Rugby Football Union
Wayne Baxter
S.G.B. Tennant Jr.
1971
Dallas Harlequins RFC
Nelson Spencer
Texas Society of Rugby Referees
Wayne Baxter
Tony Ivan-Smith
J.A. McDonald
Frank Van Lear
1972
Champagnat Tour of Texas
Carlos Puentes
1973
The TRU had grown again and divided into 20 clubs:
Northern Countries:
Dallas RFC and Dallas Alpha RFC
Denton Lions RFC
Ft. Sill Gunners RFC
Ft. Worth RFC
Harlequins RFC
Wildebeeste R.C.C.
Midland Counties:
Austin RCFC Black and Gold
Kingsville RFC
Saint Edwards RFC
San Antonio RFC
Texas A&M RFC White and Maroon
Southern Counties:
Baylor University Medical School RFC
Galveston RFC
Houston RFC
Huntsville Volunteers (Sam Houston State Univ.) RFC
Old Boys RFC Gold and Blue
Rice University RFC
Sportspage
Western Counties:
El Paso RFC
Univ. of Texas of the Permian Basin (Odessa) RFC
This included the formation of the first Women’s side:
Zulu Warriors RFC
This year also boasted the first Men’s Select Side team who faced a team from Nairobi, Kenya.
1975
Western RFU was created and included the Beehive RFU, the Eastern Rockies RFU, the Rio Grande RFU and the Heart of American RFU.
Nelson Spencer
S.G.B. Tennant Jr.
Formation of USA Rugby RFU
1976
Our first International caps were earned by Barry Walter (Houston Old Boys RFC) and Manus O’Donnell (Houston RFC).