Kansas City Blues (rugby union)

2009 Kansas City Blues.

Based on a loose affiliation with both UMKC and Rockhurst College, the Kansas City Blues Rugby Club was established in 1966. Strides were taken to early on to develop a unique Club identity and culture by the founding members, and throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the Blues elevated their rugby knowledge and skill level to become one of the dominant teams in the United States. Throughout the first several decades of existence the Blues quickly became one of the dominant teams in the Midwest and quickly came to both regional and national notoriety with dozens upon dozens of tournament wins in prominent annual tournaments such as Aspen Ruggerfest, Heart of America, St. Louis Ruggerfest, etc. The club built a reputation for playing hard nosed rugby and always leaving it all on the field as well as always having a very close social connection with one another off the field. These attributes, along with a lot of winning, began to draw players from around the region.

In 1993, the Blues made their first run at a National Championship. After winning their league, the Blues advanced to Nationals and made a run to the Final Four where they ultimately lost. Then in 1997, the Blues were a founding member of the United States Rugby Super League (USA / 1997-2012). The Rugby Super League was the premier competition in the United States, made up of the top 14 teams in the nation, spanning from Boston & New York to San Diego & San Francisco. In the inaugural year the Blues made it to the Super League Final Four. Over the next ten years the Blues competed in RSL with several winning seasons. In 2007, the Blues made the decision to move back to Division 1 in order to re-structure. The club successfully rebuilt and in 2012 the Blues became just the second club ever to send 2 separate teams to the National 15s playoffs round of 8 with a team competing in both the Division 1 and the Division 3 National Playoffs in the same year. Ultimately the Division 1 side would lose a close match (23-20) to Belmont Shore (California) who went on to win the National Championship. In 2014-2015, the Blues would win the Midwest Premiership League and once again punch their ticket to the Division 1 National Championship but again be bested in the round of 8 in a close loss to Mystic River (Boston). Currently, the Blues field a Division 1 side that competes in the Midwest Rugby Premiership along with other Division 1 teams from Chicago, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Columbus, Cincinnati, etc. as well as a Division 2 side that competes in the Heart of America League with other Division 2 teams from the more immediate region such as St. Louis, Omaha, etc. Since the Blues joined the Midwest Premiership in 2013-2014 the Blues have amassed an impressive D1 league record of 40-18 from 2013-2017.

In addition to success on the field in 15s, the Blues have also been considered a perennial national power in the game of 7s rugby as well. The Blues have qualified for and appeared at the 7s National Championship Tournament 14 times from 1990-2017. In those 14 appearances, the Blues have made the Final Four five times and have finished as National Runner Up 3 times but have never won the elusive National Championship. In 1993, the Blues made their first ever 7s Final Four and finished as the National Runner-Up with a close lose in the National Championship to New York Old Blue . Then 7 years later the Blues returned to the National Championship Match but fell just short again. In 2014, the Blues lost in the National Semi-Finals but won a spirited match against regional foe, rival Denver Barbarians, to take 3rd place. Most recently, in 2016, the Blues advanced to the 7s National Championship Match once again but unfortunately fell short again, this time to Utah. The Blues currently host one of the largest and most successful 7s programs in the country. In 2014, the Blues debuted their Sporting 7s Academy program which takes college aged players and places them in a special training program designed to increase their fitness, advance their rugby skills and improve their rugby acumen. Many summer weekends the Blues will field as many as 3 Blues sides as well as 3 Academy sides in various local and regional tournaments.

• Kansas City Blues RFC Website
• Super League
• USA Rugby