Jayhawks in Denver on way to National Playoffs in Chico, CA. This is just the Southwest flight group. More on other flights.

The Jayhawks will be taking on Chico State this Saturday in Chico, California. If you can't make it out to support the team in person, the game will be live streamed on Chico State Men's Rugby Facebook page at 10am(PDT). #jayhawkrugby

JAYHAWKS are in the NATIONAL PLAYOFFS !

For the 2nd year in a row we are playing in the “Elite 8” of USA D1aa College Rugby on April 20 & 21 in Chico, CA

If you would like to donate to help defray the team’s travel and lodging costs, then make a donation to the Club’s charity by going to JAYHAWKRUGBY.COM and donate through our PayPal portal.

Be sure to write “PLAYOFFS” in the message to note its an earmark donation.

Jayhawks Win “March Madness Tournament” in South Sioux City, NE
5-0 Sweep of all teams in a dominating performance

Over this past weekend, the Jayhawks entered the multi-division tournament, playing in the “Men’s 15’s” Division. There was also a men’s 7’s division, and women’s 7’s and 15’s divisions. It brings together teams from across the upper Great Plains and are teams the Jayhawks rarely encounter.
Here is a summary of the games and scores.

SATURDAY
Jayhawks defeated Red River 14-5
This was an adult men’s composite team from the Red River Union (located south of Kansas). That team was big and had very good athletes. The Jayhawks won on better fundamental skills and game plan. Red River got their points at the end of the match. Trys scores by JACK DIENST and REID PARSONS. Conversions made by CALEB MOORE. (Note: Game highlight was that Red River was on the Jayhawks’ goal line twice, pounding the goal line with their big players, but the Jayhawks held them out.)

Jayhawks defeated St. John’s College (MN) 26-5
This college side had smaller players than the Jayhawks, but were very well coached. St. John’s got their score in the very closing minute of the match. Scores two (2) by MAREK DUJAKOVICH (wing), ISAAK SCHMITT (#8), REID PARSONS (wing). CALEB MOORE kicked 3 conversions. (Note: Marek has great blood lines. His father Andy Dujakovich was a USA Eagle playing 7’s in the early 1990’s)

Jayhawks defeated University of North Dakota 20-0
This one started as an official forfeit, since UND only had 13 players. They wanted to play the Jayhawks anyway, so a game of 10’s was played. (In a game of 10’s you play without flankers, #8, or centers.) All the Jayhawks were cycled through and all got to play any position that they secretly ever desired. Scores by MAREK DUJAKOVICH, JON LOFTHOUSE, REID PARSONS, and ISAAK SCHMITT. (Note: There were no successful conversion kicks as the Jayhawks attempted drop kicks as a drill.)

That night’s tournament entertainment event for all divisions was a “Toga Party” (see photo)

SUNDAY
Jayhawks defeated North Dakota State 14-5
This team was undefeated in their bracket on Saturday, like the Jayhawks. They matched the Jayhawks in size and were well-coached. They were very quick to breakdowns in open play. Scores by ISAAK SCHMITT and IAN O’LAUGHLIN (prop). JACK DIENST was successful on both conversion kicks. The NDS score came in the closing minute of the game. (Note: The Jayhawks had their best score of the entire weekend in this game. In one continuous movement, nearly the entire squad touched the ball as it was passed down the pitch. The big props IAN O’LAUGHLIN and DAVID NOBLE were setting each other up with great passes.)

Jayhawks won the final on forfeit over North Dakota.
North Dakota beat St. Cloud (MN) which put them in the final. Since North Dakota had lost to the Jayhawks on Saturday, they decided to forfeit the match.

Coach JASON WILLIAMS reported that the most defining thing about the Jayhawks is that they won nearly all the scrums. The big Red River team was able to hold onto the ball in some of their own put in’s, but in the remainder of the games, the Jayhawks won all scrums regardless which team put the ball in. It was a DOMINATING performance in set scrums.

Gene Roberts in center of back row with glasses. This taken at the club's very first Alumni Weekend in 1974, on the 10th anniversary of the club.

In a tribute to the accomplishments of the late GENE ROBERTS see the attached 2016 article. The article opens with Gene's involvement in a major rugby event brought to Lawrence.

Lawrence was selected because it was in the middle of the country and we had access to numerous adjacent pitches at 23rd & Iowa. We also had the empty dorms nearby to house the attendees. - A stickler for details, Gene intentionally didn't line up buses to transport the attendees between the dorms and the fields. He wanted them to walk a few blocks so they would talk to each other.

Gene was a supporter of the Jayhawks after he graduated and had a big impact on the sport over all. (See other post about his obituary.) https://www.rugbytoday.com/historical/down-memory-lane-first-national-coaching-school-1985

It is with sadness we note the passing of former Jayhawk player GENE ROBERTS on April 1. His funeral is this Friday April 5, with a celebration of life to follow. He would have been honored if the attendees wear their rugby team jackets or shirts.

Gene was first a player at KU and then for Kansas City RFC; he followed that club’s founder Gerry Seymour into the Club presidency, and those were big shoes to try to fill. He was a board member of the old Western RFU and later its president; he was a manager on USA international tour teams. Gene was a Board of Directors member and for two years was President of the United States of America Rugby Football Union. He helped start and then coached a local high school team for 12 years.

While at KU he was a rugby club officer and was able to go before the Student Senate and get funding to support the club. It was a first for the Jayhawk club’s operations.

A decade after graduating, in 1985 he was President of the Western Rugby Union, which covered ¼ of the USA. He organized the first ever USA Coaching Clinic that brought the top rugby officials and coaches from across the nation to Lawrence for several days. It really put the Jayhawks on the map. (See the separate post from a 2016 “Rugby Magazine" story about this important event.) This event was repeated 2 years later in Lawrence.

Gene was a mentor to RICK RENFRO whom Gene encourage to get involved in managing the Heart of America Union rep side. Gene also recommended Rick to manage the All-American rep side.

Gene is remembered for being a good friend who always kept in touch with the Jayhawks. He was a guy who took all club office position seriously and followed through on what he promised. He owned a book store in Kansas City and was an active reader. He was always an interesting guy.

We welcome readers of this post to offer more memories of Gene. https://legcy.co/2YMZzwt