The Columbia Outlaws Rugby Football Club has just wrapped up its summer 7’s tournament season on their home pitches at Gans Creek Recreation Area in Columbia, Missouri, for the Show Me State Games. 7s is an international format of rugby played between the spring and fall 15s seasons and is the chosen format for the Summer Olympics. The full-contact sport with no helmets or pads is the evolutionary misfit between football (soccer) and American football, where some elements of both sports can be found.
The Outlaws finished the tournament in 8th place but had greater success in earlier tournaments in St. Louis, Springfield, and Kansas City as quarter and semifinalists, respectively. SimpleVoIP chose to sponsor this club not only for the opportunity to reach new audiences but also to support one of its players, Casey McManus, SimpleVoIP’s Project Manager, who has been playing as a lock for the past couple of years with the Outlaws.
“It’s an excellent sport for anyone looking to get out of the house, get in better shape, make friends and be competitive. It turns out there are rugby teams all over the US who are actively looking for more players, and I’ve never been involved in a sport that has a better sense of sportsmanship and camaraderie. Even if tempers on the field start to climb, there’s always a cold beer and a song at the social afterward. That’s something you don’t see in many sports, even co-ed fun leagues.” says McManus.
Speaking of tempers on the field, the Columbia Outlaws were previously known as the Mid-Missouri Rugby Football Club. They were disbanded and re-formed in 1980 after a skirmish between a player and a referee, which resulted in a player striking the referee, not only getting banned himself but, in fact, banning the team as a whole from the league.
Therefore, the team restructured, renamed, and has been a leading staple of the sport for all players in central Missouri. The Outlaws also have a sister club, the Black Sheep, a competitive women’s rugby team, and a high school club team known as the Bandits.
“Honestly, it’s a win-win. I’m really glad I found this sport and this team. As someone who works remotely, it’s hard to find excuses to get out of the house, make new friends, and find things to do. I recommend that anyone who works a desk job, especially a remote job from home, looks into sports or clubs that they can participate in. SimpleVoIP sponsoring the Outlaws is a lot like any company sponsoring a local co-ed softball or kickball team. It’s an opportunity to invest in their employees’ interests outside of work and makes that relationship stronger and employees healthier.” McManus added.
The Outlaws are getting ready to start their 15s fall season and are hoping for more recruits and better outcomes as the club continues to grow in recognition and popularity. If you would like to learn more about the Columbia Outlaws, you can view their website at www.columbiarugbyfootballclub.com.
