When senior Drew Blomquist first stepped onto Mizzou’s campus, he had never played rugby before. Four years later he’s not only president of the Mizzou men’s club rugby, but also the driving force behind its revival, helping rebuild a program that simply needed a leader.
Blomquist, a former high school football player, joined the club on a whim after hearing about it.
“I had never played rugby in my life before,” Blomquist said. “I had nothing to join on campus, and got heckled at speaker circle and decided to come out, and really enjoyed it.”
He admits that his first practices were humbling. Blomquist struggled to pass the ball properly and often stayed late after practice to complete extra drills in order to keep up. That dedication to improving his skills continued throughout his time with the team and helped shape his approach to practice and competition.
“Being the hardest worker on the field is my goal every time,” Blomquist said. “I think the biggest thing I noticed was freshman year, when I wasn’t very good, I was always the one running off of the field, during practice and during games, even just water, and I think that has carried over to not only my conditioning, but my integrity throughout the game.”
Blomquist earned the trust of his teammates, and in his sophomore year was elected vice president. That year, the club had minimal funding and was behind as an executive board. A year later, he stepped into the role of president, inheriting a club with no money, few sponsors and inconsistent leadership.
“His leadership and just the way he carries himself, and the professionalism … is pretty second to none I would say,” alumnus Patrick Frew said. “[It’s] really going to set him up for his future, and [I will miss] just having him around.”
Blomquist personally helped raise money during his time with the team, securing sponsorships and organizing fundraisers that stabilized the program’s finances.
“I vowed to make kind of an impact and change [funding] around and leave the team much better than where it started, and I’ve already done that,” Blomquist said.
Blomquist navigated many difficulties throughout his time with the club, but this season brought a challenge he had yet to face. He suffered an MCL injury after another player was tackled into his leg, causing it to collapse inward. The injury could have ended his college career, but he hopes to recover enough to return sometime next semester.
He has continued to stay involved as a leader and mentor, helping the team prepare for another run at Nationals, a streak that has now lasted four straight years under his leadership. While winning as much as he does is nice, Blomquist knows the club means more than just their tournament wins and losses.
“What you get out of rugby is much more than the games you’ll win,” Blomquist said. “It’s a lot more about the connections and relationships you’ll make, and kind of how they’ll steer your life.”
His work ethic and professionalism, which shaped him as a person, has also set a standard for his teammates, and helped define the program’s culture during a period of rebuilding.
“He’s a great teammate,” club Vice President Nicolas Weaver said. “He’s always looking after everybody, making sure we’re doing the right things. He’s also always pushing us to do better. Last year, we didn’t have much of a coach. He pretty much stepped up and took that coach role.”
Blomquist plans to prepare the team for upcoming games once the season rolls around, with hopes of beating their rivals, like the University of Kansas. Blomquist’s team will compete against them at the Heart of America Tournament in April 2026.
“He believes that this club will be good and these guys are good,” coach Cháuncéy Hatten said. “This spring, we have a chance to really do something special. Just really keeping that faith, and you know, how can I not believe in somebody that believes in themself like that?”
Edited by Killian Wright | [email protected]
Copy edited by Ethan Palgon and Ava Mohror | [email protected]
Edited by Alex Gribb | [email protected]
