Based on a loose affiliation with both UMKC and Rockhurst College, the Kansas City Blues Rugby Club was established in 1966. Strides were taken 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 Club teams in the United States. Throughout the first several decades of existence the Blues exemplified the physical style of the era, earning regional and national notoriety with dozens of tournament championships in prominent annual competitions including the nation’s top teams, such as Aspen Ruggerfest, Heart of America Tournament, St. Louis Ruggerfest, etc. The Club built a reputation for playing hard-nosed rugby and never giving an inch on the field, while always having a very close social connection with one another and a positive presence in the community off the field. These attributes, along with the Club’s winning culture, have long made the Blues a destination Club for top players from around the region.  Over the past four decades the Blues have produced and been the home Club to multiple capped US Eagle players and National Team trialists.

In 1993 the Blues made their first run at a USA Rugby Club National Championship, advancing to the semi-finals “Final Four” in both 1993 & 1994.  At the time, it was the highest level of men’s rugby played in the United States.  In 1997, the Blues helped rugby in the U.S. take a big step forward as a founding member of the United States Rugby Super League (1997-2012). The Rugby Super League was the premier men’s competition in the United States, at one point expanding to 14 of the country’s top teams spanning from Boston & New York to San Diego & San Francisco.  The Blues advanced to the Rugby Super League semi-finals in 1997 & 2001, and competed in the league until 2007.  The club chose to move down to USA Rugby’s Division 1  Club competition in 2008, a rebuild that culminated in 2012 when the Blues became just the second club ever to send 2 separate teams to the USA Rugby Club National Championship tournament quarterfinals with a team competing in both the Division 1 and the Division 3 National playoff.  In 2014 the Blues would win the Midwest Premiership and once again punched their ticket to the Division 1 National Championship, losing in the quarterfinals.  Since joining the Midwest Premiership in 2013-14, the Blues have amassed an impressive league record of 40-18 from 2013-2017. Currently, the Blues field a Division 1 side that competes in the Midwest Premiership along with other Division 1 teams from Chicago, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Columbus, Cincinnati, & Iowa, as well as a Division 2 side that competes in the Heart of America League with other Division 2 teams from closer regional cities like St. Louis, Omaha, etc.

In addition to success on the field in 15’s, the Blues have also risen to national prominence in the game of Rugby Sevens and now run one of the country’s largest and most successful summer programs that includes elite, development, social, and Collegiate Academy programs.  The Blues have qualified for and appeared at the Club 7’s National Championship Tournament 14 times from 1990-2017, and have produced numerous National Team players in that span.  The Blues have made the National semifinals five times and have finished in 2^nd place in the country three times.  In 1993 the Blues made their first ever 7’s Final Four and finished as the National Runner-Up, and returned to the semifinals the following year. In 2000 & 2014 the Blues returned to the Final Four, finishing in 3^rd place on both occasions.  In 2016 the Blues advanced back to the Club 7’s National Championship final again, but fell just short.