Rich Beckmann

Rich Beckmann began his playing career in 1981 with the UW-Rugby Club. He remembers his first game well, walking onto the pitch with no prior experience, and having the most fun possible… he was hooked. This would kick off a significant rugby career. He would take a short hiatus from Wisconsin in 1984 to go to Bath, England. There he played rugby for a club with over 70 members and three sides strong. They played their best players, so if you wanted to make it, you needed to put in work and effort. This experience solidified for Rich that rugby is a global community. You can walk into any club or find someone who knows someone who plays, and you will become fast friends. He would continue is playing career with UW from 1985-1986 before moving to the City team (currently WRC). He would spend a few years with them, then became a legend with the Milwaukee Rugby Club, before going to Vegas and playing for a club there. He would return to Wisconsin and was part of the 1998 National Title Team for WRC.

Rich fondly remembers the tours he participated in, including Fort Lauderdale and Daytona (he was part of the infamous U-Haul trip). Rich also saw the club transform. With Reggie Tate and Don Becker, the club propelled forward, and Rich enjoyed watching the club continue to grow.

As President, it is important to work with the University… they have funds. When Rich was President, he had to continue the connection former Presidents had made. There was a general fund that each club could apply for, with a maximum allocation amount. Rich can boast of having secured the maximum amount for the club each year he was President. As an officer though, sometimes you need to work within the system and follow the requirements to ensure success. For current players, he says your teammates are going to be friends for life. Rich still is in close contact with many of the people he played with and runs into others. While attending his son’s rugby practice, he ran into a fellow player he remembers from the first day of practice. Your lifelong friends will come from this sport. For general life advice he says “Don’t be afraid to fail, you can always bounce back and if you don’t take chances you’re probably not going have the success you otherwise would.”

Rich extends a thank you saying “A thank you to some of the upperclassmen when I joined the club and made it such a great experience: The late Dave Goldberg, Joe Holtom, Rich Fromstein, Harry Benson, George Hurtis, Billy Warner, Barry Hughes, Chuck Bielow to name a few there were many others.”

Thank you, Rich, for your years of continued support not only of the sport but of the club. We enjoy having you at Alumni Weekend and other events! Thank you for taking the time to be this months' Alumni Corner.

by TJ Brugger