James “Jim” Dierker

Listed in Missouri Rugby’s archived alumni roll, with St. Louis Bombers and USA Eagles–1976 in his post-Mizzou entry.

St. Louis Bombers history names Dierker among its former Eagles.

Scored a try for Missouri in a 14–11 win over Missouri–Rolla, reported September 19, 1971. Contemporary reports also record his scoring in October and November 1971.

Featured in a captioned Missouri rugby lineout photograph alongside Ed Sweeney in the Columbia Missourian photo essay “The Gentlemen’s Game,” written and photographed by Richard Shulman.

Event archive1972 Missouri lineoutView archive ↗

Scored for Missouri’s second side in its 12–10 win over Des Moines, in a September 10, 1972 report.

Graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism in May 1973, as he recounts in the acknowledgments to his SDSU thesis.

Scored in Missouri’s 14–6 victory over the St. Louis Ramblers and 18–10 win over Arkansas. The Arkansas match report quotes his assessment of the contest.

Played for both Missouri Rugby Club and St. Louis Bombers. Alongside Rick Wetzel and George White, he represented the Bombers at the inaugural Peachtree National Invitational in Atlanta, where the club tied for third.

Playing on the wing for Missouri, scored two tries against Oklahoma State at the Heart of America tournament in Kansas City.

The Bombers reported that Dierker was honored at USA Rugby’s 50th anniversary gala for membership of the original 1976 Eagles national team.

In a 2023 first-person remembrance, Dierker recalls partnering Pat McIntyre in OMBAC’s starting second row when the club won its 1984 tournament.

Recounts touring Pretoria, South Africa, in 1984 as a member of an American all-star rugby side in the introduction to his 2019 thesis.

Joined Bill Fraumann, John Jelaco and Rory Smith in the third-place foursome at the US Rugby Foundation’s third annual Scrumble in Las Vegas, part of his continuing involvement with Eagle alumni and rugby fundraising.

His foursome with Kevin Swiryn, Koos Swart and Rory Smith placed third at the Foundation’s sixth Scrumble, whose proceeds supported youth and high school rugby.

Named on the advance guest list for the US Rugby Foundation’s Chicago Lost Afternoon luncheon, a reunion of international rugby players and supporters.

Earned an MA in Rhetoric and Writing Studies at San Diego State University with a 97-page thesis examining rugby’s role in South Africa’s political transformation and the 1995 World Cup trophy ceremony.

His thesis acknowledgments thank Francois Pienaar, Sean Fitzpatrick, Brian Vizard, Ross Setford and John Carlin for research testimony, reflections or support.

A Patrick Henry boys sevens team photograph identifies Dierker alongside its coaching group. The article calls him an OMBAC rugby legend. The school program finished 12–4 and fourth in Southern California.

Event archive2021 coaching teamView archive ↗

Listed as a US Rugby Foundation Clubhouse supporter in the 2023, 2024 and 2025 annual reports; the 2024 report supplies the name James T Dierker.

The US Rugby Foundation lists James (LC) Dierker among its Clubhouse members supporting grassroots rugby.