Thunderbird Rugby Football Club

Nick Penna '19, has created a Student Club Kit fundraiser.

For our 50th Anniversary at RAW this March, we’re finally replacing our mismatched "hodgepodge" gear with a sharp, unified kit. We need the alumni to lead the charge.

The "Legends" Deal: $60

The Impact: Kits out the current squad for the game.

The Kickback: You get your own limited-edition 50th-anniversary jersey.

Email: [email protected]
Reach out to Nick on WhatsApp or FB.
His Venmo is: -Penna-2
Give him the size and number for the back.
Alumni jersey has the skulls.

Here’s who I expect at RAW ‘25:

Players-
Pat Smith
Luis Vidal
Pat Shields
Larry Rogers
Greybeard
Chris Campbell
Greg Cohen
Bill McColl
Nick Penna

Non-players-
Koops
OP

Who am I missing?
Sound off, playing or not!

DM me or [email protected]

TARA People:

RAW '24 is March 14-17!
If you haven't RSVP'd, please do so to me and I'll send you the RAW schedule.
I want to be sure we have enough room for everyone!

Tour Scholarships:
We have four $1,500 student player "scholarships" to introduce students to the glories of touring!
If you'd like to create another, please contact me. It could be an individual or group pooling funds.
([email protected])

Tour Sponsorships:
We do need corporate sponsorships to help defray tour gear costs for jerseys, etc.
$2,000 (Gold Level) gets your logo on the Jersey front, on the back of the tour t-shirt, and in the Tour program.

$1,500 (Silver Level) gets your logo on the Jersey back, on the back of the tour t-shirt, and in the Tour program.

$500 (Bronze Level) gets your logo on the back of the tour t-shirt, and in the Tour program.

Injured Reserve Sponsorships:
$100 gets you a tour t-shirt and your name in the Tour Program.
(PayPal $100 to '[email protected]' along with your size and shipping address)

Join me in continuing the grand tradition that is Thunderbird Rugby!

Regards,

Chuck Hamilton '91
President
Thunderbird Alumni Rugby Association

RAW ‘24 Attendees so far:
Pat Smith
Mike Lee
C.Campbell
Koops
Darren Johnson
Brad Steinmetz
Taylor M
Jim Hayes
Greybeard
Heidi Saunders
Jens Rosmus
Dave Baerveldt
David Sas
Luis Vidal
Greg Cohen
Bill McColl

If you’re coming, let me know.
We need to confirm appropriate space for events!

Chuck

https://dastornews.com/2023/09/reviving-the-thunderbird-rugby-club-a-tale-of-tradition-camaraderie-and-renewed-connections/

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REMINDER:

Old Boys Tour 2024:
St. John’s, Newfoundland & St. Pierre, June ‘24
5 nights
2 matches

Arrival day
match day
travel day
match day
farewell party day

$1,500/head w/o airfare or kit.
Working on the exact dates with our hosts. We’d all meet in either Toronto or Montreal for the flight to St. John’s.

I’m collecting names now, so get on board!

The in-country cost of this tour is roughly $1,000 LESS than the Casablanca-Gibraltar tour.
Our goal is a 22-man playing roster, with plenty of room for guests and support staff, as always.

Please reach out to be placed on the “Interested” list.

Regards,
Chuck Hamilton ‘91
President, TARA
[email protected]

Sam Rosenbalm ‘95, has passed away after a 6-year cancer battle.

TARA People:

RAW ‘23 was a success! More than 25 old boys showed up on the weekend to support the growth of Thunderbird Rugby. The Pandemic had decimated student clubs across the Thunderbird campus, but spirits are high for the continued growth of the rugby club.

More than $1,300 were raised at the Banquet/Auction, led once again by the charismatic Pat Shields.

The local Old Boys are excited to support the student club: Nick Penna and Heidi Saunders are leading that effort.

The Duke MBA tournament seems to be much scaled back, with a much smaller turnout of clubs and the fact it appears Stern is running it now.

To that, Ralph Holmes ‘98 has offered a $1,500 “Student Tour Scholarship” to support a worthy student player to join the Old Boy tour of Newfoundland and St. Pierre in June 2024.

This being such a great idea, Bill McColl ‘86 has agreed to sponsor a second scholarship, and we’ve decided on a goal of 4 “student tour scholarships” for this awesome tour.
We are looking for two more alumni sponsors to complete this goal. We will also accept a “team” sponsor, if for example several teammates from a particular year want to pool together to provide a “tour scholarship”.

Please reach out if you’re interested in supporting this.

Early calculations…
Old Boys Tour 2024:
St. John’s, Newfoundland & St. Pierre, June ‘24
5 nights
2 matches

Arrival day
match day
travel day
match day
farewell party day

$1,500/head w/o airfare or kit.
Working on the exact dates with our hosts. We’d all meet in either Toronto or Montreal for the flight to St. John’s.

I’m collecting names now, so get on board!

The in-country cost of this tour is roughly $1,000 LESS than the Casablanca-Gibraltar tour.
Our goal is a 22-man playing roster, with plenty of room for guests and support staff, as always.

Please reach out to be placed on the “Interested” list.

Regards,
Chuck Hamilton ‘91
President, TARA
[email protected]

here is the website for Thunderbird/ASU guests to book discounted hotel rooms in downtown phoenix: https://visit.asu.edu/travel.

Travel Information for ASU Campus Visitors | Visit ASU Travel information for visitors to ASU

RAW 2023 will be the weekend of March 3, so start making your plans!

This year’s T-shirt will read, in English,
“I’m not old;
I just have
lots of
stories”

$20/ each if collecting on campus, $25 if I need to ship stateside.

Early calculations…
Old Boys Tour 2024:
St. John’s, Newfoundland & St. Pierre, June ‘24
5 nights
2 matches

Arrival day
match day
travel day
match day
farewell party day

$1,500/head w/o airfare or kit.
Working on the exact dates with our hosts. We’d all meet in either Toronto or Montreal for the flight to St. John’s.

I’m collecting names now, so get on board!

Tbirds:
The “injured reserve sponsorship” cut off date is August 20. Please get your orders in before that time.

$100 gets you a tour t-shirt, your name on the club website, and in the tour program. This sponsorship helps defray the cost of gear for the tour.

Send your size & shipping address to me via PayPal: [email protected]
Or Venmo: -Hamilton-2

DM me or via email: [email protected]

Thunderbirds!

I’m still looking for a couple more “Bronze Level” sponsors for the Casablanca-Gibraltar tour.

$500 puts your logo on our tour t-Shirt and on the club website.

Roughly 100 shirts will be spread across the US/Europe/North Africa and Asia. What’s not to love?!

DM me or via email: [email protected]

Thanks,
Chuck Hamilton