CHICAGO (Sept. 17, 2021) – The Midwest Rugby Football Union (MRFU) announced its me

n’s player pool for the 2021-2022 competitive cycle today. The pool was selected by the Thunderbird Coaching staff and will assemble on Oct. 2, 2021, in Chicago.

Chicago Griffins Head Coach Darren Morris has been named the new Head Coach of the Men’s Thunderbird Program. Morris is a former Wales international rugby player who also represented the British & Irish Lions. His background also includes international and domestic professional coaching roles.

The MWRFU also thanks Paul Vercoe for his assistance earlier this summer in helping to organize and contributing to the program. We wish Paul well with his career endeavors.

NOLA Gold Head Coach Nate Osbourne joins the coaching staff at the October assembly as a guest technical advisor. Osbourne’s background includes serving as the Eagles’ backs/attack coach for the 2015 World Cup squad and the Metropolis (Metro) RFC head coach. Welcome back to the Midwest, Nate!

The preliminary roster includes 38 players representing 15 respective clubs from throughout the MRFU including:

FORWARDS:

1. Michael Alamo – Chicago Westside Condors (CRC)
2. Albert Annadale – Wisconsin
3. Todd Becker – Bremer County Bucks
4. Rico Blackman – Cincinnati Wolfhounds
5. Nick Brett – Cincinnati Wolfhounds
6. Eric Davis – Scioto Valley Columbus Rugby Club
7. Jake Eades – Cedar Rapids Rugby
8. Pawel Fadeneli – Detroit Tradesmen
9. Alex Gordon – Pittsburgh Forge
10. Patrick Hafenbridle – Michiana Moose
11. Brody Hastings – Pittsburgh Forge
12. Jeremy Hericks – Eastside Banshees
13. Jake Loux – Lincoln Park Rugby
14. Chris Mans – Pittsburgh Forge
15. Nick McCauley – Cincinnati Wolfhounds
16. Augie Murphy – Cincinnati Wolfhounds
17. LJ Murray – Scioto Valley Columbus Rugby Club
18. Ryan O’Neil – Chicago Griffins
19. Ian Parkinson – Iowa City
20. Kavika Peniata – Metropolis Rugby Club
21. Dustin Penrod – Chicago Griffins
22. Chris Schade – Scioto Valley Columbus Rugby Club
23. Zach Seger – Pittsburgh Forge
24. David Stauder – Scioto Valley Columbus Rugby Club

 

BACKS:

1. Buger Beyers – Chicago Griffins
2. Brendan Cioppa – Pittsburgh Forge
3. Nolan Corley – Chicago Griffins
4. Matthew Crabtree – Chicago Griffins
5. Matt Drzewiecki – Milwaukee Barbarians
6. Rashad Finley – Cincinnati Wolfhounds
7. Billy Gordon – Pittsburgh Forge
8. Casey Hansen – Bremer County Bucks
9. Imad Harajly – Detroit Tradesmen
10. Damon Jones – Cincinnati Wolfhounds
11. Campbell O’Connor – At Large
12. Scott Peterson – Chicago Griffins
13. Gavin Spisak – Detroit Tradesmen
14. Craig Williamson – Pittsburgh Forge

 

Final rosters and fixtures for Men’s and Women’s programs will be released in early October.