Midwest Rugby Football Union Release
Men’s Thunderbird Program Player Pool
CHICAGO (Sept. 17, 2021) – The Midwest Rugby Football Union (MRFU) announced its men’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.
Men’s Thunderbirds Head Coach: Darren Morris; Photo Credit: American Rugby News
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:
- Michael Alamo – Chicago Westside Condors (CRC)
- Albert Annadale – Wisconsin
- Todd Becker – Bremer County Bucks
- Rico Blackman – Cincinnati Wolfhounds
- Nick Brett – Cincinnati Wolfhounds
- Eric Davis – Scioto Valley Columbus Rugby Club
- Jake Eades – Cedar Rapids Rugby
- Pawel Fadeneli – Detroit Tradesmen
- Alex Gordon – Pittsburgh Forge
- Patrick Hafenbridle – Michiana Moose
- Brody Hastings – Pittsburgh Forge
- Jeremy Hericks – Eastside Banshees
- Jake Loux – Lincoln Park Rugby
- Chris Mans – Pittsburgh Forge
- Nick McCauley – Cincinnati Wolfhounds
- Augie Murphy – Cincinnati Wolfhounds
- LJ Murray – Scioto Valley Columbus Rugby Club
- Ryan O’Neil – Chicago Griffins
- Ian Parkinson – Iowa City
- Kavika Peniata – Metropolis Rugby Club
- Dustin Penrod – Chicago Griffins
- Chris Schade – Scioto Valley Columbus Rugby Club
- Zach Seger – Pittsburgh Forge
- David Stauder – Scioto Valley Columbus Rugby Club
BACKS:
- Buger Beyers – Chicago Griffins
- Brendan Cioppa – Pittsburgh Forge
- Nolan Corley – Chicago Griffins
- Matthew Crabtree – Chicago Griffins
- Matt Drzewiecki – Milwaukee Barbarians
- Rashad Finley – Cincinnati Wolfhounds
- Billy Gordon – Pittsburgh Forge
- Casey Hansen – Bremer County Bucks
- Imad Harajly – Detroit Tradesmen
- Damon Jones – Cincinnati Wolfhounds
- Campbell O’Connor – At Large
- Scott Peterson – Chicago Griffins
- Gavin Spisak – Detroit Tradesmen
- Craig Williamson – Pittsburgh Forge
Final rosters and fixtures for Men’s and Women’s programs will be released in early October.
