WELCOME TO THE HOME OF RALEIGH REDHAWKS RUGBY CLUB
Our Story
The Raleigh Redhawks, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation (EIN: 27-3797494), was formed in 2010 by Andy Thomas, John Adams and Dave Krosner. All three had 10 year old sons who were hockey teammates on a Carolina Junior Hurricanes hockey team. Andy, a Welshman who played rugby professionally for Bath in England before moving to North Carolina, had become friends with John and, somehow, they both learned that Dave had played rugby competitively in the U.S. for many years, many years prior there to. Andy learned that a group in Chapel Hill was gathering kids on Sundays to play pick-up touch rugby games and he asked John and Dave if they wanted to bring their boys one Sunday.
All agreed, and one fateful Sunday the three men and their boys journeyed to Chapel Hill to participate. The kids had a blast and, as legend has it, an excited Andy, in his rapid fire and heavily grumbled Welsh accent, asked Dave and John if they wanted to “do this in Raleigh.” Dave thought that meant play pick-up touch rugby with the kids in Raleigh a couple weekends here and there, so he agreed. But, as it turned out, what Andy really meant (this was before Dave became fluent in Andy (a very difficult language for sure)) was starting a 501(c)(3) youth rugby program in Raleigh. Once Dave understood Andy’s true objective, he agreed that he would be willing to coach but under the express understanding and agreement that he would never be asked to be involved in any of the administrative aspects.
So, knowing they had captured one sucker, Andy and John set out to form the Redhawks and file the IRS paperwork to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. They stayed true to their promise with Dave (for the early few years), when John served as the Club’s President and Andy handled the other admin work and Andy and Dave formed the initial coaching staff.
In the first year, the Redhawks fielded U-10 and U-12 touch and tackle teams, comprised of many kids who were also hockey players and wrestlers, as well as some boys and girls from the Boys and Girls Club. They had immediate success, winning the North Carolina State Championship that year at U-12 touch and U-12 tackle. But that was only the beginning!
From that first year, the Redhawks steadily grew, as did their on-field successes. The Redhawks now have teams at U-8 touch, U-10 coed tackle, U-12 coed tackle, U-14 boys tackle, high school girls and high schools boys JV and varsity. They have also entered mean’s teams and U-21 teams in various tournaments over the years and have won State Championships and many tournaments at all their age groups – with the High School Boys Varsity Team being consistently ranked in the top 20 of high school rugby teams in the Nation and being invited to the prestigious and invitation-only Boys High School Rugby National Championships many times.
After the first few years, John’s kids took him in different directions so, sucker Dave become the Club’s President. Although the initial agreement was breached, Dave still somehow convinces Andy to do all the hard work. Actually, the journey has been quite the team effort and the Redhawks certainly would be nowhere today without the help of so many coaches and parents throughout the years.
The Club’s motto is “One Club, All In” – meaning the Club is family and everyone involved gives whatever they can to make the Club and its players better.
It has been an incredible journey so far and we are immensely proud of what we have accomplished on the field. But that pride pales by comparison to the pride we feel as we watch our graduates succeed in college and as adults. Many of our graduates play rugby in college and for regional and national All-Star teams, while also succeeding in the classroom, at work and beyond. We truly believe rugby and the core values of the Redhawks have helped shape a multitude of kids and given them the skills to succeed in life. That is our main goal and what we are most proud of!
Why choose Raleigh Redhawks rugby?
Raleigh Redhawks has direct access to USA rugby High Performance Pathway programs related to our National Development Status (NDS). Our club is the ONLY National Development Program in North Carolina. We have valuable connections to colleges, clubs and careers, Major League Rugby (Koby Baker-American Raptor, Nate Roeback-High School All American) and other Elite programs such as Panthers, EIRA and Atlantis. Several of our coaches are selectors and coaches within these programs.
The Raleigh Redhawks club has emerged in the triangle as a formidable, player focused developmental, educational and leadership program. We partner with other elite academies and serve as a conduit for athletes to represent these programs. We have over 60 players (both boys and girls) receive scholarships to play rugby or football in college. Two players have studied overseas to pursue college studies and rugby. In addition, we have a total of 7 players starting as Freshman in D1 college football programs.
Redhawks Partnership Academies:
Panthers rugby Academy:
www.pantherrugbyacademy.com/ (formerly USA Rugby South)
Eagle Impact Rugby Academy:
www.eirarugby.org/
Atlantis Rugby:
www.atlantisrugby.com/
What is rugby?
The game of rugby is a sport that combines teamwork, speed, skill, power and sportsmanship. Rugby is a truly international sport, played in over 100 countries; it is the world’s fourth largest sport. Rugby has never been as popular as it is today. In 2021, we will see rugby brought back for a second Olympics. In fact, the USA won the gold for rugby in the last two Olympics where the sport appeared, 1920 and 1924. Rugby sevens is one of the modified versions of the game which features 7 players a side instead of the traditionally 15. The 7 players a side version was featured in Rio 2016.
Rugby is a sport that has become less well known to the American public. In the last 15 years that has been changing rapidly as the popularity of rugby in the US has surged. There are now more than 100,000 active rugby players in the US across professional, men’s league, collegiate, high school and youth teams. With rugby making a triumphant return to the Olympics, the sport’s popularity will continue to grow in the years to come.
Below is the direct link to USA rugby-
Click here for USA rugby website
Redhawks Core Values:
Our core rugby values are, Respect, Discipline, Teamwork, Sportsmanship and Passion
"One Club, All In"
Our Story
The Raleigh Redhawks, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation (EIN: 27-3797494), was formed in 2010 by Andy Thomas, John Adams and Dave Krosner. All three had 10 year old sons who were hockey teammates on a Carolina Junior Hurricanes hockey team. Andy, a Welshman who played rugby professionally for Bath in England before moving to North Carolina, had become friends with John and, somehow, they both learned that Dave had played rugby competitively in the U.S. for many years, many years prior there to. Andy learned that a group in Chapel Hill was gathering kids on Sundays to play pick-up touch rugby games and he asked John and Dave if they wanted to bring their boys one Sunday.
All agreed, and one fateful Sunday the three men and their boys journeyed to Chapel Hill to participate. The kids had a blast and, as legend has it, an excited Andy, in his rapid fire and heavily grumbled Welsh accent, asked Dave and John if they wanted to “do this in Raleigh.” Dave thought that meant play pick-up touch rugby with the kids in Raleigh a couple weekends here and there, so he agreed. But, as it turned out, what Andy really meant (this was before Dave became fluent in Andy (a very difficult language for sure)) was starting a 501(c)(3) youth rugby program in Raleigh. Once Dave understood Andy’s true objective, he agreed that he would be willing to coach but under the express understanding and agreement that he would never be asked to be involved in any of the administrative aspects.
So, knowing they had captured one sucker, Andy and John set out to form the Redhawks and file the IRS paperwork to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. They stayed true to their promise with Dave (for the early few years), when John served as the Club’s President and Andy handled the other admin work and Andy and Dave formed the initial coaching staff.
In the first year, the Redhawks fielded U-10 and U-12 touch and tackle teams, comprised of many kids who were also hockey players and wrestlers, as well as some boys and girls from the Boys and Girls Club. They had immediate success, winning the North Carolina State Championship that year at U-12 touch and U-12 tackle. But that was only the beginning!
From that first year, the Redhawks steadily grew, as did their on-field successes. The Redhawks now have teams at U-8 touch, U-10 coed tackle, U-12 coed tackle, U-14 boys tackle, high school girls and high schools boys JV and varsity. They have also entered mean’s teams and U-21 teams in various tournaments over the years and have won State Championships and many tournaments at all their age groups – with the High School Boys Varsity Team being consistently ranked in the top 20 of high school rugby teams in the Nation and being invited to the prestigious and invitation-only Boys High School Rugby National Championships many times.
After the first few years, John’s kids took him in different directions so, sucker Dave become the Club’s President. Although the initial agreement was breached, Dave still somehow convinces Andy to do all the hard work. Actually, the journey has been quite the team effort and the Redhawks certainly would be nowhere today without the help of so many coaches and parents throughout the years.
The Club’s motto is “One Club, All In” – meaning the Club is family and everyone involved gives whatever they can to make the Club and its players better.
It has been an incredible journey so far and we are immensely proud of what we have accomplished on the field. But that pride pales by comparison to the pride we feel as we watch our graduates succeed in college and as adults. Many of our graduates play rugby in college and for regional and national All-Star teams, while also succeeding in the classroom, at work and beyond. We truly believe rugby and the core values of the Redhawks have helped shape a multitude of kids and given them the skills to succeed in life. That is our main goal and what we are most proud of!
Why choose Raleigh Redhawks rugby?
Raleigh Redhawks has direct access to USA rugby High Performance Pathway programs related to our National Development Status (NDS). Our club is the ONLY National Development Program in North Carolina. We have valuable connections to colleges, clubs and careers, Major League Rugby (Koby Baker-American Raptor, Nate Roeback-High School All American) and other Elite programs such as Panthers, EIRA and Atlantis. Several of our coaches are selectors and coaches within these programs.
The Raleigh Redhawks club has emerged in the triangle as a formidable, player focused developmental, educational and leadership program. We partner with other elite academies and serve as a conduit for athletes to represent these programs. We have over 60 players (both boys and girls) receive scholarships to play rugby or football in college. Two players have studied overseas to pursue college studies and rugby. In addition, we have a total of 7 players starting as Freshman in D1 college football programs.
Redhawks Partnership Academies:
Panthers rugby Academy:
www.pantherrugbyacademy.com/ (formerly USA Rugby South)
Eagle Impact Rugby Academy:
www.eirarugby.org/
Atlantis Rugby:
www.atlantisrugby.com/
What is rugby?
The game of rugby is a sport that combines teamwork, speed, skill, power and sportsmanship. Rugby is a truly international sport, played in over 100 countries; it is the world’s fourth largest sport. Rugby has never been as popular as it is today. In 2021, we will see rugby brought back for a second Olympics. In fact, the USA won the gold for rugby in the last two Olympics where the sport appeared, 1920 and 1924. Rugby sevens is one of the modified versions of the game which features 7 players a side instead of the traditionally 15. The 7 players a side version was featured in Rio 2016.
Rugby is a sport that has become less well known to the American public. In the last 15 years that has been changing rapidly as the popularity of rugby in the US has surged. There are now more than 100,000 active rugby players in the US across professional, men’s league, collegiate, high school and youth teams. With rugby making a triumphant return to the Olympics, the sport’s popularity will continue to grow in the years to come.
Below is the direct link to USA rugby-
Click here for USA rugby website
Redhawks Core Values:
Our core rugby values are, Respect, Discipline, Teamwork, Sportsmanship and Passion
"One Club, All In"