Anchorage Thunderbirds RFC

     The Fort Richardson Rugby football club was established in 1993. The team was comprised of Active Duty Army, Air Force, and Marines. There were 25 active players on the roster and the list was growing. In the first two years of inception the club did not fair so well in competition. It was a new club with a need for unit cohesiveness. They were able to travel for the first time as a unit to the Military Nationals held at Fort Benning, GA in 1995. 

     In 1996 they found the needed cohesiveness and gained US ARMY ALASKA COMMAND support to travel and compete in the 1996 Military Rugby Nationals held at Ft Stewart, GA. They faired well competing against the best military rugby sides in the country and abroad, finishing 15^th out of 40 teams. Returning to Alaska for the beginning of a long and arduous season, the team made it to into the Alaska State semi-finals. They were beaten by the score, yet their will to win was here to stay, finishing 3^rd in the state. 

     In 1997, the team had a late start in searching for support, due to necessary military duties. They were still able to field 9 players, paying their own way, to the 1997 Military Rugby Nationals, held at Ft Carson, Co. In the tournament they placed 11^th out of 30 teams. Competition was tough and the team was defeated in the last seconds of the final qualifying game against Ft Bragg, NC. The team returned to Alaska with the needed cohesiveness. They were able to compete with the locally established teams. The record was the best seen to date, 7 wins, 3 losses in the short history of the military side in Alaska. The team competed in the Alaska State Final and lost a good fight in the second half of the match. They finished the season 2^nd in the State.

     In 1998, the team attended the 1998 Military Rugby National held at Ft Bragg, NC. They faired well and two players were named to participate on their respective Interservice teams. Unfortunately they had to forfeit the remainder of the Alaska Union matches due to personnel rotations. The other local teams picked up the remaining players. After 1999, which didn't field a military side, a few people left their local teams and began heavy recruiting around the local bases. 40 players in all came out, with 33 of them having no experience. It was a rebuilding year, with lots of training on the basics. After a full season we began to meld as a unit and ended up placing third in the Alaska state finals! 2001 has arrived with a strong returning side, and adding 15 new ruggers, we are looking forward to a strong showing in the union and have our eyes on the state championship!