News and Press Release 2008 

Mike James to speak at Thunder Rugby’s Banquet and Fundraiser

Thunder Rugby, the greater Niagara areas entry into the Rugby Canada Super League is pleased to announce that Mike James, one of Canada’s legendary international players will be the main speaker at this years Banquet and Fundraiser.  James has played most of his rugby on distant shores and has only relatively recently retired from playing and returned to his home base in Vancouver, Canada.  He is an entertaining speaker and has a wealth of rugby experiences on which to draw.   The fundraiser and auction combined with speaker Mike James will surely make what promises to be yet another great evening of entertainment from the Thunder organisation.

 Born Vancouver, BC 1973, James started rugby at age of 16.  He played first rugby in Burnaby BC at high school and then for the Burnaby Lake Rugby Club.  As a second row forward, he was first capped for Canada in 1994 against the USA.  Since then he has played some 60 games for Canada between 1994 and 2008.  Mike played in 4 World Cups putting with a mere handful of international players to have done so and captained Canada on numerous occasions.   A few memorable wins for Canada include France 1994, Italy 2000 and Scotland 2002

 Mike turned professional in 1996 signing up for USAP Perpignan a Premier division team in France. In 2000, he signed with Stade Francais in Paris and played there until retirement in 2008.  During Mike’s tenure, Stade Francais were French Champions in 2003, 2004, and 2008.  Regrettably they never became European champion despite 2 Heineken Cup finals against Leicester, 2001 and Toulouse, 2005.  Mike has played over 50 European games and 300 professional games in France.  He was selected for the French Barbarians against South Africa, Argentina, and Australia and captained against Fiji, and tour to Western Province in South Africa.

 The banquet and fundraiser will be held on Friday April 25th at the Operating Engineers Banquet Hall 2245 Speers Road, Oakville, doors open at 6.30 p.m.  Profits from the event will go toward the running costs of the Thunder team and its RCSL Junior division entry, the Niagara Lightning, an under 20-age grade team who will compete for the second year in the national competition.

 Tickets are $100.00 and include a 5-course gourmet meal.   Tickets are limited and over 60% sold already. To purchase your ticket, please contact either Dai Rhy-Jones at president@niagararugbyunion.com or (905) 679-6831 or Dave Burnett at dburnett@cogeco.ca (905) 336-9545