MIKE JAMES TO SPEAK AT NIAGARA THUNDER RUGBY
BANQUET 31st March 2008
Thunder
Rugby, the greater Niagara area’s 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 year’s Banquet and Fundraiser. James has
played most of his rugby on distant shores and has only recently
retired from playing and returned to his home base in
Vancouver. 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 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 first played 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 him in 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
Rugby Canada Super League
The Super League is played in an Eastern
and Western conference format with the winner of each
conference playing each other to determine the Canadian
Championship. Playing in the league is considered a must if a
player is to achieve an opportunity to be considered for
Canada’s National Side.
The Niagara Thunder draws elite
players from teams in the Ontario Rugby Union’s Marshall and
Keenan divisions and the Niagara Rugby Union’s Premier
division. The Lightning is also scheduled to play on the same
days as the senior team.
For more information please
contact:
Dave
Burnett – President Niagara Thunder Rugby
dburnett@cogeco.ca
Home (905) 336-9545, Mobile
(416) 919-4118
