Midwest Thunderbird Program
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Midwest Thunderbirds are the senior club elite-level XVs representative program for playing members of the Midwest Rugby Union. The program is designed to identify, develop, and showcase top senior club rugby talent from across the Midwest while providing selected players with meaningful high-performance competition opportunities.
PURPOSE & VALUE
The Midwest Thunderbird Program provides a bridge between senior club rugby and higher-level representative competition. It gives players a structured opportunity to test themselves against elite peers, gain exposure to advanced coaching environments, and represent the Midwest Rugby Union in meaningful competition. For the Union, the program strengthens the competitive standard of senior club rugby while supporting player development, regional identity, and long-term growth of the game.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE & GOVERNANCE
The senior Midwest Thunderbird Program is directly managed by the Midwest Rugby Union. The Union also franchises the Thunderbird brand to U23 and U19 programs; however, those age-grade programs operate independently from the senior program. This distinction allows the senior Thunderbirds to remain focused on elite-level opportunities for current senior club players while still maintaining a broader Thunderbird identity across Midwest rugby pathways.
MEN’S PROGRAM
The men’s senior Thunderbird team is currently coached by Stephen Walsh of the Pittsburgh Forge, who has served as head coach since 2023. He is assisted by Chris Schade of Columbus RFC and Marques Plummer of the Northwest Woodsmen.
Players selected from their LAUs based on outstanding performance may be invited to participate in strategically planned assemblies and winter and spring competitions.
WOMEN’S PROGRAM
The women’s senior Thunderbird program also competes during the winter and spring. The program is currently in search of a coaching staff, with announcements expected in late summer or early fall 2026.
A key annual competition for the women’s program is the Mary Graham All-Star Tournament, hosted by the Texas Rugby Union each December. The tournament brings together regional women’s all-star teams and provides the Thunderbirds with an important platform for high-level competition, player development, and visibility.
SELECTION PATHWAY
The senior Thunderbird selection pathway begins with participation at the Local Area Union (LAU) level. Players should compete in the annual Thunderbird Cup, held every spring/summer, where performances are evaluated against other top senior club players from across the Midwest. Standout athletes may then be invited into Thunderbird assemblies and competition opportunities designed to prepare selected squads for elite representative play.
UPCOMING EVENTS
| EVENT DATE | TEAM/ SIDE | EVENT NAME | EVENT TYPE | LOCATION |
| November 21, 2026 | Men (A) | Midwest Thunderbirds v. MLR Chicago Hounds Academy | Fixture | TBD |
| December 5-6, 2026 | Women (A) | 2026 Mary Graham All-Stars | Tournament | DFW Area, Texas |
THUNDERBIRD HISTORICAL RESULTS SINCE REBOOT IN 2021
| MATCH DATE | TEAM/ SIDE | EVENT TITLE | OPPONENT | RESULT/ VIDEO | LOCATION |
| 04/25/2026 | Men | Midwest Thunderbirds at Chicago Lions | Chicago Lions | Loss, 55-12 | Lions for Hope Complex, Chicago, IL |
| 12/07/2025 | Women | 25 Texas Rugby Union Mary Graham All-Star Tournament | Texas Rugby Union | Win, 22-15 | Mountain Creek Soccer Complex, Grand Prairie, Texas |
| 12/06/2025 | Women | 25 Texas Rugby Union Mary Graham All-Star Tournament | Capital Rugby Union | Loss, 45-27 | Mountain Creek Soccer Complex, Grand Prairie, Texas |
| 11/17/2025 | Men | 25 Midwest Championships | Chicago Hounds MLR Academy | Loss, 36-22 | Chicago Blaze Rugby Facility |
| 5/10/2025 | Women (B) | Midwest Thunderbirds at Metropolis Valkyries | Metropolis Valkyries | Loss, 84-5 | Columbus Park, Minneapolis, MN |
| 04/05/2025 | Men | Midwest Thunderbirds at Chicago Griffins | Chicago Griffins | Loss, 62-41 | Schiller Playfield, Chicago, IL |
| 12/08/2024 | Women (A) | 24 Texas RugbyUnion Mary Graham All-Star Tournament | Texas Rugby Union | Win, 27-5 | Mountain Creek Soccer Center, Grand Prairie, TX |
| 12/07/2024 | Women (B) | 24 Texas RugbyUnion Mary Graham All-Star Tournament | South Selects | Loss, 13-17 | Mountain Creek Soccer Center, Grand Prairie, TX |
| 12/07/2024 | Women (A) | 24 Texas RugbyUnion Mary Graham All-Star Tournament | Southwest Selects | Win, 47-7 | Mountain Creek Soccer Center, Grand Prairie, TX |
| 11/16/204 | Men | Midwest Thunderbirds at Chicago Hounds MLR Academy | Chicago Hounds MLR Academy | Loss, 52-25 | Lions for Hope Complex, Chicago, IL |
| 04/27/2024 | Women | Midwest Thunderbirds at Pittsburgh Forge | Pittsburgh Forge | Loss, 15 – 37 | Phillip Murray Field, Pittsburgh, PA |
| 04/20/2024 | Men | Midwest Thunderbirds at St. Louis Bombers | St. Louis Bombers | Loss, 17 – 48 | Emerson Central Fields, St. Louis, MO |
| 12/9/2023 | Men | Midwest Thunderbirds at USA Rugby South | USA Rugby South | Loss, 14 – 20 | Skillbeck Athletic Facility, Charlotte, NC |
| 12/3/2023 | Women (A) | 23 Texas Rugby Union Mary Graham All-Star Tournament | Texas Rugby Union All-Stars (A) | Win, 59 – 0 | Nixon Field, Austin, TX |
| 12/3/2023 | Women (B) | 23 Texas Rugby Union Mary Graham All-Star Tournament | Southwest Rugby Union | Win, 13 – 0 | Nixon Field, Austin, TX |
| 12/2/2023 | Women (B) | 23 Texas Rugby Union Mary Graham All-Star Tournament | Texas Rugby Union All-Stars (B) | Win, 86 – 0 | Nixon Field, Austin, TX |
| 12/2/2023 | Women (A) | 23 Texas Rugby Union Mary Graham All-Star Tournament | USA Rugby South | Win, 19 – 14 | Nixon Field, Austin, TX |
| 5/20/2023 | Men | Midwest Thunderbirds (Dev.) at Chicago Griffins | Chicago Griffins | Loss, 43 – 28 | Chicago Blaze Rugby Facility, Lemont, IL |
| 5/20/2023 | Women | Midwest Thunderbirds (Dev.) at Metropolis Valkyries | Metropolis Valkyries | Loss, 51 – 7 | Minneapolis, MN |
| 3/4/2023 | Men | Midwest Thunderbirds v. OG Capital Selects | OG Capital Selects | Loss, 38 – 22 | Cupples Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA |
| 3/4/2023 | Women | Midwest Thunderbirds v. OG Capital Selects | OG Capital Selects | Loss, 28 – 22 | Cupples Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA |
| 2/19/2023 | Women | Midwest Thunderbirds at USA Rugby South Panthers | USA Rugby South Panthers | Loss, 34 – 13 | Lakewood Soccer Complex, St. Petersburg, FL |
| 12/4/2022 | Women (A) | 22 Texas Rugby Union’s Mary Graham All-Star Tournament | OG Capital Selects | Win, 46 – 0 | Prairie Park, Grand Prairie, TX |
| 12/4/2022 | Women (B) | 22 Texas Rugby Union’s Mary Graham All-Star Tournament | USA Rugby South Panthers | Loss, 53 – 5 | Prairie Park, Grand Prairie, TX |
| 12/3/2022 | Men | Thunderbirds at Dallas Reds | Dallas Reds | Loss, 24 – 12 | Highlanders Lake Park, Dallas, TX |
| 12/3/2022 | Women (B) | 22 Texas Rugby Union’s Mary Graham All-Star Tournament | Pacific Northwest U23 Selects | Win, 53 – 7 | Prairie Park, Grand Prairie, TX |
| 12/2/2022 | Women (A) | 22 Texas Rugby Union’s Mary Graham All-Star Tournament | Texas Rugby Union All-Stars | Win, 30 – 15 | Prairie Park, Grand Prairie, TX |
| 6/4/2022 | Men/ Barbarians | 2022 Thunderbird Cup | Legacy Rugby Academy | Win, 38 – 14 | Chicago Blaze Rugby Facility, Lemont, IL |
| 6/4/2022 | Men/ Barbarians | 2022 Thunderbird Cup | CARFU Selects | Win, 38 – 12 | Chicago Blaze Rugby Facility, Lemont, IL |
| 5/7/2022 | Women | Midwest Thunderbirds v. Women’s D1 Champion | Chicago Lions | Loss, 39 – 25 | Lions for Hope Sports Complex, Chicago, IL |
| 4/23/2022 | Men/ West | Midwest Thunderbirds v. Midwest Premiership Champions | Chicago Griffins | Loss, 33 – 17 | Chicago Blaze Rugby Facility, Lemont, IL |
| 3/5/2022 | Men/ East B | Thunderbirds host Philly United + Upstate Selects | Philly United Militia | Win, 30 – 25 | Cupples Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA |
| 3/5/20222 | Men/ East | Thunderbirds host Philly United + Upstate Selects | Philly United (A) | Loss, 12 – 49 | Cupples Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA |
| 12/11/2021 | Men | Thunderbirds at AG Outlaws | AG Outlaws | Loss, 15 – 41 | Nixon Field, Austin, TX |
| 12/5/2021 | Women/ B | 21 Texas Rugby Union’s Mary Graham All-Star Tournament | Chicago Lions | Loss, 10 – 42 | Prairie Park, Grand Prairie, TX |
| 12/5/2021 | Women | 21 Texas Rugby Union’s Mary Graham All-Star Tournament | Old Glory DC Selects | Win, 37 – 5 | Prairie Park, Grand Prairie, TX |
| 12/4/2021 | Women/ Gold | 21 Texas Rugby Union’s Mary Graham All-Star Tournament | Austin Valkyries | Win, 31 – 27 | Prairie Park, Grand Prairie, TX |
| 12/4/2021 | Women/ Green | 21 Texas Rugby Union’s Mary Graham All-Star Tournament | Texas Rugby Union All-Stars | Loss, 22 – 44 | Prairie Park, Grand Prairie, TX |
| 8/14/2021 | Men/ East & West | Thunderbird Men’s Conference Assembly & Match | Eastern Conference Men v. Western Conference Men | East 39 – West 26 | Lions for Hope Sports Complex, Chicago, IL |
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