Navy Rugby Alumni Association News

-Trajectory Bending Moves

Ruggers past and present,

Since the formation of NRAA, I have been especially grateful to contribute to the development of our Alumni Association and our Navy Rugby program. I am beyond humbled by the opportunity to be your President and build on the exceptional progress we've made thus far. Further, we are anxious to see what we can do with strong numbers and more involvement. To that end, with the authority, responsibility, and accountability that comes with leading this team, we will endeavor to make you proud. More specifically, we will be laser focused on 3 strategic interests

1) Building our Alumni Membership and Network. Remember? The Might of The Chain

2) Leveraging our Capacity to Contribute. Remember? "With You"

3) Unlocking our Philanthropic Potential. Remember? Strength in Numbers...

All of us are stronger than one of us. To these endeavors we commit ourselves, and by doing so, we commit ourselves to the men and women of Navy Rugby...yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

With you & Vr,

Pat O'Mahoney, '99 NRAA President

-February 24, 2025

-Army Navy Alumni Rugby Match 5 April 2025

This is a long standing historical Army Navy Rugby Alumni match that this year will be held on Saturday, April 5th at Stan's Farm in Aldie VA. 

Little River Farm

22006 James Monroe Hwy

Aldie VA, 20105

It is an extraordinary chance to get reacquainted with those amazing collisions from yesteryear and have some good fun and camaraderie. Spectate or play!

• Friday Night (4 April)- Social get together depending on who is around.  There is a pub close to Aldie that is supposed to be a good brew pub.  More on that soon.

  Saturday (5 April)

              -0900 Meet up at Stan's Farm to set line ups and warm up.

              -1000  Beat Army in the Alumni Match - currently set for 30 minutes of 50+, then 30 minutes 40+ or open depending

  on numbers, then 30 minutes open 

               After the match, people can take the trip to Boat town for the playoffs (hopefully Navy gets a Bye the first weekend) or

  they can stay for the Roosters Match and a Social with Army

                ~1800  Meet up with Alumni for a social

  Sunday (6 April) -1100 Meet at Arlington National Cemetary to pay tribute to our fallen

   

  There will be food and adult beverages at the pitch for after the match.  We still need as many players, and supporters as possible. 

  Here is the link for the google doc to sign up for the weekend:

  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1M83B8Al5rzze8qvepaHShg8a44FZqeGMgCqcT460Qa0/edit?usp=sharing

  It would be great if we can get people to sign up so we can count numbers

  If people have any questions please contact Marty Migliori '85, Dave Hurren '98, Bart Randall '95, or join the Navy Alumni Group on Signal.

  https://signal.group/#CjQKILWs9vnJdtVfbe--pB4pH5EmWyb2FFLTyCe7kAKE15sTEhChPuyEq9eN3UYlsSN3mdCt

-NRAA Legacy Leaders: This is the first salvo of many that we hope will build a connection with our scholar warriors headed to the FLEET.  Dennis Volpe ('96), Executive Performance and Transition Coach, Severn River Leadership Group, LLC, a rugger skilled in the art of executive coaching and professional development, has volunteered to lead our Legacy Leaders Program.  As you may recall, we've recently established this program as a vehicle to (1) Create and sustain a connection with graduating Firsties and rising Midn to mentor and develop our rising leaders; and (2) Connect Alumni to Alumni for professional support, mentoring, and networking. Jack McAuliffe ('15) will be assisting Dennis in this endeavor. The initial moves you'll soon hear will relate to our Class of 2025 service selectees and how we'll do more to connect with them ahead of joining the FLEET.

With you & Vr, Pat O'Mahoney, '99, NRAA President

NAVY RUGBY FIRST CLASS (2025) SERVICE SELECTION

YOHAN AFEWERKI SURFACE WARFARE

SHAWN BERRIOS SUBMARINE WARFARE

ILLYSSA BIAS SURFACE WARFARE

MARGARET GEIGER NAVY AIR

LILLY GEMMA USMC GROUND

KAYLA GIBBONS SURFACE WARFARE

KALELE HAKES SURFACE WARFARE

BIANKA HARRIS SURFACE WARFARE

MIRACLE HAYNES SUBMARINE WARFARE

RYAN HOTALING USMC GROUND

KAT KADIMA USMC GROUND

MICHAEL KALALAU USMC GROUND

BELLA MARCHI-SETYAN SURFACE WARFARE

JESSICA MCKENZIE SURFACE WARFARE

GRACE OLIVER SUBMARINE WARFARE

DONALD POBANZ SURFACE WARFARE

MYLA ROMERO SUBMARINE WARFARE

-CHANGES to the NRAA Class Representative Program: (formerly Hookers, now Captains)

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!

Greetings All - Rick "Pokey" Keller, class of 81' sending this as the new volunteer coordinating our Class Captain efforts as we look to take the next steps toward continued Navy Rugby Excellence. I am reaching out to men and women Navy Rugby Alumni asking for volunteers to act as the "Class Captain" for your class. We are looking for someone in each class to help rekindle the enthusiasm we all had as classmates/teammates and use that to get behind our current Navy Rugby programs. As the Class Captain you will be a conduit to your classmates amplifying messaging, helping ensure that we have as complete a roster of alumni as possible, and tailoring information to your class and their particular situations among other things. Prior to the program going on hiatus there were periodic Zoom calls to discuss various topics, hear from Coach Gavin Hickey, Etc.. I will have more information later but for now we need a volunteer from each of the classes represented by those of you addressed in this email. Volunteer one and all - I will sort it with you if I get more than one volunteer - don't hesitate just reply all and tell me your in! Contact me direct with questions if needed: pokey.keller@gmail.com / 256-558-0235

With you and VR, Pokey ‘81

UPDATE (3/5/2025): Still need Class Captain volunteers for the following classes/teams, Thanks!:

Men's - ‘67, ‘68, ‘72, ‘73, ‘04, ‘08, ‘20, ‘22, ‘23

Women's - ‘02, ‘04, ‘05, ‘06, ‘07, ‘08, ‘09, ‘12, ‘13, ‘14, ‘15, ‘17, ‘18, ‘21, ‘22, ‘23

-A great podcast interview with Coach Gavin Hickie, Director of Navy Rugby, covering rugby life at Navy, the legacy of the program, training techniques, and the road ahead!

-2025 Navy Rugby Hall of Fame Nominations: We're getting a head start for the 2025 HoF process. It is never too early to nominate a well deserving teammate, coach, supporter, team or fallen teammate for the 2025 HOF Class. The nomination window is officially open until 31 May 2025.

Email your nomination form by clicking here

If you are interested in being involved with the HOF committee, please reach out to me individually here or find me on Linked-In. Thanks for your time. Cheers,

Rob Sinram '97

NRAA HOF Chairman 

The Hall of Fame page on this website also has links giving the criteria and forms to submit candidates!!

Thank you to all who helped make the 2024 "With You" and HOF Induction Ceremony another great event. It was an absolute privilege to induct the well deserving 2024 HOF Class. NRAA wanted to share links to HOF Ceremony video and pictures from the night.  

Video: Navy Rugby Alumni Ceremony

Pictures: http://www.enjoyphotos.com/

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