Message from the New Nomads Co-Presidents

Dear Nomads Family,

As the year draws to a close, it is with great pleasure and pride that we reflect on the 2023 rugby season. Despite a few challenges along the way the club has continued to thrive and excel on and off the field as the highlights below demonstrate

• Celebrating 30 Years: More than 70 Nomads alumnae came out this year to celebrate three decades of Nomads Women’s rugby. Some came from as far away as Hong Kong to celebrate this incredible club milestone. We’re hoping to make such gatherings a more regular affair. If you’re interested in joining the alumni planning committee, please shoot an email to memberrelations@torontonomads.com.
• Men’s Triumph: Congratulations to the men’s team who emerged as the Marshall Fall Cup winners. In a high scoring affair, against the Peterborough Pagans, and in true Nomad fashion, the victory was secured through a great mix of grit, determination and flair.
• Women’s Team Excellence: For the second consecutive year, our women’s team secured an impressive second place in the Ontario Women’s League (OWL). The dedication and hard work displayed by our athletes have set the stage for an even more remarkable performance in 2024, as they aim to claim the top spot.
• Successful Fundraising: We’d like to send out a big THANK YOU to our community for stepping up to help bridge our funding gaps heading into 2024. With your support, we’ve managed to raise $7,500. We will be running the 2023 Fields Fundraiser until December 31, 2023 and are extremely grateful for any contributions to this cause.
• Rugby Recognition: We are immensely proud of our players who have received recognition on the provincial, national and international level. Here are some of the players showing the world what Nomads Rugby ismade of:
  • Asia Hogan-Rochester (Canada)
  • Vanessa Cifuentes (Philippines)
  • Demi Swann (Scotland & Exeter Chiefs)
  • Jeffery Young (Canada U20)
  • Dekker Kozak-Goebel (TRU Reds 7s U15 Boys)
  • Hudson Bennett (TRU Reds 7s U15 Boys)
  • Kotaro MacKenzie (TRU Reds U17 7s),
  • Acadia Chang (TRU Reds 7s U17 Girls),
  • Abigail Ferreira-Flores (TRU Reds 7s U17 Girls)
  • Ayumi Soso (TRU Reds 7s U17 Girls)
  • Emmett Alexander (TRU Reds U16

As we turn the page to 2024, we would be remiss not to thank our outgoing board members and indeed the entire leadership team of the club for their contributions over the past year.

For those of you unaware the club held its Annual General Meeting in mid-November with a new group of passionate and dedicated Nomad volunteers putting their hands up to continue to lead us forward.

In a first for the club, this year we are thrilled to welcome back two former presidents to assume leadership of the club in co-president roles.  Ashley Rycroft and Steve Darley are excited to share this responsibility. Steve brings five years of prior experience as president and together with Ashley’s successful term they bring a wealth of experience and dedication to our leadership team. As devoted Nomads (collectively played for the club for over 30 years!), both Steve and Ashley are committed to navigating our club through the unique challenges we currently face.

While we are all aware of the upcoming disbursement of funds from the sale of Fletcher’s Fields, it has to be noted that the club’s vision is to invest in infrastructure and working to secure a sustainable long-term future. As such our month-to-month and year-to-year operations will continue to rely on the generosity of our sponsors, our fundraising efforts and the continued support of our community as a whole. Ashley, Steve & the entire board are excited about the challenges ahead and the opportunities they present for growth and improvement, and we are committed to steering the Nomads toward an even brighter future.

2024 Board of Directors

• Co-President: Ashley Rycroft & Steve Darley
• Vice-President: Sandy Russell
• Secretary: Andrew Stephens
• Treasurer: Paul Jakubowski
• Dir of Fundraising: Brad McCabe
• Dir of Rugby: John Peel
• Dir of Juniors: Leanne Stillman
• Dir of Women’s Rugby: Jessica Wong
• Dir of Men’s Rugby: Alisdair Piercy
• Dir of Culture & Community Relations: Carly Forrester
• Dir of Operations: Michael Boadway

As we wrap up the year, let’s come together as a Nomads family to celebrate the holiday season. May this festive time bring joy, laughter, and well-deserved rest to each and every one of you. The support and camaraderie within our club make us stronger, and we’re eager to see what the future holds for our club as we begin our 75th anniversary ramp up!

Wishing you all a joyful holiday season and a fantastic start to 2024!