Welcome to Hopkins Royals Rugby Football Club
About Us
We are an independent rugby football club comprised of several teams for school age youth. Our goal is to provide training and recreational rugby for boys and girls of school age in the Hopkins area. While the game is intense and physical, the sport has a place for all body types and all levels of experience and skill.
Youth rugby builds strong self-confidence and camaraderie by participating in a sport where sportsmanship is not just a word, but is embraced and expected by the sport worldwide.
We currently have programming for:
Co-Ed Youth (Grades K-5)
Co-Ed Middle School (Grades 5-8)
Girls Varsity High School (Grades 9-12)
Boys Varsity High School (Grades 9-12)
Hopkins Royals Rugby teams have won many State championships over the years:
Girls - 2017, 2018, and 2019 (MN 15's and 7's) & 1999 (MN 15's); Midwest Club Champions (2017 and 2018)
Boys Varsity - 2007 & 2013
Boys Junior Varsity - 2008, 2010, & 2013
Hopkins Royals Rugby Club Mission Statement
Hopkins Royals RFC is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization serving youth in Hopkins and the surrounding community. Our mission is to empower youth by developing physical fitness through rugby, promoting leadership skills, and building self-esteem. Our work involves both boys and girls, including many at-risk youth. We strive to teach them to work as a team, communicate, and develop as leaders. Respect, teamwork, commitment, camaraderie, integrity, passion, and discipline are our values.
When We Play
Our pre-season starts in January with indoor winter camps.
Varsity and Middle School:
Spring season starts in March with indoor practices, followed by outdoor practices and games beginning in early April. The season culminates with a State Tournament typically held in early June.
Our practice locations depend on time of year and field conditions.
We typically follow this schedule for the season
January - February: Various Hopkins School District indoor facilities
March: Hopkins Pavilion
April: Hopkins High School Turf
May-June: Valley Park Hopkins
We compete with other youth rugby football teams throughout the greater Twin Cities, Wisconsin, and North Dakota
Youth:
Please refer to the Youth team page for season information
Dan "DJ" Johnson
Coach Dan Johnson ("DJ") started his rugby career in 1973, playing for the Minneapolis Rugby Football Club. During his playing years, he was also on the Minnesota and Midwest Select Sides.
DJ started coaching Minneapolis RFC in 1983. In 1984-85, he also coached the U of M Women's team where he met his wife, Jennie.
He started the Hopkins Girls Rugby Club in 1999. In 2001, the Boys Rugby Club began.
His son and daughter have both played on the teams.
DJ is a member of the Metropolis RFC "Hall of Fame"
https://www.metropolisrugby.com/page/show/503435-hall-of-fame-inductees
In Memoriam
Coach Thor Bolstad
Hopkins Royals RFC Coach 2000-2019
Thor, the Man, the Legend.
He grew up in an athletic family and thrived on competition, and excelled at any game. The passion that drove his fierce competitive nature early in his life paid off in ways being recognized by his peers,
Thor grew up in Menomonie, Wisconsin, the youngest of five kids. He was introduced to competition early and hasn’t looked back. In high school he earned three varsity letters in football. He played quarterback, defensive back, punter, and place kicker, while earning All-Conference accolades along the way.
Menomonie started a varsity hockey program his junior year. Thor lettered twice and made the All-State team both seasons.
He also earned three letters in tennis and qualified for the State Tournament each of those years. In his first year on the team he secured the #2 position behind his older brother. Arne refused to play doubles with his younger brother, though, fearing injury from flying rackets, tennis balls smacked in frustration, or racket parts flying from Thor’s passionate reactions to his own mistakes – there’s that competitive streak showing.
After high school Thor played a season of Junior Hockey with the Sioux City Musketeers. This prepared him well for the rigors of rugby road trips, as the skating swashbucklers played 70 games in five months traveling a minimum of three hours by bus for every road game.
Thor attended Gustavus Adolphus College from 1983-87, lettering in hockey all four years. His board-rattling checks made him a favorite of the Blue Line Club. But all this was merely a prelude to Thor finding “his people” and the game he was meant to play.
Halfway through college he decided to give rugby a try. Walking to his first practice Thor was asked what other sports and positions he had played. After hearing the short version the captain said, “You’ll be playing fly half.” Thor scored the first time he touched the ball. That same magic followed him throughout his life. When Thor had the ball you knew there was a chance to see something special, something surreal, and something to tell your kids about.
Hopkins Rugby will miss him dearly.
