<div>Hi everyone,
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>My name is Jonathan Diaz, and I’m the head coach of Wake Forest Men’s Rugby. I’m asking for your help to support three outstanding young men who’ve just earned a huge honor:
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<ul>
<li><strong>Oliver “Hunt” North – Sophomore</strong>
</li>
<li><strong>Ryan Kruse – Freshman</strong>
</li>
<li><strong>James Tobin – Freshman</strong>
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>They’ve been selected to represent our program and our region at the NCR Men’s All Stars – National Shield Challenge, held January 17–18, 2026 at Silverbacks Park in Atlanta, Georgia. This tournament brings together the best collegiate players from regional all-star sides across the country to compete head-to-head.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>Why this is such a big deal</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) is the largest college rugby organization in the country, with hundreds of men’s and women’s teams nationwide. From that massive player pool, over 200 athletes were nominated for this Rising All-Stars event — and Oliver, Ryan, and James were among the few selected to represent our region and Wake Forest. That’s not an accident; it’s the result of the way they’ve carried themselves since day one.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<ul>
<li><strong>They’ve been at every practice and every game from the very start.</strong>
</li>
<li><strong>They’ve each worn the captain’s armband, leading our team in matches.</strong>
</li>
<li><strong>They consistently put in extra work: fitness, skills, film, and holding teammates (and themselves) to a higher standard.</strong>
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>A huge part of where Wake Rugby is right now comes from the energy, leadership, and buy-in these three have shown as underclassmen.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>What your support covers</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>They earned the selection — but the costs to attend are not fully covered. We’re raising funds to help with:
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<ul>
<li><strong>Travel to Atlanta</strong>
</li>
<li><strong>Lodging and tournament housing</strong>
</li>
<li><strong>Event / tournament-related fees</strong>
</li>
<li><strong>Meals and ground transport during the weekend</strong>
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>All funds go directly toward making sure money is not the reason they miss this opportunity.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong>How you can help</strong>
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<ul>
<li><strong>Donate whatever you can — every bit helps.</strong>
</li>
<li><strong>Share this GoFundMe with friends, family, alumni, and anyone who loves seeing student-athletes chase big opportunities.</strong>
</li>
<li><strong>Follow along — we’ll share updates, photos, and results from the All-Stars in Atlanta so you can see the impact of your support.</strong>
</li>
</ul>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Oliver, Ryan, and James are exactly the kind of young men you want representing Wake Forest: committed, coachable, team-first, and all-in for Wake Rugby. They’ve given a lot to this program already. I’d love to see us rally around them and help send them to Atlanta.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Thank you for your time, your support, and for believing in these guys.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Go Deacs. Go Wake Rugby.
</div>

Kaamil Farooqi

Bryan Beach

Jordan Weiss

David Buckingham

Greg Wagner

Anonymous

Brian Wilson

Doug Porter

Jim Atherton

David Sinclair

Help Send Wake Rugby’s Rising All-Stars to Atlanta

Help Send Wake Rugby’s Rising All-Stars to Atlanta

Still $1,295 to go. Help us build momentum.