ST. LOUIS, Missouri, February 3rd, 2019 – On Tuesday, February 26, 2019 the Sunset Hills Board of Alderman voted unanimously to approve the lease and construction of Bombers Rugby Park at the site of the former Sunset Hills Golf Course, 13366 West Watson Road in Sunset Hills, MO

The renewable 25 year lease allows the St. Louis Bombers Rugby Football Club to develop 15 acres of the 122 acre former golf course into a premier rugby complex.  The new facility will be home to numerous programs supported by the Bombers RFC which include Sharks Rookie Rugby (ages 7-12), Lindbergh High School rugby (boys and girls), U19, U23 and USA Rugby Division 1, 2 and 3 Men’s club rugby. The Bombers RFC hope to add Women’s club rugby to that list in the near future.  

Bombers Rugby Park will sit in the picturesque southeast corner of the former golf course, and will feature pitches lined by trees and a lake.  Phase 1 of the project will include three laser graded pitches (a Championship pitch plus two practice pitches), a pavilion, parking, road access, lights and irrigation. Phase 2 will include a clubhouse, seating and other amenities. Construction costs for Phase 1 are estimated at $350,000. The majority of that amount has already been covered by generous donations from Club Alumni with the remainder being covered by ongoing fundraising and sponsorships. The Bombers hope to break ground on the project by late Spring with plans to be in their new facility by early 2020..  

Sunset Hills City Administrator Eric Sterman commented: “The City of Sunset Hills is looking forward to a long and successful partnership with the St. Louis Bombers.  The new Bombers facility will be a recreational amenity that will serve not only our residents but people from all over the St. Louis region and beyond.  We look forward to welcoming rugby players of all ages to Sunset Hills.”

“It is a pleasure to work with Ron Laszewski and the rest of the Bombers organization.” added Alderman Nathan Lipe.  “The Bombers have already put rugby on the map and now they will introduce a new audience and the next generation to the sport.  I am very proud to be part of this. Seeing this resolution pass was my best day as an alderman. Welcome to Sunset Hills!“

“It has always been every rugby club’s dream to have a place to call home” said long time Bomber President Daniel Ward. “The opportunity presented to us by this partnership with Sunset Hills makes that dream a reality. We now have in place the foundation to make the Bombers brand even stronger and to attract quality athletes of all ages and genders with a top notch facility for years to come. I can’t adequately put into words what this means to our Club and to the City of Sunset Hills. Many thanks to the Administrators and Aldermen who supported this endeavor. It’s going to be great to call Sunset Hills home.”

Former USA Eagle and Bombers coach Ron Laszewski said: “It’s been a great experience working with Sunset Hills. We are excited for the opportunity to bring one of the world’s most exciting sports to Sunset Hills. Bombers Rugby Park will be a first class rugby facility and a beautiful home for growing and showcasing rugby.”

For more information or to make a tax deductible contribution to help grow the sport of rugby please visit the Bombers RFC  website: https://www.stlouisbombers.com/bombers-rugby-park/.  The Bombers RFC are a 501(c)3 charitable organization.  

Founded in 1962 the Bombers RFC has been the benchmark for rugby in St. Louis for over 50 years. With over one thousand alumni the Club has produced seven USA Rugby National Team players, over forty Western USA Rugby representatives and scores of Missouri Rugby Football Union (MRFU) Select Side players. On the field the Club has won numerous MRFU Division 1, 2 and 3 titles while going undefeated in MRFU D1 competition a record fourteen consecutive seasons. The Club has won four Western USA titles, made numerous USA Rugby D1 playoff appearances, and earned promotion into the USA Rugby Super League in 2006. Most recently the Club finished as runner up at the 2017 USA Rugby Division 2 National Championships and in 2018 joined the Midwest Rugby Football Union Division 1 League, the largest D1 League in USA Rugby.  To contact the Bombers please email: contact@stlouisbombers.com or send a Facebook message. https://www.facebook.com/stlbombersrugby/