Practice for Eastside Tsunami Youth Rugby has turned into a scramble after the club's white trailer vanished overnight, taking off with uniforms and nearly all of the team's equipment. When players showed up the next day, they found only a few water bottles, a single bag of balls and eight jerseys left behind. Coaches and volunteers say replacing the lost gear will be a serious challenge for the small nonprofit and could ripple through the rest of the season.
Coaches: Trailer Vanished Near Mt. Tabor, Police Notified
Assistant coach Dave Hardy told KPTV the trailer was taken from near Mt. Tabor the night before a Saturday game and that "a lot of stuff, if not all of our stuff" was locked inside when it disappeared. He estimated the haul at more than $10,000 worth of equipment and said the club has filed a report with Portland police. With practices and matches still on the calendar, coaches scrambled to borrow gear and rework lineups on the fly.
What Went Missing And The Replacement Bill
The team’s fundraiser page lays out the hit in stark detail, listing about 40 jerseys along with tackle bags and wedges, hit shields, agility poles, cones and even a Rhino scrum machine as stolen, and urging community members to keep an eye out for the gear. According to the club’s GoFundMe, replacing the trailer and all of the equipment is expected to cost roughly $15,000. The fundraiser description also spells out how to spot the missing trailer, describing it as a white, single-axle enclosed unit with one rear door and taillights that were taped.
Neighbors And Clubs Pitch In
The loss has drawn a quick response from the wider rugby community, with another club in Vancouver stepping up with support and dozens of donors already pitching in to the online fundraiser. As reported by KPTV, Hardy praised the way people have rallied and said the team expects to bounce back even if none of the stolen items turn up. Players and parents say that outpouring has been a boost to morale while volunteers hustle to replace basics so kids can keep suiting up for upcoming matches.
Small Club, Big Impact
Eastside Tsunami describes itself as a grassroots nonprofit “growing rugby and building community in Portland” and highlights recent junior-varsity success on its website. According to Eastside Tsunami Rugby, the club operates on modest budgets and leans on scholarships to keep kids in the game, which is why losing a trailer full of equipment hits so hard. Coaches say they are encouraged by the community response, yet note that replacing specialty items such as tackle bags and a scrum machine will be both expensive and time-consuming.
Coaches are asking anyone with information about the missing trailer or gear to contact Portland police and to keep an eye on local marketplaces for the specific items that were taken. The team’s GoFundMe is collecting donations to help replace the lost equipment and sustain scholarship programs, and organizers say even small contributions could help the club make it through the season.
