Fellow ruggers:

The concept of this tournament was inspired by a love of the Country, the love of rugby, and to memorialize the tremendous loss all Americans suffered on September 11, 2001. In addition, inspiration came from a fellow rugby mate - Mark Bingham - whose rugby laurels have been profoundly emphasized at Cal Tech and with the San Francisco Fog RFC. However, they in no way match the ultimate sacrifice he and fellow passengers made on September 11, 2001 when United Flight 93 crashed in a field in rural Pennsylvania.

My heartfelt thanks go to all that are participating in this day, supporting its conception and donating to the future of rugby in Mark Bingham's name.