MUSCATINE, Iowa — Ali Miller didn’t know what to expect Saturday night as he and his fellow Pearl City Rugby Club members prepared for their first Casino Night fundraiser.

But by 8 p.m., an hour after the evening began, nearly 100 people had come to the Geneva Country Club to try their luck and support the team.

“We’re getting a pretty decent group out,” said Miller, 22, as he observed the crowd. 

The Casino Night was the second fundraiser for the eight-year-old Pearl City Rugby Club, said Miller, and the community support is appreciated.

Not only did guests purchase the $25 admission tickets, area businesses donated gifts and merchandise for the silent auction.

Miller, who came to Muscatine from Scotland in August 2007, said the team only spent $200 of their own money for prizes, and that was toward the purchase of a $550 television set for a door prize.

Coach Adam Friend said the fundraiser will help pay for the team’s travel and equipment for the upcoming spring season.

Friend, 39, moved to Muscatine from Australia four years ago after playing rugby for 25 years.

Sam Weier, 21, of Brisbane, Australia, said he and many of his teammates lived in countries where rugby was as popular as football and baseball are in the United States.

Weier played rugby for 12 years in Australia before coming to the United States in August.

“I wanted to see what it was like to play in a country where rugby is developing,” said Weier.

Team member Benjamin Thurston, 22, originally of Australia, is pleased with the team’s success. With two weeks left in the season, Thurston said Pearl City Rugby has already secured the position of first-place rugby team in the Midwest.

Tyler Polley of Iowa City  played rugby for the University of Iowa before coming to Muscatine.

“I knew this was one of the best teams,” said Polley, 23.

After playing rugby for 16 years in Australia, Thurston said joining the Muscatine team gives him a opportunity to see the United States as the team travels throughout the United States during the playing season.

Andrew Rodenby, 19, of England, said he heard about the Muscatine team through a mutual friend of Roy Carver’s, a founder of the Pearl City Rugby Club, and wanted to bring his 10½ years of rugby playing experience to Muscatine.

“I love it here,” said Rodenby. “All the guys are from different backgrounds and it’s a great experience.”

Deb Hutton of Muscatine, a guest at Casino night, said the evening was an opportunity for the rugby team to meet the community.

Rodenby said the team’s games draw up to 60 spectators and he’d like to see more. There is no admission to the games and the schedule is posted on the team’s Web site at www.pearlcityrugby.net.

Reporter contact information

Cynthia Beaudette 563-262-0527

cynthia.beaudette@muscatine