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Thor Bolstad
We lost one of our brothers and inspiring coach for the first 5 years of Minnetonka Rugby. He went on to coach the Hopkins Rugby team when his children started school there. Thor was a incredible player, coach and mentor.
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Thor Bolstad’s path to the Metropolis Rugby Football Club Hall of Fame will sound familiar to those that have come to love our sport. He grew up in an athletic family and thrived on competition, and excelled at any game. The passion that drove his fierce competitive nature early in his life paid off in ways being recognized by his peers.
Thor grew up in Menomonie, Wisconsin, the youngest of five kids. He was introduced to competition early and hasn’t looked back. In high school he earned three varsity letters in football. He played quarterback, defensive back, punter, and place kicker, while earning All-Conference accolades along the way. Menomonie started a varsity hockey program his junior year. Thor lettered twice and made the All-State team both seasons. He also earned three letters in tennis and qualified for the State Tournament each of those years. In his first year on the team he secured the #2 position behind his older brother, Arne, who refused to play doubles with his younger brother, though, fearing injury from flying rackets, tennis balls smacked in frustration, or racket parts flying from Thor’s passionate reactions to his own mistakes – there’s that competitive streak showing.
After high school Thor played a season of Junior Hockey with the Sioux City Musketeers. This prepared him well for the rigors of rugby road trips, as the skating swashbucklers played 70 games in five months traveling a minimum of three hours by bus for every road game.
Thor attended Gustavus Adolphus College from 1983-87, lettering in hockey all four years. His board-rattling checks made him a favorite of the Blue Line Club. But all this was merely a prelude to Thor finding “his people” and the game he was meant to play.
Halfway through college he decided to give rugby a try. Walking to his first practice Thor was asked what other sports and positions he had played. After hearing the short version the captain said, “You’ll be playing fly half.” Thor scored the first time he touched the ball. That same magic follows him today. When Thor has the ball you know there’s a chance to see something special, something surreal, and something to tell your kids about.
His many rugby accomplishments don’t fit on a plaque and they won’t get the room they deserve here, either. In three years of Midwest 7’s Select Side play he moved to #2 on the all-time scoring list. The leader needed seven years to amass his point total. For many other highlights, just look to his list. Cheers Thor!
USA Eagle 7's Trials: 1991, 1992, 1993
National Club 7's Finals: 1992, 1993, 1995, 2003
Midwest Select 15's: 1989 – 1992 (Captain 90, 91)
Midwest Select 7’s: 1989 - 1991
Minnesota Select 15's: 1989 - 1992, 1994, 1996
Atlantis International 7's: 1989, 1991, 1996
Metro RFC 1987 – 1991 (MVP ‘89–’91, Captain 91)
Metropolis RFC 1992 – present (MVP ’94-96, Captain 95)
Metropolis RFC 7’s Coach 2001 - 2002
Minnetonka U-19 Boys Asst. Coach 1999 - 2005
Hopkins Youth Rugby 2000 – present