John Giordano started his rugby career at Fairfield Prep in Connecticut, following in the footsteps of his two older brothers, Mark and Joseph. John quickly saw playing time at the position he would call his own for the next 16 years – Wing. Blending a lethal combination of speed and agility, John was a danger to score whenever he had the ball in open space.
After graduating from Fairfield Prep, John attended Manhattan College, which did not have a rugby team. John’s love for the game led him to calling his brother Mark to ask him if he knew of a good rugby team in the area. With Mark’s reply of “Yeah, there’s this Irish team in Woodlawn called Lansdowne,” John would find a new home.
Only 18 years old, John joined Lansdowne in 2011 and immediately became a beloved member of the club. After his first practice at Tibbetts Brook Park, he called his brother Mark and told him he had to come and meet this group of Irish and American misfits. Mark joined the club, and two years later the brothers helped Lansdowne win the JoJo Moore Tournament for the first time with John scoring a pivotal try in the semi-final. That fall, John’s other brother Joseph joined the team, and the three brothers helped contribute to an undefeated season and an Empire GU championship. It was that year that John’s trademark Jets “takeoff” try celebration was born.
Off the field, John was known for his sense of humor and being the life of the party. He was known throughout Woodlawn for drinking Coronas and dancing and singing on bar tops shirtless to the Champ’s all-time classic “Tequila.” On a tour to Washington D.C., John Gio bravely attempted to take down a full slice of Jumbo Slice Pizza in one sitting. With his teammates’ unwavering support, John, standing at 5’10’’ and 140 lbs (soaking wet), finished the giant slice of pizza but at great cost. Due to the size of the giant triangular concoction of dough and cheese and John’s lean frame, John’s body took the shape of the pizza slice for the remainder of the tour, earning him his moniker “Johnny Triangles.”
John would go on to play 13 extraordinary years with Lansdowne and was loved by every player and supporter that met him.
On February 7th, 2024, while working on a job site, John, a graduate apprentice, of Boilermakers Local 5, was in an accident that caused him to fall 80 feet down the boiler shaft he was repairing. John suffered severe brain trauma and was in a coma for several months. Throughout it all, John’s family and friends, including Lansdowne Rugby Club, have been by his side on his long road to recovery. The outpouring of love and support since the accident has been nothing short of a testament to who John Giordano is and the incredible impact he has had on the people that know him.
This tournament is being organized by Lansdowne Rugby Football Club to raise funds for his ongoing recovery effort. Raffles and music will be available.
We’re hosting competitions for 3 major age groups, Old Boys Cup, Men’s Cup, and Youth Cups.
Gameday Suggested Donation – $40
Includes a commemorative mug, and access to refreshments
Zelle your amount, and in the memo, indicate what items / sponsorships, and send it to “ lansdownerfc@gmail.com.”
Credit card fees will apply on top of your subtotal.
Write and mail your check to:
Lansdowne Rugby Football Club, Inc.
276 E 238 St
Bronx, NY 10470
Please email all logos and journal ads to info@newlogical.com in the highest resolution possible, or in vector format if possible.
Lansdowne Rugby Football Club, Inc. is a registered 501(c)3 charity with the State of New York. All contributions to this program are tax-deductible.