Category Archives: Recruits

White Station Sends Kobe to the Tigers

We are excited about signing players to join the Memphis Tigers Rugby Team. Today we report on the signing of Kobe Dowell.

Here are Kobe’s details:

Kobe Dowell stands 5’11” and weighs 165 lbs. He played for the White Station Rugby Team for two years at wing and fullback. Kobe earned honors while playing for White Station being named the Most Valuable Back and by earning the Coaches Award. Besides rugby, he also played football and baseball while in high school. He is active in his church and plans to attend Southwest Tennessee Community College this year where he will specialize in Diesel Mechanics.

Tigers Gain Six Players from Storm

Front row from L-R – Chris, AJ, Danny, Gavin, Jeremiah and Kenny

We are excited about signing six new players to the Memphis Tigers Rugby Team from the Storm Rugby Club. These players plan to play for Memphis this fall.

Here are the details on the new recruits:

Gavyn McDonald stands 6’2”and weighs 285 lbs. He played for the storm for four years at lock, prop and #8 Gavyn was named to the Memphis All-Star team in 2018 and was the captain of the Storm team. He plans to study Kinesiology at Memphis.

A. J. Wilson stands 5’7’ and weights 155 lbs. He played for the storm for three years and specialized in wing and fly half with some time at scrum half. He earned a 4.0 GPA while in HS and plans to study Business Management while in college.

Christopher Warner stands 5’10” and weighs 200 lbs. He played for the Storm for two years at center and wing. He also participated in football and wrestling while in high school. He earned a 3.0 GPA while in high school and he plans to study nursing in college.

Danny Chandler stands 5’11 and weighs 265 lbs. He played for the Storm for two years at 8-man, flanker and prop. He also played football while in high school while he earned an academic 3.1 GPA. He plans to study Emergency Medicine.

Jeremiah Russell stands 5’10 and weights 270. He played for the storm for two years specializing at Flanker. He also played football while in high school. He plans to study marketing in college.

Kenneth Collier stands 6’0” and weighs 150. He played for one year at the Storm and stood at wing. He earned honors in choir making All Southwest in the chamber choir and performing in the University of Memphis Honor Choir in 2018. He is interested in kayaking, rowing and canoeing and is a small boating instructor.

We are thrilled to have these lads on our team.

Kameron Walker Joins the Tigers!

Kameron Walker, Germantown Rugby standout, has signed with the University of Memphis Tigers Rugby program. Kameron was a Germantown Rugby All-Star and has been selected to play in the Memphis High School All-Star Match on June 9th.

Kameron Walker, his family and the Tiger Coaches

Kameron was a high school football and wrestling athlete achieving awards as Germantown’s Most Athletic, the Iron Devil Award, Offensive MVP in football and receiving the Coaches Award in wrestling.

He is new to the sport of rugby but got the big picture and excelled quickly because of his athleticism. “He is one of the best athletes I have ever coached,” said Coach Kevin Roedel of Germantown Rugby. “He will play his heart out.”

Kameron joins Memphis Rugby with his teammates Eric Cooper and Devin Banks.

The Tiger coaches are looking forward to working with Kameron and seeing where he will best fit into our system. “We always have room for a hard fast runner,” said UM Coach Steve Swatzyna.

Kameron with Eric Cooper

“Biggest problem with Kameron is that he hits people too hard,” said Coach Roedel. That will be a welcome asset at the college level.

Ramon Cantu Chooses the Tigers!

Storm Rugby standout, Ramon Cantu, has decided to sign a “letter of intent” to play for the Memphis Tigers RFC this 2017-2018 school year. Ramon comes to the Tigers with six years of rugby experience having played hooker and flanker beside fellow Tiger signees

Ramon Signs under the watchful eye of his parents.

Cameron Walker and Mathias Conners.

Ramon has a strong academic history carrying a 3.72 GPA through high school, being a member of the ACT 30+ club, and having gained an academic scholarship from the Herff College of Engineering at Memphis.

His strong leadership skills were on display while he served as Chess Club Captain and President of the Spanish Honors Society.

“He will knock your block off.” said Storm Coach Josh Gardner. When someone does a pick and go, Ramon is the first one to take them down.” He understands very well that ma=F. He takes his 5’7″, 190lb frame combined with speed to take care of business.

Ramon, Mathias and Cameron

Ramon will study mechanical engineering at the University of Memphis. We are very glad to have him on our team.

Eric Cooper Signs with the Tigers

Eric Cooper signed a “letter of intent” to join the University of Memphis Tigers this coming fall.

Eric Cooper

Eric is 5’11” and weighs 260 and has played prop for Germantown Rugby for the past year. He played football for Germantown for 4 years.

Germantown Coach Kevin Roedel said, “Eric is one of the strongest players he has coached and can hold his own at prop. He is one of the best athletes we have on the team.”

Eric signed with the Tigers at the Germantown Rugby end of the season banquet under the watchful eyes of his proud father. In discussions with Coach Cole of the Tigers, he expressed that he was thrilled to be continuing his rugby career with the Tigers.

Kameron and Eric

Eric Joins the Tigers with his teammate Kameron Walker.

We are certainly glad to have Eric on our side.

Tigers Welcome Cameron Walker

The University of Memphis Tigers welcome Cameron Walker to the Tiger family of fine student athletes.

Cameron has been playing for Storm Rugby Club for the past 6 years, specializing at 8-man, but has also carried the ball at inside and outside center.

Cameron Walker pictured with his mother and brother.

He is a true student athlete at Millington High School with academic honors such as being in the ACT 30+ Club, Hall of Fame and scoring a 26 on the ACT Composite. He also participated in the Chess Club and was Executive Vice President of the Student Council.

He plans on studying Mechanical Engineering while at the University of Memphis.

Storm Coach Josh Gardner stated, “Cameron is a very tough rugby player and also thinks way ahead of the play. He brings his intellect to the game.”

Cameron Joins the Tigers with fellow Storm seniors Mathias Conners and Ramon Cantu.