The club was formed in 2004 when Coach Peter Evans first set up a youth side based in West Houston. Since then many players have joined up, learned the game and enjoyed the sport. A few have gone on to achieve spectacular heights and recognition at the highest level of the sport in the USA.
This is copy from an e-mail received recently, partially club history/partially alumni information: - Thank you Scott and for all the ensuing discussion this wonderful e-mail caused.
From Scott Thoen
"I've attached a photo of the founding team from 2004. I was one of the founding members and president of the club in 2005. From time to time I check up on how the club is doing and I am absolutely amazed and so proud to see how this club is doing. I couldn't believe when I saw we had a u9 team, girls team and then I saw a match report had the u11 playing the u13 B squad. The fact that we now have a u13 B squad brings a grin to my face. It brings me back to the days when Gareth Jones and I were making phone calls every night to make sure we had enough for practice and games on Saturday and sneaking into the football locker room and recruiting guys like Ryan Marshall. To see what guys like Neil and Dan have done for the program amazes me. Peter Evans started something great but I don't think any of us back then would have guessed the program would have gotten this successful this fast. I'm baffled sometimes, when I am at a game with my local club now or when I was in college, at the amount of people that recognize my Barbarians jersey and know someone from the team or have heard of Katy. I'm thrilled with what the team is doing and next time I'm in Houston, I am going to go out and join in for Sunday's touch game. "
From Rick Marshall "Just a little background - Scott was the one whom as he stated recruited Ryan when he was a freshman at Cinco Ranch - he came one day through the locker room with a tee shirt saying "what to play rugby" - it was covered up by a coat so the football coaches could not see it - he would walk by opening his coat to each kid as he walked by - Ryan saw and said OK - if you look at the photo - two of those kids are still playing at Texas A&M - both last year went on to be the only two College All Americans in the West (7 states) - Chris Parker and Hunter Leland - Scott (Texas Tech) is on the one sitting legs crossed on the left side of the ball if looking at the photo - on the end - next to him is Hunter - Ryan DuPless (Currently playing at U of H) is also in this photo with the Mohawk on his knees next to Pete - as is Gareth also standing by Pete.
So from these humble beginings Katy grew to what we see today - lots of hard work from lots of various people throughout the years as well as many long hard hours from the coaches (if I can say the best coaching in all of Texas HS and youth)" | Back row Left to Right: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Gareth Jones, Peter Evans Second Row: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Ryan DuPlessis Front Row: Scott Thoene, Hunter Leland, 3, 4  Perhaps someone can help with the names that I have missed? |
Attached below are some press cuttings from the early years of the Katy Rugby Club and a few of its rising stars:-
This page was last modified on Monday, August 30, 2010 01:30:00 PM