Rodrick Waters Joins The Austin Gilgronis

ROUND ROCK, Texas (November 27, 2019) - Austin Gilgronis is excited to announce the signing of Rodrick Waters. Rodrick is a powerful winger hailing from Foster High School in Richmond, Texas.

Rodrick is an American football crossover athlete with years of college football experience. Rodrick came up through the West Houston Lions and Houston Sabercats pipeline and will continue to represent his native state of Texas with the Austin Gilgronis this season.

“I’m just so thankful to the Austin Gilgronis for giving me a shot,” said Rodrick. “I haven’t been playing the sport as long as many of my teammates, so it’s a special feeling to know that all my hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed.”

Rodrick played four seasons of college football on scholarship at Blinn College then Western State Colorado University. Rodrick found rugby at Western State and worked his way to the Aspen Gents where he could play stronger competition.

Andrew Suniula played against Rodrick at the 2018 Aspen Ruggerfest. “His play was so raw… he showed glimpses of ‘X-factor’ ability with the ball,” said Suniula. “Rodrick is a local Texan rugby journeyman, he’s navigated through the U.S rugby landscape and now he can showcase his stuff on the big stage and we’re excited to have him on board for the upcoming season.”

Rodrick made a homeward return to Texas where he found the West Houston Lions. With the Lions he had the coaching infrastructure to form a stronger base of rugby knowledge & skills and a clearer path to Major League Rugby.

Rodrick played in all three Houston Sabercats pre-season matches ahead of the 2019 MLR season but did not see playing time in the regular season.

Instead, he would go on to earn West Houston’s 2019 Player of the Year award. “That was my first professional rugby experience,” said Rodrick. “I gained a lot more rugby knowledge and skills in Houston, which prepared me for this step.”

Rodrick will play several matches in the Division 1 club ranks with the Austin Blacks under coach Tane Jericevich this pre-season.

Under the tutelage of the Austin Gilgronis coaching staff, Rodrick will have every opportunity to unlock his true potential as a rugby player in Major League Rugby.

Welcome to the Gilgronis, Rodrick Waters!