A Loss for American Rugby: Rugby Texas President Maggie Rouse
A Loss for American Rugby: Rugby Texas President Maggie Rouse
Maggie Rouse, President of Rugby Texas, passed away this past Friday.
Rouse, who was a vocal supporter of youth rugby for many years as well as a huge advocate for getting young people trained and certified as referees, was in addition a member of the USA Youth & High School Board and had been since the organization's inception.
The Rouse family is steeped in rugby with the children of Maggie and Kip Rouse playing and refereeing and Texas and farther afield.
Rouse was a key voice in building the game and was especially important in pushing for young referees to get chances to learn and officiate games. While many lament the lack of good referees or the lack in recruiting referees, Maggie Rouse was doing something about it at the youth level. Maggie Rouse's husband, Kip, is a youth coach with the Woodlands in the Houston area.
A Memorial will be held for Maggie Rouse August 29 at the Rob Flemming Rec Center in The Woodlands, Texas from 5PM to 8PM
This was posted on social media by Woodlands Youth Rugby Club:
"Dear Wolfpack families,
Our Wolfpack family is in mourning, as we lost one of our own this Friday, Maggie Rouse.
Maggie Rouse, was a Wolfpack player’s mom, a wife to Coach Kip Rouse , and a dedicated parent. Maggie was also a youth rugby advocate!
Maggie leaves behind a grieving family that we would like to help with the funeral/memorial service. Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers and consider donating.
Here’s the link: https://gofund.me/c3801adc"
Rouse's daughter, Kristin, meanwhile, posted a thank-you to all who sent condolences, saying, in part, "We are overwhelmed and humbled with the amount of love and support from the community."
Youth rugby in America has lost a massive advocate.