Panther Rugby Academy Names Richard Vernon to Board
Panther Rugby Academy Names Richard Vernon to Board
The Panther Rugby Academy (PRA) has announced the appointment of Richard Vernon, co-founder and coach of Cavemen Rugby in American Fork, Utah, to its Board of Directors.
The Board unanimously approved the expansion of its membership to include Vernon, whose experience and leadership will broaden the Academy’s reach not only in Utah but also in other Western United States. As a BOD Member, he can help guide PRA’s future growth in and around Utah.
“Ever since my boys first participated with the Panthers while we lived in Tennessee, we were immediately drawn to the Academy’s core values, mission, and people, as well as the elite level of rugby development it provides for young men and women to grow this amazing sport,” Vernon said. “I’m honored to now help expand that vision in the West and support more athletes and families in experiencing what makes Panther Rugby so special.”
Vernon joins a distinguished group of Rugby leaders already serving on the PRA Board:
Richard Boone, President, Panther Rugby Academy
Santi Cuccarese, Director, Knoxville Youth Rugby (Knoxville, TN)
Sarah Kaler, Ambassador, US Rugby Foundation (St. Louis, MO)
Amanda Lockhart, Rebel Rugby (Atlanta, GA)
Mike Orefice, Raptor Rugby (Brentwood, TN)
Steve Weeks, Treasurer, Panther Rugby Academy (Little Rock, AR)
Tara “Hap” Whitaker, Charlotte Cardinals (Charlotte, NC)
“Today is a great day for the Panther family,” said President of Panther Rugby Academy, Richard Boone. “Adding Mr. Vernon to our leadership team will allow us to expand into Utah and other nearby Mountain-West States, allowing more athletes and families to see Rugby as much more than just a sport. This step brings us closer to our vision of becoming the premier high-performance Rugby Academy in the United States.”
About Panther Rugby Academy
The Panther Rugby Academy is committed to developing high-performance Rugby athletes for the future across the United States from its base in the Southern US. With more than 500 athletes in its network, PRA delivers on its mission through camps, competitions, and partnerships with Universities/Colleges, State Associations, Club Programs, and Major League Rugby teams. The Academy regularly competes in national and international tournaments, achieving notable success at events in Tampa, Cleveland, Nashville, and Salt Lake City. Internationally, PRA’s U-19 squad has won the World Rugby Americas North Championship, most recently for three consecutive years (2022, 2023, 2024).
PRA is recognized as a USA Rugby National Development Program. It is a non-profit organization that relies on volunteers to support coaching, administration, and organizational efforts, while striving to keep the program affordable for all participants.
