UMBC Rugby Team

Team Roster

Meet the players who make UMBC Rugby great

Players

Explore the players of UMBC Rugby and learn their stories

President

Nate Cullen

Position: Flyhalf

Year: Senior

Height/Weight: 6'4 / 225 lbs

Major: Psychology

Hometown: Odenton, MD

Previous Clubs: Mount Saint Joseph HS Rugby

Experience: 7 Years

Why I Play Rugby: I play rugby because of the incredible community and because it gives me an opportunity to overcome hardship with my closest friends

Vice President

Jose Orellana-Guzman

Position: Scrum Half

Year: Senior

Height/Weight: 5'9 / 185 lbs

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Hometown: Baltimore, MD

Previous Clubs: Baltimore Poly

Experience: Playing since 13...

Why I Play Rugby: Rugby has shaped who I am today mentally and physically. The brotherhood and relationships have been life changing.

Treasurer

Nathan Bodis

Position: Lock

Year: Senior

Height/Weight: 6'4 / 195 lbs

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Hometown: Fallston, Maryland

Previous Clubs: North Bay

Experience: 1 Semester

Why I Play Rugby: The camaraderie with my teammates.

Fun Fact: I also play Volleyball.

Shed Manager

Noah Kawecki

Position: Inside Center/Fullback

Year: Senior

Height/Weight: 5'10 / 160 lbs

Major: Computer Science

Hometown: Annapolis, MD

Experience: 1 Semester

Why I Play Rugby: It's a great way to meet new people and hit people.

Kyle Poudyal

Position: Flanker

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 5'10 / 205 lbs

Major: Computer Science

Hometown: Damascus, Maryland

Experience: Joined UMBC rugby in Fall 2024

Why I Play Rugby: Rugby is the ultimate team sport! It combines football and soccer.

Fun Fact: I have been to more countries than states.

Pierce Beach

Position: Lock

Year: Junior

Height/Weight: 6'5 / 220 lbs

Major: Biological Science

Hometown: Rockville, Maryland

Experience: Joined UMBC rugby in Fall 2024

Why I Play Rugby: It's Fun!

Troy Lovell

Position: Wing

Year: Junior

Height/Weight: 6'0 / 180 lbs

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Hometown: Ellicott City, Maryland

Experience: 1 Year

Why I Play Rugby: For the Culture.

Fun Fact: I'm Diamond 1 in Rainbow Six Siege.

Thaman Chiroori

Position: Forward

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 5'9 / 210 lbs

Major: Computer Science

Hometown: Hyderabad, India

Experience: 1 Semester

Why I Play Rugby: Everyone motivates me to be better and I like that environment.

Fun Fact: I've watched over 1000 hours of anime at 2x speed.

Gokarn Singh Dhaliwal

Position: Wing/Fullback

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 5'8 / 160 lbs

Major: Financial Economics

Hometown: Abingdon, MD

Previous Clubs: North Bay, UMBC

Experience: High School at North Bay & UMBC

Why I Play Rugby: It's about community and building lifelong brothers.

Fun Fact: Garlic Parmesan wings are my favorite.

Rafael Zelidon

Position: Forward/Lock

Year: Senior

Height/Weight: 6'5 / 225 lbs

Major: Computer Science

Hometown: Catonsville, MD

Experience: 1 semester

Why I Play Rugby: Great way to stay active.

Grant Gumbel

Position: Hooker/Prop

Year: Senior

Height/Weight: 5'10 / 260 lbs

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Hometown: Elkridge, MD

Previous Clubs: Mount Saint Joseph HS Varsity Rugby

Experience: 3 years

Why I Play Rugby: Fitness & community

Fun Fact: I once believed I'd never play rugby!

Ty Schwartz

Position: Forward/Prop

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 5'9 / 240 lbs

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Hometown: Pasadena, MD

Experience: 1 Semester

Why I Play Rugby: The mentorship and brotherhood are unmatched.

Fun Fact: I have broken 20 bones in my body.

Jaden Gomez

Position: Wing

Year: Junior

Height/Weight: 5'9 / 165 lbs

Major: Information Systems

Hometown: PG County

Experience: 1 Semester

Why I Play Rugby: To stay in shape.

Fun Fact: I have titanium in 4 different places.

Jonathan Hightower

Position: Back/Wing

Year: Junior

Height/Weight: 5'10 / 145 lbs

Major: Biological Sciences

Hometown: White Plains, MD

Experience: 1 year

Why I Play Rugby: It's fun

Paul OyeBade Adejayan

Position: Outside Center

Year: Junior

Height/Weight: 6'1 / 215 lbs

Major: Computer Science

Hometown: Damascus, MD

Experience: 2 years

Why I Play Rugby: It challenges me and the bond with teammates feels like a second family.

Jude Nedruda

Position: Hooker, Flanker, Scrum-Half

Year: Junior

Height/Weight: 5'8 / 220 lbs

Major: Pre-Nursing

Hometown: Perry Hall, MD

Experience: 1.5 years at UMBC

Why I Play Rugby: Rugging alongside guys I would do anything for is the best thing I could have ever found myself doing.

Fun Fact: My favorite types of games are the muddy ones.

Jason Brodie

Position: Prop

Year: Junior

Height/Weight: 5'10 / 225 lbs

Major: Computer Engineering

Hometown: Rosedale, MD

Experience: 1 year

Why I Play Rugby: For fun

Fun Fact: I had a baby tooth till I was 23.

Fode Seck

Position: Lock

Year: Junior

Height/Weight: 6'7 / 190 lbs

Major: Information Systems

Hometown: Towson, MD

Experience: 1.5 year

Why I Play Rugby: To stay active

Fun Fact: I love playing video games.

Onosetale Okojie

Position: 8-Man

Year: Junior

Height/Weight: 6'2 / 220 lbs

Major: Biological Sciences

Hometown: Reisterstown, MD

Experience: 4 years; Played every scrum role except hooker

Why I Play Rugby: It's fun

Leon Tang

Position: Flanker

Year: Senior

Height/Weight: 6'0 / 200 lbs

Major: Information Systems

Hometown: Annapolis, MD

Previous Clubs: West Potomac RFC

Experience: 3 years

Why I Play Rugby: Great way to have community and competitiveness while balancing academics.

Fun Fact: I have met 2 Chainz, Governor Wes Moore, & Lamar Jackson!

Ashraf Kawooya

Position: Fullback

Year: Senior

Height/Weight: 5'11 / 170 lbs

Major: Computer Science

Hometown: Rockville, Maryland

Experience: 5 Years

Why I Play Rugby: I love and live for the game.

Fun Fact: I have a metal plate in my cheek.

Earl Gilliam

Position: Forward

Year: Freshman

Height/Weight: 5'9 / 185 lbs

Javier Cornejo

Position: Forward

Year: Sophomore

Height/Weight: 5'10 / 180 lbs

Greg Behrendt

Position: Forward

Year: Senior

Height/Weight: 6'4 / 215 lbs

Harrison Roth

Position: Forward

Year: Junior

Height/Weight: 5'11 / 190 lbs

Michael Kirby

Position: Forward

Year: Senior

Height/Weight: 5'10 / 165 lbs

Darrell Davis

Position: Forward

Year: Senior

Height/Weight: 6'4 / 210 lbs

Coaching Staff

Led by experienced coaches with international backgrounds

HC

Richard Tavai

Head Coach

New Zealand

USA Rugby Certified
AC

Rusty Cross

Assistant Coach

Ireland

International Experience