About Us
At Midlands Youth Rugby Association we aim to improve the lives and outcomes of our athletes by cultivating an environment that inspires:
resilience
Embracing a positive work ethic to help our players rise above their circumstances, learn from their mistakes and power past life’s obstacles.
Teamwork
Harness and celebrate the collective power of working together, positive encouragement, and selflessness.
Sportsmanship
Be humble in victory, gracious in defeat and eschew personal glory.
Respect
Treat others with unwavering kindness and develop a sense of purpose that is greater than oneself.
Our board
robert balmer
Robert Balmer started rugby at the Citadel Military Academy in 1986, though transferred to the University of South Carolina a year later for the remainder of his undergrad. Balmer played rugby for three years at USC and was team captain 1988-89. Following his years at USC, Balmer continued playing off and on as his schedule permitted with Columbia Olde Grey as recently as 2023.
Balmer is a Financial Professional with Cetera Wealth Partners. He has 25 years of experience in financial services and insurance and is chairman of the Carolina Rugby Foundation. Balmer has been married to his wife Penny for 25 years and has two children, Joshua and Kathleen.
Education:
- Bachelor's Degree from the University of South Carolina
John Hinks, Jr.
John Hinks, Jr. began his rugby career in 1997 at the University of South Carolina. After graduating, he played for the Columbia Rugby Club, which took him overseas to play in New Zealand for a club called Zingari-Richmond in Dunedin.
Hinks is a Columbia native and serves as a branch manager for Lending Path Mortgage in Columbia. He is a founding board member of Camp Cole and currently serves on the advisory board for Camp Kemo. Hinks and his wife, Britt, have three children: Jack, Lucy, and Eleanor.
Education:
- Bachelor's Degree from the University of South Carolina
John Roberts
John Roberts serves as head coach of the USC men’s rugby team. Roberts, who served as president of the USC rugby club in 1989-90, founded the Furman rugby team in 1998 and developed it into one of the nation’s top small college rugby programs.
A seasoned communicator with more than 25 years of experience in higher education marketing, Roberts served as Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communication at Piedmont University. Before that, he served as communications director at Furman University. John and his wife, Brandi, live full-time on Lake Hartwell and have four living children: Zach Roberts, Maggie Roberts Dixon, Julianna Roberts, and Max Timmons.
Education:
- Bachelor's Degree from the University of South Carolina
- Master's Degree from Columbia College
Matthew Shoemaker
A Greenville native, Matthew Shoemaker (Shoe) joined the University of South Carolina men’s rugby coaching staff in the spring of 2022. He played for the South Greenville (now Greer) Rugby Club from 2015-17. During that time, he logged time as a fly-half, hooker, center and was a member of the 2017 Rugby South Carolina All-Star Team.
Shoemaker played four years at Lander University where he was the 2021 Most Valuable Player and served as team captain from 2017-21. Shoemaker also plays for the Columbia Rugby Club and is a Senior Auditor at the South Carolina Office of the State Auditor.
Education:
- Bachelor's Degree from the Lander University
Brandon tillmoN
Brandon Tillmon was born in Connecticut and moved to South Carolina when he was 10.
A three-sport athlete (football, baseball, and basketball) at River Bluff High School, Tillmon played football at Liberty University and graduated from that institution in 2020 with a degree in business and administration.
A passionate champion of health and wellness, Tillmon is a personal trainer and fitness instructor at Jamie Scott Fitness in Columbia. A life coach, he works to help others reach their personal and professional goals through fitness and wellness counseling.