What began as a vision shared by a small group of dedicated coaches has grown into a thriving rugby club now making waves in the Snoqualmie Valley.
The Snoqualmie Valley Wildcats Rugby FC, launched in January 2025, already includes around 35 Mount Si High School students and over 40 players in total. Built on the values of respect, resilience, and community, the club offers a competitive and character-building outlet for local youth, supported by a passionate group of families and a highly experienced coaching team.
The club welcomes boys in grades 9–12, regardless of prior experience. Many athletes also participate in football, wrestling, baseball, track and field, or soccer. The Wildcats provide a fresh opportunity for these multi-sport athletes to discover rugby—or deepen their skills—while forming strong bonds on and off the field.
The idea of bringing rugby to the Valley stemmed from head coach John Delport’s belief that every town should have a rugby club. Delport, a Special Education teacher at Mount Si High School and lifelong rugby player originally from Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, led the effort, joined by coaches Sam Bennet Cummings, Katie Maier, and Josh Young. All three brought extensive rugby experience and recognized the opportunity to introduce the sport to the Snoqualmie Valley community.
“My desire to start the club was fueled by the intention to create a place where I could share the beautiful game of rugby with players in the valley, as well as the opportunity to coach my son and his friends,” Delport explained.
After getting the green light from his son—who had been playing for another club—and his wife, Delport began laying the foundation. He registered with Rugby Washington and USA Rugby, formed a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, opened a bank account, ordered uniforms, and secured practice fields. The first few practices began with just eight kids.
He credits families like Jamie and Rich Au, Shelley Dolen, Colleen Burin, and Terri Leslie with helping bring the club to life. Their encouragement kept him going when things were difficult. “I often felt like I was ‘farting against thunder,’” he said.
Though he admits that organizational skills have never been his strong suit, the belief others placed in him helped him stay focused. “My mom has always described me as a bull in a china shop,” he said. “She also describes me as an eternal optimist, likening me to a child searching through a huge pile of horse manure, saying, ‘With this amount of manure, there has to be a pony in there.’ I didn’t just find the pony—I found a thoroughbred group of boys that other teams envy.”
The team grew from eight players to twelve and then kept climbing. Today, the club fields two full squads—Wildcat Red and Wildcat Black—and regularly welcomes new athletes. Practices are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m. at Centennial Park in Snoqualmie. The club’s match schedule is posted on its website.
The team dynamic is positive and inclusive. Coaches emphasize that every player is equally important, regardless of size or speed, and many of the boys participate in other sports such as football, wrestling, baseball, track and field, and soccer. The club’s guiding mantra, “Never above you, never below you, always by your side,” encapsulates that being part of the global rugby community means you are never alone. The Wildcats aim to foster connection within the team and with the broader rugby world.
The club’s mission is centered around three core values: respect, resilience, and community. Players are taught to uphold integrity through sportsmanship and mutual respect, develop physical and mental toughness on and off the field, and build lasting friendships through rugby’s unique traditions. The Wildcats believe that rugby has the power to transform lives, build character, and create lasting bonds and that its value lies just as much in a sense of belonging as in competition.
Each coach brings a unique experience to the team. Sam Bennet Cummings played for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, then competed in the Canadian BC D1 League with Seattle Men’s Club and the USA Super League with Old Puget Sound Beach. He also coached youth teams for the Seattle Vikings and Eastside Lions. “I’m excited to help bring that sense of rugby community and rugby culture to the area,” he said.
Katie Maier began playing at Seattle University in 2008. She started coaching in 2012 when she took on the men’s team at The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota, eventually leading them to their first playoff appearance. She coached the Seattle Vikings High School Boys from 2019 to 2024. After moving to North Bend in 2022 and starting a family, she joined the Wildcats. “I’m excited to take part in bringing the game to the Valley!”
Josh Young, Vice Principal at Snoqualmie Middle School, is a former high school and college rugby player. He previously founded the Eastside Lions Youth Rugby Club and has spent years developing youth rugby programs. His older son is expected to join the Wildcats next year, making his connection to the team professional and personal.
Also on staff are Josh Kolman, who began playing rugby in college and spent 11 years playing on various men’s teams, and Aaron Toro, who played on the U18 Utah All-Star and U18 USA 7s teams and continued playing in college and during his Navy service.
The coaches focus on introducing rugby culture, teaching fundamentals to beginners, and breaking the game down into understandable components. For more experienced players, higher-level skills and game concepts are layered in overtime, helping athletes grow at their own pace.
With early success fueling big dreams, the Wildcats have their sights set on growth. In the next year, the club plans to create formal junior varsity and varsity squads, split by grade level (9/10 and 11/12), and add a High School girls program. The long-term goal is to build a community-wide pipeline that includes elementary and middle school teams and future opportunities for girls.
Parent involvement has been a key factor in the club’s momentum. Families have stepped into leadership roles on the board, helped organize post-match meals, and supported recruitment and outreach. Colleen Burin, Jami and Adrian Au, Heather and Craig Kitterman, Shelley and Micah Dolen, and others have played instrumental roles in helping rugby take root in the Valley.
“They’ve helped us connect with the broader freshman football families and other local networks,” Delport said. “They’ve been the backbone of our community.”
Local businesses have also contributed. Current sponsors include the Seattle Rugby Club and Foundation, Mallory Paints, the Seattle Seawolves, and others who have helped lay a strong foundation for the team’s future.
The club is open to all high school boys, regardless of experience level. Registration includes USA Rugby fees and club dues, totaling $244. Additional expenses for uniforms and gear may range from $100 to $300. Scholarships are available for families with financial need. The club uses the TeamSnap app for communication and coordination.
Families interested in joining or getting involved can visit the team’s website for more information. High school players and parents should contact Head Coach John Delport at johndelport78@gmail.com. The Wildcats Rugby Club and Si View are partnering to offer a non-contact youth rugby summer camp for boys and girls ages 5 – 14 this July. Find more here.
“You can teach skills, but you can’t teach desire, heart, and resiliency,” said Delport. “These boys—and their families—have all three in spades.”
With a growing roster, a committed coaching staff, and deep support from families and sponsors, the Wildcats are doing more than building a team; they’re building something that lasts.
