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Roy Brewer

Alumni Spotlight
Hall of Fame Inductee
1st SEC Championship, 1976
2007 Florida Old Boys in Aspen
Roy with sons Garrett and Alex in Aspen, 2011
40th UFRFC Anniversary, 2009
1973 Florida Old Boys at Cotton Carnival
1979 FOB Gator Invitational
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Roy Brewer

Alumni Spotlight
Hall of Fame Inductee

We are pleased to shine the spotlight on Roy Brewer in this profile. Roy has an amazing rugby story as well as being a very successful family man and businessman. While at UF Roy received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1971 and his Master of Arts in Political Science in 1973. Roy played rugby at UF from 1970-1978. During that time, he served as captain for two years, backs coach, publicity director and was the director of the Gator Invitational Rugby Tournament for three years. Roy competed as a Florida RFU Select XV wing against London Scottish and Cross Keys (Wales) in Philadelphia during the Bi-Centennial Tournament in 1976. His Florida RFU Select Side career also included matches against Louisiana RFU and Georgia RFU. Some of Roy’s other rugby player/leader accomplishments:

‍Tournament Titles‍

  • Gator Invitational Champions, 1971
  • Cotton Carnival Runners-up, 1973
  • SEC Champions, 1976
  • Gator Invitational Runners-Up, 1977
  • SEC Runners-up, 1977
  • Miami 7s, Runners-up 1977

‍Leadership Positions‍

  • Florida RFU: co-founder 1973; Secretary-Treasurer, Secretary, 1973-1977
  • Eastern RFU and USA RFU, Tours and Tournaments Committees
  • Sacramento RFC: president; annual NorCal B-Side Tournament, founder, and director
  • Tournament director for USA Rugby ITTs, Sacramento, 1989
  • Northern California RFU: President 1985-88

One of Roy’s greatest rugby accomplishments has been his pivotal role in establishing and nurturing the growth of the Florida Old Boys. The Old Boys have impacted hundreds of rugby players over the years including many who are not UF alumni. Players from all over the world have joined the Old Boys to participate in tournaments throughout the country. Some of Roy’s Old Boys history:

  • Florida Old Boys: 1973-present; organizer and occasional captain
  • Borderer’s International Rugby Tournament, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, 1974 – 76;
  • Gator Invitational Consolation Final, 1979 • Schlitz Invitational, Milwaukee, WI, 1977
  • Aspen Ruggerfest, 1987 – 2017, Aspen, CO: Champions 45s age division, 1999; Champions, 50s, 2005; Champions 55s, 2008; Champions 60+, 2013, 2015-2017;
  • Ft. Lauderdale Ruggerfest, 1990s – 2010s, Champions 55+, 2009, Runners-Up, 50+, also 2009

Roy is a founding member of the University of Florida Rugby Alumni Association.

“Joining and contributing to the UF Rugby Alumni Association is a way to give back to the game that has given me, and my sons, so much. Success in rugby requires intense physical conditioning and mental discipline, and the resulting camaraderie is exceptional and long-lasting. The lessons learned in collegiate rugby are directly applicable to all aspects of post-college life, including career paths. Having a measure of positive influence on future generations of community leaders by helping to create an environment of success at UF Rugby is time and money well spent.

Roy has two sons, Garrett and Alex, who played rugby in high school and at St. Mary’s College of California, contributing members of teams that won two consecutive collegiate national championships in 2014 and 2015. (St. Mary’s was in the national championship final five consecutive years and has won four titles since 2014). Roy says Garrett and Alex have skill sets on the rugby pitch superior to that of his best year. He says: “It is a treat to share with my sons our affection for this great game.”Like many of us, Roy came to rugby during his college years. Roy tells us a fraternity brother, Steve Young, played on the inaugural UF Rugby side in 1969 and recruited him from the UF Track team, saying “we need a fast guy on the team.” Roy had never heard of the game but was immediately hooked. Roy’s fond memories of his time with UF Rugby include: Phil Whyatt and Tony Barker (the founders of UF Rugby), John Young (teammate), each and every tour, the 1976 SEC Championship, Aspen Ruggerfest, Ft Lauderdale Ruggerfest, and the UFRFC 50th anniversary.Some of Roy’s favorite quotes from back in the day: “Be resilient, Roy, be resilient.” Phil Whyatt, after my nose was broken in the 1971 Gator Invitational final. “Roy needs to know what it means to be tackled.” Tony Barker to Phil Whyatt, after John Apple tackled me well after the whistle and after I scored and was jogging away.In addition to his many years as a player and off-field leader Roy has been able to attend several international matches over the years including: the 1987 Rugby World Cup, three matches in Australia and New Zealand, including the final; England versus Scotland at Twickenham, London, England; Scotland versus Ireland, Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland 2017; World Club 7s, Twickenham, London, 2015; USA versus All Blacks, Soldier Field, Chicago, 2014. Roy has made a major contribution to the game of rugby throughout his life. We are proud to claim him as one of our own.More information about Roy‍Tours‍

  • Cayman Islands with Miami, 1974, 1975 & 1976
  • Cayman Islands with Orlando, 1977
  • Mexico City with Miami, 1977 (3-0)
  • Cayman Islands with combined Boca Raton - Florida Old Boys (Alumni side), 1988
  • England with Sacramento Old Boys, 1985
  • Australia-New Zealand with Sacramento Old Boys 1987
  • Australia-New Zealand with Florida Old Boys, 1995
  • occasional matches with Windsor RFC, Windsor, England
  • occasional matches with Little Rock RC in Little Rock, AK

‍Leadership roles in the Sacramento community include‍

  • Chair, KVIE PBS Sacramento, 2021-2023
  • Chair, Metro Chamber PAC, 2015-2016
  • Chair, American Leadership Forum, 2010-11
  • Chair, Los Rios Community College District Capital Campaign ($16M), 2007-2010
  • Chair, 35 th Annual Capitol to Capitol Program (Sacramento – Washington, D.C.), 2005
  • Chair, Co-Chair Leadership Sacramento, 2000-2003
  • Chair, Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, 1990
  • Chair, Local Government Reorganization Committee & Measure S Campaign, 1987-1990
  • President, Northern California RFU: 1985-88

‍Community Honors include‍

  • Inclusion in the Congressional Record, May 3, 2022, sponsored by Congresswoman Doris Matsui
  • Scholarship created in my name by the Sacramento Metro Chamber Foundation, May 3, 2022, for a Leadership Sacramento participant to attend the Capitol-to-Capitol program in Washington, D.C.
  • Best of the Bar, Sacramento Business Journal, 2013
  • Regional Pride Award, “The Power Brokers,” Sacramento Magazine, March 1992
  • Sacramentan of the Year, 1991, presented January 1992 by the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce
  • Air Force Association, Outstanding Performance Award, 1991
  • Regional Pride Award, Community Development, Sacramento Magazine, April 1991
  • Best & Brightest, Sacramento Magazine, June 1985