The Houston SaberCats have utilized West Houston Lions center in their exhibition matches and in the opening 2019 Major League Rugby match against Austin Elite Rugby. The 27-year-old center is 5’10” and 230 lbs.
Irving is from Lufkin, Texas and later moved to Charlotte, North Carolina with his family. He attended Vance High School and then Central Piedmont Community College.
During his Sophomore year in high school, he was exposed to rugby by his physical education teacher and has been a long-time member of the Charlotte Rugby Club ever since. He played representative rugby with the USA Rugby South Panthers, playing with the team in the NACRA Caribbean Cup in 2015, against the Capital Selects in 2017, and in the Rugby Americas North Championship in 2018. He also played with the team on the 2018 Central European tour to Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic.
Irving also played rugby league for the Atlanta Rhinos and was a USA Rugby League South All-Star in 2018.
Following the USARS European tour, Irving returned to Houston and has played with the West Houston Lions Division 1 team, which is the Houston SaberCats Academy team. With the 16 matches in the MLR regular season, team injuries, and the Americas Rugby Championship, he has already been included in the opening match against Austin Elite Rugby.
Whether Irving is playing for the SaberCats or the West Houston Lions, he will look to contribute where he can.
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