The Houston SaberCats re-signed Cecil Garber IV for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The 28-year-old openside flanker (29 in March) is 6’1″, and 225 lbs.
Cecil has missed only one SaberCats match in the club’s history (28) and is tied for second with Malacchi Esdale with Sam Windsor heading the list with 29. Cecil started 3 matches in 2020 and was a reserve in the other 2 during the shortened MLR season due to COVID-19.
During 2019, Cecil played 762 minutes in 15 matches, scoring 1 try. He also made 53 carries for 299 meters and made 24 tackles. In 2018 he played in 8 matches, starting 6 and played 432 minutes and scored 1 try.
Following the 2019 MLR season, Cecil played in the USA Club 7s Nationals for Life West.
Garber is from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and graduated from First Colonial High School. While there, he had three Varsity letters in football and also played basketball. During his Junior year, he was named to the All-Conference Team as an Honorable Mention and made the Second Team list his Senior year.
After graduating in 2011, he attended Campbell University where he was involved in football during 2011 and 2012.
Garber has played both rugby 15s and 7s. He played for the Norfolk Blues and the Washington DC team at the 2014 Elite City 7s qualifier for the World Club 7s. Garber also maintained his East Coast connections playing for the Bulldog Rugby 7s.
In 2016 he played professional rugby with the San Diego Breakers and led the league in tackles. He ended the year with his selection to the USA Selects for the Americas Pacific Challenge while playing in the British Columbia Premier League with the Seattle Saracens. There he helped the team advance to the Semi-Finals in the 2016-2017 season.
The Houston SaberCats began to organize their 2018 Major League Rugby team during Spring, 2017. Garber was signed for the 2018 inaugural MLR season and was among the League’s leading players on defense.
Garber proved to be a valuable player and an integral part of the SaberCats. The team hopes that his skill and teamwork will help lead the team to the playoffs in 2019.
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