A native of Australia, Geoff Mason played rugby league and rugby for 35 years, beginning at age 7. A success on the field, he played in the New South Wales Rugby League competition for Sydney University, Newtown and Penrith in the 1970's as a prop and second row and represented Newcastle against New Zealand in 1978. From there, he emigrated to the US in 1980 and was Player/Coach at USC from 1981-1985. He also played for Olde Grey 1986-1990 where he represented Combined South and East in the National All-Star Championships. Afterwards, he coached USC from 1992-1994 where the club reached the South Final Four.

Since Coach Mason's return to USC in the spring of 2004, USC has risen to new heights and returned to national prominence. Taking over a previously under-achieving Division II team, Coach Mason quickly helped the team reach the USA Rugby South Division II playoffs in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Building on this success, coupled with increased performance on the organization level, the club moved to the South's prestigious Division I competition - an honor bestowed upon only 7 collegiate clubs in USA Rugby South, where the club's A and B-side teams both placed 4th of 7 in their first year of Division I play.

As a note of great pride for our club, Coach Mason is the only former professional player coaching a collegiate rugby club in the South today.

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Assistant Coach: Mark Morris



Information available soon.

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Assistant Coach: Erik 'Tex' Geib



Born and raised in Plano, Texas, Erik ‘Tex’ Geib was introduced to rugby at the U19 level, where he played for the highly-touted Plano High Schools Side from 2001-2003 before attending the University of South Carolina in the fall of 2003. Once at USC he excelled as both a forward and a back, earning selections to the 2005 and 2007 Palmetto Rugby Union Collegiate All-Star Team. Additionally, he was able to earn an international cap during a try-out match with the South Senior Men’s All-Star Team in 2005 against the Bahamian Senior National Team in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Unfortunately, much of his playing career was cut short as he was plagued by numerous shoulder injuries, including a fully torn labrum.

Geib’s most significant contribution at USC, however, was to the club organizationally. During his tenure as an officer, including two terms as club president, Geib oversaw unprecedented growth and maturation of a club that struggled to field a full side at times prior to his arrival. Working with Head Coach Geoff Mason and a solid corps of young officers, Geib’s organizational efforts yielded the club's first return to the playoffs in 8 years in the spring of 2005 (South Division II), which sparked the beginning of 3 consecutive playoff runs. The club was also able to turn-the-corner financially, finally budgeting for effective working capital as it expanded to over 60 dues-paying members and moved to a new pitch often regarded as the ‘finest rugby field in the South.’ In the fall of 2007, Geib and the coaching staff advocated a move to USA Rugby South's premier Division I collegiate competition, an advance that placed USC among the South's 7 most elite programs. Most importantly, 4.5 years of hard work and dedication paid off on Friday, November 16th, 2007, as Carolina defeated arch-rival Clemson for the first time in 13 years before a Columbia crowd of fans, alumni, and U19 onlookers.

Geib’s experience on the field and technical knowledge of the game will contribute to a growing coaching staff under Head Coach Geoff Mason as the club takes the field this fall for a full slate of competition.

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Substitute Coach: Jeff Smolka



Information available soon.

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