We’d like to formally introduce JK Anderson and Emil Walton to the club. In recent weeks we have been in discussions to bring in JK to serve as our 7’s Rugby Program Director and Head Coach and he has agreed to take that role for the next 3 years. Emil is JK’s assistant coach, and together they have coached the NAV 7’s program to the last 3 consecutive 7’s National Titles. They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Bombers program as we further entrench ourselves as one of the top clubs in the country. While we certainly are pushing to break through and win a 7’s National Championship this year, JK’s role goes far beyond coaching our ‘Qualifier Side’ and he is committed to developing a sustainable program here in St. Louis that lines up with our stated goal of growing the game locally. In addition to his primary coaching responsibilities, he is committed to supporting our local league team, made up of those who want to play 7’s but might not be ready to compete or able to commit to the travel requirements the National Circuit demands. He will also be supporting Lucas Black and the St. Louis Rugby Academy’s 7’s program this summer. Together these two programs combined will create a long-lasting, sustainable pipeline of players pushing for those spots with the qualifier side. All three squads will have training concurrently at Forest Park this Summer and will be integrated together as much as possible while supporting each level’s goals.
From JK himself: “Emil and I are thrilled to join the St. Louis Bombers Rugby Club. We were immediately drawn to the club's strong culture and history, and their vision for 7s perfectly aligns with our goals and passion for player development. We see a similar supportive environment here to what we built with NAV 7s, and we're eager to bring that blueprint to the Bombers to create a true pathway for players to develop, experience high-performance training, elite competition, and achieve their rugby aspirations at all levels. We are excited and looking forward to a great opportunity."
JK is set to arrive on May 17th and we will primarily have open touch on Tuesdays and Thursday until then. Nick Feakes will lead fitness and drills for the qualifier guys at this time in the interim. Old Boys, B-52’s and anyone who just wants to get a run in, is always welcome to come to touch sessions during training hours at Forest Park. We hope to see you there!
Lastly, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the work Brandon Chalker has done to get us to this point. Before he asked to coach, we hadn't fielded a qualifying side since '99 and in 4 short years he has made us a perennial top-5 finisher in the competition. This is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the club. His impact on the club cannot be understated and we have nothing but gratitude, admiration, and respect for what he has accomplished here. We wish him the best of luck as he and his family relocate back to his homeland in Australia. Thanks Chalk, you will be missed!
