President & Director

Coach

Phil lives in Aberdeen with his wife and 4 teenage daughters.  He works as a contract physical therapist on Ft. Bragg, after retiring in 2023 with 26 years of service.  Phil's oldest daughter, Olivia (15), has been playing for SPYRC since 2022 and is an active rugger for the Harlequins.  Since Olivia's first year of rugby, the Royer family has grown to love the sport!  Phil is especially thankful for the opportunity to support the club as its treasurer, hoping to see this club thrive for years to come.  

Outside of rugby, Phil is active in his family's local church, supporting his busy family in all of their pursuits, watching sports, working on classic cars, and woodworking.  

Emily is a Moore County native and an original player for the Southern Pines Women’s Rugby Club, established in 2016. She is a mother of two boys and a military spouse.

Emily has been involved with the youth rugby program since its beginnings, when the program had just 12 players. Since then, she has continued to volunteer her time and advocate for the growth of youth rugby in the community.

Emily believes strongly that rugby has something to offer every child, regardless of their size, athletic ability, or physical level. Rugby is a sport that embraces individuality and accepts people for who they are. Whether a child is fast, strong, tall, small, aggressive, strategic, or simply looking for a place to belong, there is a role for them on the rugby field.

For Emily, youth rugby is about more than the sport itself. It is about building confidence, creating community, teaching resilience, and giving every child an opportunity to find where they belong.

Emily is a proud North Carolina native, military wife of over 15 years, and mom of four. She was introduced to rugby in 2013 when her husband, Coach Seth, played for the USMC team at Quantico—and she’s been hooked ever since! We officially joined the Southern Pines Youth Rugby Club family in 2021, where their two oldest sons now play.

Though she’s not a professional photographer, she loves capturing moments—whether it’s on the rugby pitch or during everyday life with her kids. In her spare time, you’ll find her behind a camera, lost in a good book, or planning their next family adventure.

She’s just a mom who loves rugby, cherishes time with her kids, and enjoys telling stories through photos.