Welcome to
The Garrett Soileau Memorial Foundation

Garrett Soileau was an incredible young man with a love for life and a passion for rugby. Garrett was a friend to all and a brother forever to all those rugby players he had played with or against on the pitch. 

Garrett began playing rugby at 14 years old, during his 8th grade year, for The Woodlands Youth Rugby Club as off-season football conditioning. Little did he know how much the sport of rugby would change his life! He fell in love with the sport, to say the least! Garrett instantly took to the pitch and became known as “G-train” because he could continue running the ball while opposing players, in an attempt to tackle, hooked on to him just like a freight train. 

Garrett's passion for rugby translated to success on the pitch. 

Garrett made the Texas High Performance State Rugby team for three years which took him to play in Aurora, Colorado for the Rocky Mountain Rugby Challenge.   His performance at RMRC was recognized and he was invited  to play on the USA U-20 (under 20) team. 

Garrett was offered the opportunity to play rugby for Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas. His dream was to be able to continue playing rugby in college, so an AState Red Wolf he became! As a freshman, Garrett worked hard and played on the varsity team. He continued working hard, both on and off the pitch, rugby practices, games, work-outs, and social fun, all while keeping up his grades in a mechanical engineering degree program, even making the Dean’s list! 

Garrett’s passion for rugby never wavered. When he would come home for the summer, he would play for the Lone Star Rugby Club. He dreamed of playing on the professional team one day, but also coming back to where his rugby career first began, The Woodlands Youth Rugby Club, volunteering and helping to foster the love and camaraderie  of the game that he was so passionate about. This is why the Garrett Soileau Memorial Foundation was established. Our hope is to continue Garrett's legacy.  

Garrett, only 22 years old, tragically lost his life in an automobile accident December 15, 2017. Garrett’s legacy stretches far beyond the rugby field; he was one of a kind. He had a zest for life like we have never witnessed before. He gave of himself to everyone and made this world a better place. In his short 22 years, he accomplished more than most people do in a lifetime. Garrett set the bar high for humanity and his legacy will live on forever in all those lives he has touched. 

Just as Garrett would pay it forward in life, we want to continue his giving nature by fostering an opportunity for the youth in the area to have access to the sport of rugby and the brotherhood bonds it builds.  

The goal of GSMF is to provide scholarships to cover club dues for those with financial hardships, provide donations for needed equipment and supplies, and also provide scholarships to qualifying seniors continuing their passion for rugby at the collegiate level. We also plan to honor a young athlete each season who exemplifies the characteristics Garrett possessed: generosity, perseverance, integrity, gratitude, humility, and compassion. We ask that you join us in keeping his memory alive through the gift of giving.

Rugby was a central part of Garrett's life. If you know anything about the rugby community, you know it's a brotherhood that extends throughout the world. Our mission is to directly assist The Woodlands Youth Rugby Club, which introduced the game, the rituals and the lifelong understanding and value of true sportsmanship.

This term is shouted on the pitch and is quietly acknowledged off the pitch. Rugby players are a special bunch and we invite you to help us spread the camraderie of the brotherhood in memory of Garrett.