Chris Roehm

Chris Roehm knew he wanted to be part of rugby the first time he stumbled upon a game at the University of Florida. One Saturday after a match, the referee for the women's game did not show up, and one of the Old Boys said, "Chris, you know most of the rules. Here's a whistle. Go have fun."

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After college, he returned to his hometown of Fort Lauderdale and casually mentioned to referee Terry Day that he had done a few games in college. That was all it took. Terry decided Chris was going to become a referee, and 42 years later, he still is. He has also been a beach rugby touch player in the summers, a youth rugby organizer, and a longtime advocate for growing the game in the United States.

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His day job is as a CFP® professional and financial planner focused on tax, estate, and business succession planning. He hopes to bring that same experience, perspective, and persistence to the U.S. Rugby Foundation Board, with a particular focus on building sustainable youth rugby programs and creating more opportunities for young people to discover the game.

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Chris has learned two things with certainty: rugby can change lives, and somebody will always disagree with the referee.