MWRU Announces Tammy Cowan as Thunderbird Women’s Coach

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — The Midwest Rugby Union is pleased to announce the appointment of Tamara “Tammy” Cowan as Head Coach of the Midwest Thunderbirds Women’s program. Cowan will be supported by assistant coaches Rhiannon Filer and Lewis Gilday as the program continues its commitment to developing senior women’s representative rugby throughout the Midwest.

The Midwest Thunderbirds serve as the Midwest Rugby Union’s senior women’s representative side, providing a pathway for standout club players to compete in a high-performance environment while representing the strength, depth, and continued growth of women’s rugby across the region.

EXPERIENCED LEADERSHIP FOR THE WOMEN’S PROGRAM

Cowan brings more than four decades of rugby experience to the Thunderbirds, with a background spanning playing, coaching, officiating, referee development, and rugby administration. A Minneapolis native now based in St. Joseph, Minnesota, Cowan first became involved in rugby in 1981 after her college tennis team was cut and a friend connected her with a newly forming rugby team. She went on to play for the College of St. Catherine and the Twin Cities Amazons, later representing Midwest senior women’s rugby.

As a coach, Cowan has worked with high school and collegiate athletes and has been an assistant coach at St. John’s University. Her coaching résumé includes two national titles with St. John’s in 2013 and 2014, and she was recognized as USA Rugby Coach of the Year in 2014. She holds USA Rugby Level 1, 2, and 3 coaching credentials and describes her coaching approach as player-focused, decision-based, and fun.

Beyond coaching, Cowan has served the game as a referee coach, chair of the Minnesota Rugby Referee Society, a World Rugby Educator, and a longtime administrator with Minnesota Rugby Union, Minnesota Youth Rugby, and the Midwest Rugby Union. Her previous Midwest roles include Secretary and Women’s Coordinator. Cowan said rugby has given her many of the greatest memories and friendships of her life, and she sees this role as an opportunity to give back to the game that has shaped so much of her rugby journey.

ASSISTANT COACH: RHIANNON FILER

Filer, of Buffalo, New York, joins the Thunderbirds staff with extensive experience as a player and coach across youth, club, select-side, and elite rugby environments. She currently serves as Head Coach of Orchard Park Rugby Club’s U19 boys program, is an assistant coach with the Allegheny Rugby Union Women’s Selects, and remains active as a player with South Buffalo Rugby.

Filer began playing rugby in 2003 after joining her high school team at City Honors High School. Her playing background includes City Honors, South Buffalo Rugby, Glendale Raptors, Old Blue Women’s 7s, Stars Rugby 7s, and Phoenix 7s, with experience at WPL, women’s Division 2, and elite select 7s levels. She has represented Allegheny Selects and has played across the forward pack and midfield, including prop, lock, flanker, number eight, and center.

As a coach, Filer has worked with athletes from youth rugby through adult and select-side competition. Her coaching philosophy emphasizes an athlete-centric environment where high-performance rugby is supported by belonging, psychological safety, and collective accountability. She prioritizes on-field autonomy, critical thinking, and shared decision-making, with the goal of helping players maximize their potential on and off the field.

ASSISTANT COACH: LEWIS GILDAY

Gilday, originally from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, United Kingdom, is based in Pittsburgh and brings a broad playing and coaching background to the Thunderbirds. He currently serves as an assistant coach with Pittsburgh Forge and Allegheny Rugby Union select-side programs, and he began his Midwest involvement in 2023 as an assistant coach in Pittsburgh.

Gilday first became involved in rugby in 1999 through age-grade rugby and played for Bromsgrove Rugby Football Club, Catshill Middle School, North Bromsgrove High School, Worcestershire Selects, and Guanos Rugby, a North Midlands select Barbarians side. His playing experience includes prop, lock, flanker, number eight, and wing, with representative rugby through Worcestershire and Guanos Rugby.

Since moving into coaching in the United States, Gilday has worked with senior women’s club and select-side athletes. His coaching accomplishments include helping Pittsburgh Forge win the Midwest championship in 2023, reach the national runner-up position in 2024, win the Thunderbird Cup Plate in 2025, and finish as Midwest championship runner-up in 2026. He holds USA Rugby Level 1 and Level 2 coaching credentials and has participated in the Chicago Hounds Coaching Academy.

LOOKING AHEAD

Together, Cowan, Filer, and Gilday bring extensive Midwest rugby leadership, national-level competitive experience, and complementary expertise across coaching, administration, officiating, player development, and club leadership. Their first priority will be to select and prepare a Midwest Thunderbirds Women’s side for the 2026 Mary Graham All-Star Tournament, scheduled for early December.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to a game that has given me so much,” Cowan said. “The Thunderbirds represent the best of Midwest rugby: committed players, strong clubs, and a community dedicated to advancing the game. I look forward to working with Rhiannon and Lewis to build a disciplined, competitive, and player-centered environment for this program.”

Interested players, coaches, and clubs should watch for additional information regarding selections, player identification opportunities, and program details in the coming weeks.