Recognizing the 2025-2026 Husky Rugby Scholarship Recipients

The University of Washington Husky Rugby program is proud to recognize the 2025–2026 scholarship recipients. These outstanding student-athletes have demonstrated excellence both on and off the pitch, and their stories reflect the spirit of hard work, resilience, and leadership that defines Husky Rugby.

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In the order they are pictured, meet are our 2025-2026 scholarhsip recipients:

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Gabriel Palomo
Hometown: Camas, WA
Years Playing Rugby: 2
Position: Prop
Major: Engineering

Gabriel switched from lacrosse to rugby and quickly found both success and a sense of brotherhood. His scholarship played a key role in his decision to attend UW and affirmed his potential as a collegiate athlete. Gabriel plans to join the Navy through ROTC, and views UW as the place where he will be shaped as both a leader and a rugby player.

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Halen Moeck
Hometown: Puyallup, WA
Years Playing Rugby: 1
Position: Flanker, 8-Man
Major: Construction Management / Communications

Halen discovered rugby during his first week at UW and immediately found a passion for the game. Though new to the sport, his rapid growth and leadership potential earned him a scholarship. He feels honored and driven to work even harder for his team and believes UW Rugby can rise to the top of the conference in the coming years.

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Rylan Reinebach
Hometown: Vancouver, WA
Years Playing Rugby: 9
Position: 8-Man, Flanker
Major: International Studies

Rylan has been immersed in rugby since the third grade, inspired by his father’s service and passion for the sport. He credits rugby with giving him a sense of community and incredible life opportunities. Receiving a scholarship, he says, validates his commitment and confirms that he belongs here. He hopes to help UW Rugby develop into a top-tier program over his college career.

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Shunsuke Nakatani
Hometown: Tokyo, Japan
Years Playing Rugby: 4
Position: Scrum Half
Major: Applied and Computational Math Sciences

Shun was introduced to rugby by his father after leaving baseball and quickly fell in love with the sport. To him, rugby is about trust, teamwork, and grit. The scholarship is a meaningful recognition of his efforts and helps fuel his passion. While his decision to attend UW wasn’t based on the scholarship, it’s deepened his excitement and motivation.

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Maxime Cauchie
Hometown: Issaquah, WA
Years Playing Rugby: 12
Position: Scrumhalf
Major: Mechanical Engineering

For Maxime, rugby is more than a sport—it’s been a constant since he could crawl. His scholarship is a testament to the hard work he’s put in for over a decade. As a first-year student, Maxime aims to help Husky Rugby become a formidable presence in college rugby while taking full advantage of UW’s academic and professional opportunities.

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These five young men represent the best of what Husky Rugby stands for—excellence, commitment, and character. We are excited to see what they will accomplish in the years to come, both on the field and beyond.