BOULDER, Colo. - USA Rugby AIG Men's Collegiate All-Americans Head Coach Matt Sherman has released the MCAA travel roster for the upcoming New Zealand Tour this month. The MCAAs will play two matches against New Zealand University and one against Wairarapa Bush.
Fifty-five of the best collegiate rugby players convened at Occidental College in Los Angeles, Calif., from June 7-10 for a selection camp, and Sherman and the coaching staff had to choose 28 to travel to New Zealand. This is the first tour for the MCAAs since their Ireland Tour last August. The MCAAs defeated Connacht Rugby Development XV 19-17 before losing 14-29 to Leinster Academy.
"As one of the top rugby nations in the world, we know our opposition will be tough and experienced,' Sherman said.
A few players considered for the tour include Nick Wallace, Cameron Dolan, Will Holder and Seamus Kelly, who were all selected to travel with the Men's Eagles for their summer tour. Sherman hopes players in this touring side will eventually make the move to the senior national team.
"The main objective of our program is to identify and develop players for the senior national team by mirroring the Eagles international experience and challenges. We come together as a team in a brief amount of time, cross an ocean, and play difficult competition,' Sherman said.
"While the objective of the program is somewhat individual based, the objective of each year's team and tour is to develop into the strongest team possible, improve to our maximum capabilities and perform to our highest standard. I think we feel that if we do that we can win games. Performance will always be our primary focus, but we will move forward with the mentality that every time we step on the field we're competing to win.'
Seventeen players are making their first appearance for the MCAAs, a sign Sherman says rugby is growing in America. Seven players from the D1A National Championship Final will also be traveling to New Zealand, with five players from champion Life University and two from runner-up Saint Mary's College.
"More players are coming in with high school experience, collegiate programs are developing players at a higher level and playing at a higher level than before, and better athletes are being attracted to the sport,' Sherman said. "We are seeing the results of improved daily training environments across the country in collegiate rugby, and both the quality of player and the quantity of those quality players is improving.'
The MCAAs will open their tour against New Zealand University in Palmerston North June 16 before traveling to Masterton to take on Heartland Championship club Wairarapa Bush June 19. The tour will culminate with another match against New Zealand University June 22 in Wellington.
AIG Men's Collegiate All-Americans Travel Squad | New Zealand Tour
| Player | Height | Weight | Year | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jake Anderson | 6'2″ | 207 | Junior | University of California Berkeley |
| Jordan Badia-Bellinger | 6'1″ | 230 | Senior | Claremont Colleges |
| Daniel Barrett | 6'3″ | 230 | Senior | University of California |
| Jeremiah Cariaga | 5'10' | 180 | Senior | Life University |
| Joseph Cowley | 6'2″ | 195 | Senior | Life University |
| John Cullen | 6'5″ | 265 | Senior | University of Utah |
| Jean Eloff | 5'10' | 180 | Junior | Davenport |
| Alec Gletzer | 6′ | 220 | Junior | University of California Berkeley |
| Michael Haley | 5'11' | 210 | Senior | Saint Mary's College |
| Paris Hollis | 6′ | 230 | Junior | Life University |
| Madison Hughes | 5'9″ | 175 | Sophomore | Dartmouth College |
| Benjamin Landry | 6'5″ | 255 | Junior | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater |
| Michael Lawrenson | 6'7″ | 250 | Junior | Kutztown University |
| Clint Lemkus | 6'2″ | 225 | Freshman | Central Washington University |
| Hugh MacLellan | 6'1″ | 245 | Senior | Davenport University |
| Glen Maricelli | 5'9″ | 215 | Junior | Life University |
| Timothy Maupin | 6'1″ | 206 | Senior | Saint Mary's College |
| Jacob McFadden | 5'9″ | 180 | Junior | Life University |
| Zachary Mizell | 6'3″ | 190 | Senior | Arkansas State |
| Eric Parsons | 5'11' | 245 | Junior | Cal Poly-SLO |
| Randy Pati | 5'7″ | 190 | Junior | University of Utah |
| Shaun Potgieter | 6'1″ | 215 | Junior | Arkansas State University |
| Ryan Roundy | 6'1″ | 220 | Senior | Brigham Young University |
| Michael Shepherd | 6'1″ | 238 | Senior | University of Utah |
| Gabriel Sochanek | 5'7″ | 210 | Junior | Davenport University |
| Patrick Sullivan | 6'4″ | 225 | Senior | Arkansas State |
| Kyle Sumsion | 6'2″ | 230 | Junior | Brigham Young University |
| Stephen Tomasin | 5'10' | 205 | Freshman | San Diego State University |
| Joshua Tucker | 5'8″ | 197 | Senior | University of California Berkeley |
Players from camp not selected
| Player | Height | Weight | Year | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnaby Audsley | 6′ | 195 | Junior | Ocidental College |
| Tanner Barnes | 5'10' | 200 | Sophomore | Central Washington University |
| Garrett Brewer | 6'4″ | 220 | Senior | Saint Mary's College |
| Jackson Bristol | 6'6″ | 220 | Junior | Air Force Academy |
| Matias Cima | 6′ | 205 | Junior | University of Maryland |
| Pierre Courpron | 6'5″ | 225 | Sophomore | UCLA |
| Brendan Cox | 5'11' | 185 | Senior | University of Colorado |
| Brendan Daly | 6'4″ | 240 | Senior | University of California Berkeley |
| Morgan Findlay | 5'10' | 187 | Sophomore | Lindenwood University |
| Dean Gericke | 6'2″ | 206 | Senior | Arkansas State |
| James Gregory | 6′ | 230 | Senior | Kutztown University |
| Ryne Haitsuka | 5'8″ | 175 | Junior | Oregon State University |
| Ryan Hargraves | 5'10' | 185 | Senior | Davenport University |
| Alexander Hodgkinson | 6'2″ | 185 | Freshman | Syracuse University |
| Jaime Kelm | 5'9″ | 205 | Senior | San Diego State |
| Richard Kessler | 6'1″ | 210 | Sophomore | University of Notre Dame |
| Sean Kilfoyle | 5'9″ | 170 | Junior | university of Colorado |
| Ryan Matyas | 6′ | 185 | Freshman | University of Arizona |
| Daniel Metcalf | 6'4″ | 240 | Junior | Penn State University |
| Tanner Mohr | 6′ | 240 | Senior | University of California Berkeley |
| Broderick Neel-Feller | 5'9″ | 185 | Junior | United States Naval Academy |
| Michael O'Neill | 6′ | 220 | Junior | Saint Mary's College |
| Grant Penney | 5'4″ | 140 | Junior | UCLA |
| Michael Shea | 5'11' | 200 | Senior | San Diego State |
| Glen Thommes | 6'3″ | 210 | Sophomore | University of Delaware |
| Zachery Walker | 6'1″ | 255 | Senior | Life University |
| Christopher Wernli | 5'11' | 220 | Junior | Brigham Young University |
Players considered but not available for selection
| Player | School |
|---|---|
| Tim Acker | Kutztown University |
| Paul Bosco | University of California |
| Jordan Bouey | Saint Mary's College |
| Cameron Dolan | Life University |
| Morgan Findlay | Lindenwood University |
| Ray Forrester | Brigham Young University |
| Dean Gericke | Arkansas State University |
| Willam Holder | Army |
| Seamus Kelly | University of California, Berkeley |
| Hoseki Kofe | Brigham Young University |
| Kaleikaumaka Konrad | San Diego State University |
| Paul Lasike | Brigham Young University |
| Tonata Lauti | University of Utah |
| Jonny Linehan | Brigham Young University |
| Anthony Lombardo | University of California |
| Sean Maki | Brigham Young University |
| Jack McAuliffe | Navy |
| Kingsly McGowan | Saint Mary's College |
| Kirk Pretorius | Arkansas State University |
| Sebastian Sharp | UCLA |
| Sam Sirrel | UCLA |
| Gerhard Veit | University of Central Florida |
| Spencer Vickery | University of Utah |
| Nick Wallace | Saint Mary's College |
AIG Men's Collegiate All-Americans | Coaching Staff
Matt Sherman - Head Coach
Justin Fitzpatrick - Forwards Coach
Phillip Eloff - Backs Coach
Craig Brown - Manager
Chris Mizer - Athletic Trainer
