Maccabi USA Rugby Sevens 5th at 2017 Maccabiah Games
Doug Coil
The 20th Maccabiah Games are being held from July 4 – 16, 2017 at the Wingate Institute in Netanya, Israel.
The Maccabi USA Rugby team head coach is Shawn Lipman, with Zack Test also part of the coaching staff. Kevin Swiryn is the captain of the team.
Maccabi USA Rugby made its debut at the 1985 World Maccabiah Games where they won the Bronze medal. They had medaled at each of the subsequent Maccabiah Games. The highlight of the program was winning the Gold medal in 15’s at the 1997 Games. They also won Gold in the first ever 7’s competition during the 2013 Games. A bronze medal was also won in 15’s that year.
The beginning of the 2017 Maccabiah Games will be remembered for the bonds that have been formed and the cultural experiences that have been gained. In the rugby sevens competition however, the USA not did not reach the medal round for the first time.
The Maccabi USA Rugby team finished fifth in the 2017 Maccabiah Games Rugby Sevens competition after a 42-0 victory against France. Valuable experience was gained at the Games and with the team’s dominant win, hopefully the momentum will continue as the team turns their attention to the rugby 15s competition that begins July 7.
In the bronze medal match, Argentina won 21-5 over Australia and in the gold medal match, South Africa beat host Israel 19-12.
2017 Maccabiah Rugby 7s
- Australia 17-12 USA
- France 0-14 Israel
- USA 10-24 South Africa
- Israel 38-0 Argentina
- South Africa 39-0 Australia
- Argentina 19-0 France
- Cup SF – Argentina 5-15 South Africa
- Cup SF – Israel 29-0 Australia
- 5th Place – USA 42-0 France
- Bronze – Argentina 12-5 Australia
- Gold – South Africa 19-12 Israel
Australia v USA
Australia took a 17-0 lead into halftime after three tries, with the last one converted. The USA then stormed back in the second half as Shawn Cox and Mike Rudzinski added tries with Joey Krassenstein converting the second. The final score was 17-12.
USA v South Africa
The USA started out strong against South Africa and took the early lead after Sam Rabb scored in the corner for a 5-0 lead. South Africa then answered right back with a converted try under the posts for a 7-5 lead.
A Chase Schor Haskin reclaimed the lead for the USA at 10-7 before South Africa took the lead for good after a another try to lead 12-10. South Africa would add two additional tries to win 24-10.
With the loss, the USA went 0-2 on day one and the defending gold medalist found themselves out of the medal competition and competing for fifth place on day two.
5th Place: USA v France
The USA defended a lineout 5 meters from the line and then attacked the rest of the match. Derek Patick evaded the defense around the wing for a try under the posts for a 7-0 lead. Chase Schor Haskin and Jack Braun added tries for a 21-0 lead at halftime.
In the second half, Sam Rabb rounded the wing for a try. France lost two men to the bin for not releasing at the breakdown again and again on a dangerous tackle. Sam Rabb ran in two more tries for a second half hat trick for a 42-0 victory for fifth place. All six tries were converted. While the announcer did not identify the player who converted, Joey Krassenstein may have handled the conversions.
2017 Maccabiah Games Rugby 15s
The USA will play Australia on Friday, July 7 to open the 2017 Maccabiah Games Rugby 15s competition. They will then play Israel on July 11. The Semi-finals will be on the 13th and the finals on the 16th.
- July 7 USA v Australia
- July 9 South Africa v Argentina
- July 9 USA v Israel
- July 11 Israel v Argentina
- July 11 Australia v South Africa
- July 13 Cup SF
- July 13 Cup SF
- July 16 Bronze
- July 16 Gold
Maccabi USA Rugby Squad
Maccabi USA Release: May 30, 2017 by Dakota Marine
Maccabi USA Rugby Chair Dave Rudzinsky along with Head Coach Shawn Lipman, is pleased to announce the Open Men’s Rugby Team for the 20th World Maccabiah Games, which will take place July 4-18, 2017 in Israel. Maccabi USA will bring a team of 1,100+ athletes who will be part of the 10,000 Jewish athletes from 80 countries, participating in 43 different sports. Coach Lipman will be assisted by USA Rugby legend and 2016 Olympian, Zack Test and former USA Rugby 7’s and 15’s standout Kevin Swiryn has been named Team Captain.
The athletes are Alex Appel of Malden, MA, Mystic River Rugby Club; Aaron Blatt of Tarzana, CA, Santa Monica Rugby Club; Jack Braun of New York, NY, Dartmouth Rugby; Jared Braun of Redwood City, CA, Olympic Club; Seth Cohen New York, NY, NYAC; Shawn Cox of Austin, TX, Austin Huns; Chance Doyle of New Orleans, LA, NOLA; Howard Goldsmith of Chicago, IL, Westside Condors; Sam Harrison of Colorado Springs, CO, Colorado College; Benjamin Hirschman of Boulder, CO, University of Colorado; Devin Ibanez of Brookline, MA, Scarborough Rugby (UK); Isaac Katz of Philadelphia, PA, Philly Whitemarsh; Michael Korn of Vail, CO, New England College; Joseph Krassenstein of Los Angeles, CA, Santa Monica Rugby Club; Tanner Mohr of Davis, CA, Olympic Club; Derek Patick of Columbus, OH, Columbus Rugby; Devin Pearl of Buffalo, NY, Buffalo Rugby; Mason Pedersen of Long Beach, CA, Austin Huns; Samuel Rabb of Dallas, TX, Dallas Reds; Benjamin Rotstein of Denver, CO, Glendale Raptors; Michael Rudzinsky of Reading, MA, Mystic River Rugby Club; Matthew Sarna of Fair Lawn, NJ, Rocky Gorge; Spencer Sarver of Redwood City, CA, San Francisco Golden Gate; Chase Schor Haskin of Pembroke Pines, FL, St Thomas Aquinas; Zachary Strom of Denver, CO, Glendale Raptors; Kevin Swiryn of Seattle, WA, Seattle Saracens/USA Rugby; Tristan Sylk of Penn Valley, PA, Philly Whitemarsh; and Roman Wilson of Norman, OK, Oklahoma.
Since 1932, over 62,000 athletes have participated in the Maccabiah Games, in a celebration of Jewish Strength and Solidarity. Team USA’s success is not only measured by the medals won, but by the impact that the Maccabiah experience had on their lives as well as the friendships they formed.
Maccabi USA builds Jewish pride through sports, generating the emotional intensity, high ideals, and powerful camaraderie of competition. We connect athletes, volunteers, and supporters with the global Jewish community. Our athletic, educational, and cultural experiences build Jewish identity, perpetuate Jewish continuity worldwide, and strengthen support for the State of Israel.
For more information, please contact Maccabi USA Program Director Shane Carr at 215-561-6900 or by email at scarr@maccabiusa.com.
For more about Maccabi USA Rugby read Maccabi USA Rugby Legacy and Hall of Fame.
About the organization:
Maccabi USA (MUSA) is a federally-recognized not-for-profit 501(c)(3) Organization with an extensive history of enriching Jewish lives through athletic, cultural and educational programs. The Organization is the official sponsor of the United States Team to the World Maccabiah Games, and the Pan American and European Maccabi Games, as well as a sponsor of the JCC Maccabi Games for teens in North America. As the official Maccabi representative in the U.S., Maccabi USA supports Jewish athletic endeavors, enhanced by cultural and educational activities in the United States, Israel and throughout the Diaspora.
MUSA develops, promotes and supports international, national and regional athletic-based activities and facilities. It strives to provide Jewish athletes all over the world the opportunity to share their heritage and customs in competitive athletic settings. MUSA supports programs that embody the Maccabi ideals of Jewish Continuity, Zionism and Excellence in Sport. Maccabi USA Builds Jewish Pride Through Sports.
Maccabi USA has been selected by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) as a Multi-Sport Organization (MSO). The nonprofit Organization becomes one of 35 MSOs nationwide to be recognized by the USOC for its ability to cultivate a national interest in sport and increase opportunities for participation internationally, nationally and at the grassroots level.
