Seattle Seawolves Add Air Force Captain Eric Duechle

The Seattle Seawolves announced earlier today that Eric Duechle has signed with the team. Duechle is 31 years old and from Erlanger, Kentucky. He graduated from T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virgina.

Eric just recently returned to the United States after a tour in Iraq and is on R&R.

Photo: Eric Duechle

Eric went to college at the U.S. Air Force Academy where he studied Management. While there, he played for the Zoomie Rugby Club.

Eric has achieved many National honors and has represented the United States and representative teams. In 2008 he was selected by American Rugby News as an All-American. In 2011 he won the Armed Forces Championship and was named to the All-Armed Forces team.

In 2012 he was a member of the Air Force Academy Rugby team that won the USA Rugby Division 1 Championship. He also received Honorable Mention USA Collegiate All-American status with Air Force.

In 2012 he was a member of the Belmont Shore Rugby team that won the USA Rugby Club Division 1 National Championship and then won the National Club 7s Championship that same year. In the Fall, Duechle was then selected to the USA Selects squad that played Uruguay, Canada and Argentina in 15s.

In 2013 he represented the USA Falcons at the NACRA 7s that was played in the Cayman Islands and who then played in the Coral Coast 7s in Fiji. In 2014 he played with the San Diego team at the Elite City 7s.

In 2015 Duechle was part of the Seattle Saracens that won the 2015 National Club 7s Championship. He later played for the Air Force at the Rugbytown 7 in August, which was won be the All-Army team. In September, he was part of the New York City team in the Halloween Invitational 7s. He also represented the Northeast Academy at the Tobago International Sevens Tournament in Dec. 2015.

While with the Seattle Saracens, he also was an athlete with Atavus Rugby.

Photo: Eric Duechle

Eric Duechle & World Class Athlete Program (WCAP)

Eric was a member of the World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) between 2013 – 2016. While part of the program, he was under consideration for the Eagles 7s.

Pat Clifton of Rugby Today asked Eric about being invited to train at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California in 2013 as a member of the World Class Athlete Program (WCAP). Eric replied saying that “This ranks as the best possible experience I’ve ever had. Granted, I haven’t done anything yet, but to have the honor to represent the US, not just the military but now the country, there’s nothing more I could ask for.”

“I’m very grateful, and I want to make the most of it, because back at my unit, they’re all, not so much do it for us, but make the Air Force proud, so I feel like that whole entire community is behind me. It’s my dream. The Air Force was my dream as a little kid, growing up rugby became my dream, and now I get to do both, so I feel really, really fortunate.”

Seattle Seawolves Release

Seattle, October 17, 2017: Seattle Seawolves Rugby officially announces the signing of USA Rugby star Eric Duechle. The 31-year-old is a well-known name amongst U.S. rugby fans. He’s played with Belmont Shore at the National Club 7s, played with the Eagles Selects at the Americas Rugby Championship, and is a long-standing member of the WCAP program as a member of the Air Force. “We are looking forward to welcoming Eric into our team. He is an exceptional athlete who is blessed with great speed and power. He has the potential to be a major contributor to the team’s overall success”, said Tony Healy, the head coach of Seattle Seawolves Rugby. Standing tall at 6’5”, also popularly known as “The Beast” in rugby circuit, Eric sounds confident of good, consistent performances with the Seawolves Rugby Team. “I am really excited with the thought of pursuing excellence with the Seattle Seawolves,” said Eric at the time of announcement.

We are proud to welcome Eric Duechle to the Seawolves family.

More about Eric Duechle:

Two-time USA Rugby Club 7s champion (2012 & 2015), Eric was born in 1986 and has been a fine athlete since his early days. He was a key member of the 2008 All-American squad, 2011 All-Armed Forces Champion team in 2011, and won USA Rugby Division 1 Championship with his club in 2012. 2012 also saw Eric in USA 15s Falcon tour and he chose to become a member of Air Force world class athlete program from 2013 to 2016.

More about the Seattle Seawolves:

The Seawolves are proud to be Seattle’s Major League Rugby franchise. With an ownership group led by Seattle-based entrepreneur’s Adrian Balfour and Shane Skinner, the club was formed in 2017 and is a founding member of Major League Rugby. The inaugural season kicks off in Spring 2018 and the venue will be Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Washington.