San Diego Legion & Ben Cima
The San Diego Legion has been slowly revealing images of some of its players. Ben Cima is 21 years old, 6’1″ tall and weighs 189 pounds.
Cima was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and prior to his move to San Diego, resided in Bethesda, Maryland. He attended Gonzaga College High School from 2010-2014 and was a four-time High School All-American. While at Gonzaga, the team won the National Championship in 2014.
Cima then went to the University of Maryland in 2014, where he played with his brother Matias, before moving on to play club rugby with Rocky Gorge. Cima was projecting to earn a B.S. Degree in Accounting and Finance in 2018.
USA Rugby Age Grade & National Team
Ben Cima’s first tour with the All-Americans (U19s) was in 2014, just prior to his entering the University of Maryland. The team toured Argentina.
Ben Cima started for the USA Junior All-Americans (U20s) at the Junior World Rugby Trophy in Hong Kong in 2014. In 2016, his 50+ meter kick defeated Canada in the final seconds, propelling the team to the Junior World Rugby Trophy competition in Zimbabwe.
Cima also represented the USA Rugby Selects in the Americas Pacific Challenge in 2016. Based on his performance, he was selected to represent the USA at the 2017 Americas Rugby Championship. His debut for the Eagles (#504) came against Uruguay in San Antonio on February 4, 2017. His last of his ten tests (4 starts) was on March 3, 2018, against Uruguay in Montevideo. The team defended its Americas Rugby Championship title and now has had ten consecutive wins in the competition.
Comments
In a Washington Post article, Gonzaga Director of Rugby Lee Kelly indicated about Cima that “he’s very gifted with the ball in his hands. He’s always been an outstanding passer and playmaker.
In a Rocky Gorge tweet on January 24, 2018, Coach DiMichele reacted to Ben Cima’s signing with the San Diego Legion saying, “Rocky Gorge has been lucky to have Ben as long as we did. No one was surprised, this was long overdue. Ben will do great and Gorge is excited to watch him perform at the next level.
San Diego Legion
- Ryan Matyas – Wing/Center
- Mike Te’o – Fullback
- Dylan Audsley – Center
- Ben Cima – Flyhalf
- Tadhg Leader – Flyhalf/Center
- Nate Augspurger – Scrumhalf
- Brett Thompson – Wing
- Cam Dolan – No.8
- Tony Purpura – Prop
- Sione Tu’ihalamaka – No.8
- Malon Al-Jiboori – Backrow
- Anthony Salaber – Center
Other Articles
DJCoil Rugby articles are also available on Facebook. Other Social Media sites to follow or subscribe include Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for interviews.