Andrew Durutalo announces international rugby 15s retirement

Andrew Durutalo has played for both the USA Rugby Men’s Eagles 7s and 15s, and professionally for the Super Rugby Sunwolves, the Greene King IPA Championship Ealing Trailfinders, and the Aviva Premiership Worcester Warriors. He also has been an Olympian.

One phase of his life has ended. He notified me in February and again in May that he has retired from international rugby 15s and will concentrate on his professional club career. He also would like to play in the Rugby World Cup Sevens July 20-22, 2018 in San Francisco.

With the later in mind, Andrew played in the first round of the Bounce Super Sevens Series UK for the Samurai Rugby on May 6 at Bury St Edmunds. The other round s are June 2 at London Irish, June 16 at Chester RFC, and June 30 at Ealing Trailfinders.

Mike Friday, USA Rugby Men’s Eagles Sevens Coach tweeted on May 6 that the #YakaYard awaits him. The Eagles Sevens will play their last two stops of the HSBC Sevens Series in London on June 2-3 and in Paris on June 9-10. Will he be appear in his 41st and 42nd tournament?

Andrew Mataininotu Van Slyke Mataininotu Durutalo was born in New York City and moved with his family to Suva, Fiji. He graduated in 2007 from Suva Grammar Secondary School and after graduation went to Hakuoh University on a scholarship from 2007 to 2011, graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administraion Degree (B.B.A.). He would like to continue his education and has been applying to schools in the U.K.

Andrew is 30 years old, 6’2″, and weighs 224 lbs. He has played representative rugby in both Fiji and in the U.S. In 2006, he was the captain of the Fiji Under-19s at the U19 Rugby World Championships and was the U21s captain the same year.

In November 2011, Adrew became a USA Rugby national team player. He had the chance to play for Fiji, but the USA provided the opportunity to represent the country at senior level for the Eagles.

Andrew has represented the Eagles 7s in 40 competitions gaining 40 caps since 2011. He played in teh Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2013, where the team finished in 13th place. He also represented Team USA in the Rio Olympics in 2016. In rugby 15s, he has earned 22 caps for the Eagles XVs. His test debut was against Canada on June 9, 2012 & his last test was on Feb. 10, 2018 agaisnt Canada. He also played in the Rugby World Cup in 2015.

Andrew has played club rugby in teh U.S. for Old Mission Beach Athletic Club (OMBAC) and for Seattle Old Puget Sound Beach. Professionally he was a member of the Super Rugby Sunwolves in 2016, the Greene King IPA Championship Ealing Trailfinders in 2017, and the Aviva Premiership Worcester Warriors in 2017-2018. He will return to the Ealing Trailfinders for the 2018-2019 season.

Andrew Durutalo,’s success with the Ealing Trailfinders earned him a contract with the Aviva Premiership Rugby Worcester Warriors. With the Ealing Trailfinders he enjoyed a remarkable start to the season with five tries in just six games. He also was selected for the man-of-the-match award on three occasions.

While with the Worcester Waarriors, he was a reserve against the Sale Sharks in December and in January he played in the Anglo-Welsh Cup. He also appeared six times for the Worcester Cavaliers.

Andrew is excited to return to the Ealing Trailfinders for the 2018-2019 season. It is a place where he has played some of his best rugby in a style that is suited to his being successful.

Andrew Durutalo represented Fiji for the U19s and U21s, but when the opportunity to represeent the USA at the Senior level, he took the opportunity to represent the Eagles.

At the international level he played for the Eagles 7s and 15s, at the RWC7s in 2013 and the RWC15s in 2015, and at the Olympics in 2016. That is quite an accomplishment. What other rugby goals would he like to accomplish?

USA Rugby Men’s Eagles 7s coach Mike Friday has been concerned that financial considerations of athletes can potentially impact losing talented national team athletes. Was that a consideration when you began to play rugby 15s professionally? What were other considerations?

What international rugby 15s accomplishment is a personal favorite? What are some other rugby accomplishments that make you feel proud?

What are some of the reasons that you have decided to retire ffrom playing international rugby 15s?

In the distant future, when your rugby playing days end, what rugby values do you feel will help you in life? What will you miss the most? How will you try to give back to help to grow the game?

What are the demands, responsibilities, benefits, sacrifices of being a professional rugby player? While it is an honor to play internationally for a country, how does this impact you as a professional?