USA Rugby Release
For the first time since 2019, USA Rugby High Performance Pathways will host its annual Winter Camp, bringing 97 men’s players to the U.S. Olympic Training Site in Chula Vista, CA from December 27 to January 2.
Winter Camp 2021 will invite some of the best U18, U20 and U23 male athletes to train and compete across the week under the guidance of a robust roster of high performance staff. The annual assembly typically serves as a primary touchpoint for players within the Junior National Team pipeline, increasing development and scouting opportunities for senior national teams going into the new year.
Attendees will have the opportunity to train and perform in front of USA Rugby Head of Performance Huw Bevan, USA Men’s XVs Assistant Coach and Utah Warriors Head Coach Shawn Pittman, as well as retired Eagle and current Utah Coach Olive Kilifi. Coaching staff for all three Junior National Teams (U18, U20 and U23) will also be in attendance, giving players the best chance to vie for selections in the new year.
The last Winter Camp was held in 2019 – featuring only U18 players – and saw the likes of Tiai Vavao who went on to compete in the Americas Pacific Challenge with the USA Selects this year. Vavao returns this year to continue his journey through the program.
Players for Winter Camp were selected from high school, college and club programs across the United States, The Eagle Eye Scout Network, and National Development Programs, as well as USA Rugby’s Academy Program, Opportunity Days, and Talent ID Days.
For more information about pathways programs and to nominate an athlete, visit pathways.usa.rugby.
For a contact list of Eagle Eye Scouts in each region, click here.
Brendan Keane, Men’s High Performance Pathways Manager said:
“We’re excited to revive our winter assembly this year after not being able to assemble last year. There is an interesting mix of players that include some returners from previous Junior National Team assemblies and competitions, as well as others who have only recently come on the radar.
“Combined with what we learned in our camps from the summer and the Academy this fall, our aim is to go into 2022 with a good understanding of the needs and talents of the players currently in the pathway as we begin a new year of identification and development. We are also enthusiastic about the staff we have coming in for the camp, many of whom are new to the Junior National Teams on the back of the COVID-19 shutdown.
“For the first time, we will have all the age-grade programs in one place at the same time. This will allow us to work together on our collective vision to play at the next level while developing athletes and offering them an opportunity to express themselves as rugby players.”
STAFF
Huw Bevan | Head of Performance
Brendan Keane | Men’s High Performance Pathways Manager
Shawn Pittman | USA Eagles Forwards Coach
Todd Thornley | Head Coach – USA Men’s U23s
Elvis Sevealii | Assistant Coach – USA Men’s U23s
Liam Gardiner | Performance Analyst – USA Men’s U23s
Kyle Sumsion | Head Coach – USA Men’s U20s
Colton Cariaga | Assistant Coach – USA Men’s U20s
Phil Terrigno | Performance Analyst – USA Men’s U20s
Dom Wareing | Head Coach – USA Men’s U18s
Ollie Kilifi | Assistant Coach – USA Men’s U18s
Ethan Pougnet | Performance Analyst – USA Men’s U18s
Janie Kluempers | Athletic Trainer
Josh Werk | Athletic Trainer/ Strength and Conditioning
Men’s Winter Camp 2021 Roster (U18, U20, U23)
PLAYER NAME, CLUB, AGE GROUP
(U18, U20, U23)
Michael Amberg, United States Military Academy at West Point, U23
Brendan Amiatu-Tanoi, Alaska Youth Rugby, U18
Sone Aupiu, Belmont Shore, U18
Chris Aurich, Clemson University, U23
Dante Bandoni, Arkansas State, U23
Deacon Behnam, Penn State, U20
Judd Berman, San Diego Mustangs, U18
Dominic Besag, Danville Oaks, U18
Christopher Biagi, Back Bay, U18
Orrin Bizer, Life University, U23
Daniel Bray, UC Santa Barbara, U20
Jacob Broselle, University of Arizona, U20
Jack Brown, University of Arizona, U20
Ian Bullock, Germantown, U18
Padraic Casey, San Francisco Golden Gate, U18
Isaiah Caver, Herriman High School, U18
Owen Clarke, Staples HS, U20
Oliver Cline, Saint Peter’s School, NZ, U18
Evan Conlon, Lindenwood University, U23
Tomas Edmeades, Vienna, VA, U18
Riley Elliott, San Diego Mustangs, U18
George Engels, Staples HS, U18
Andrew Farrington, Central Washington University, U20
Shane Fata, Newbridge College, IRE, U20
Maika Finau, Kahului Warriors, U18
Dylan Fortune, Cathedral Catholic High School, U18
Ernest Freeman, University of Arizona, U20
Kyle Fulton, University of Arizona, U23
Matthew Gelhaus, Kutztown University, U23
Michael Ging, Rockaway Rugby Football Club, U18
Nathan Gould, United States Military Academy at West Point, U20
Collin Grosse, United States Military Academy at West Point, U23
Louis Gryspeerdt, Old Glory DC Academy, U23
Jonathan Haley, United States Military Academy at West Point, U23
Thomas Hannon, Royal Irish, U20
Nick Hardrict II, Lindenwood University, U20
Brandon Harvey, Cardiff Metropolitan University, U20
Doyle Hedgepeth, Queens University, U23
Ethan Howard, Davenport University, U23
Mosese Kauvaka, Utah Valley University, U23
Kaipono Kayoshi, Saint Mary’s College of California, U23
Karl Keane, Saint Mary’s College of California, U23
Riley LaDuque, United States Air Force Academy, U23
William Laino, United States Military Academy at West Point, U20
Spencer Layne, Carlsbad Thunder, U18
Luke Leddy, Eastside Lions Youth Rugby Club, U18
Nathan Leff, JSerra Catholic HS, U18
Dylan Liskey, Vienna, VA, U18
Calvin Liulamaga, Central Washington University, U23
Chance Loudenback, Seattle Vikings RFC, U18
Gabe Mahuinga, Brigham Young University, U23
Alejandro Martinez Tapia, Lindenwood University, U20
Sy Mendenhall, St. Bonaventure University, U20
Finlay Mitchell, Charlotte Cardinals Rugby Club, U18
Hunter Modlin, Saint Mary’s College of California, U20
Christiaan Mosconi, United States Military Academy at West Point, U23
Braemar Murray, Sedberg School, UK, U18
Siaosi Nauer, Lindenwood University, U20
Jeremiah Noaese, Tacoma, WA, U20
Sean Nolan, Davenport University, U23
George OíBrien, University of Arizona, U20
John O’Toole, Penn State, U23
Roan OConnell, San Francisco Golden Gate, U18
Gottlieb Opperman, University of Notre Dame, U23
Charles Overton, Penn State, U23
Penisoni Panuve, Kahului Warriors, U20
Liam Parker, Carlsbad Thunder, U18
Alexander Patolo-Aumua, San Diego Legion Academy, U20
Lucas Pattinson, United States Military Academy at West Point, U20
Julian Roberts, Life University, U23
Trenton Rogers, Kutztown University, U23
Rand Santos, Life West/International School of Manila, U18
Reed Santos, Babson College, U23
Ryan Santos, Harvard University, U23
Dalton Slaughter, University of Arizona, U20
Corbin Smith, Fairfield Rugby Club, U18
Seth Smith, West Houston Lions, U18
Vladislav SOTNIKOV, Lindenwood University, U20
Riordan Sweet, Naples Hammerhead Youth Rugby, U18
Caden Syddall, Herriman High School, U20
Tavius Sykora-Matthess, Iowa Central Community College, U23
Jackson Tankersley, Gonzaga College High School, U18
William Tenney III, Brigham Young University, U23
Chad Tinney, Lindenwood University, U20
Aisake Tukuafu, Herriman High School, U20
Colin Turner, Davenport University, U23
Eduan Van Heerden, Lindenwood University, U20
Ethan Van Tonder, Grand Canyon University, U20
Tiai Vavao, Central Washington University, U20
Quinn Vorster, Wando High School, U18
Thomas Wagner, San Diego Mustangs, U18
Asher Webb, Lindenwood University, U20
Logan Weidner, Brive, FRA, U20
William Whiteside, Lindenwood University, U23
Larry Williams, United States Military Academy at West Point, U23
Solomon Williams, Carlsbad Thunder, U18
Maxime Wilson, Rugby HTX, U23
