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Written by Alex Goff
Tuesday, 18 June 2013 12:11 |
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Players Rested as USA Faces Fiji |
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National Teams -
USA Men
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USA Men's National Team Head Coach Mike Tolkin has named a very changed side to face Fiji in Japan, just four days after his team lost 18-9 to Tonga in Carson, Calif.
 After running out the same squad to face Ireland and Tonga, Tolkin is resting a large portion of that lineup this week.
Nick Wallace comes in for Shawn Pittman at loosehead prop, while Zach Fenoglio starts at hooker in place of Chris Biller.
Graham Harriman replaces Brian Doyle at lock, while in the back row, John Quill starts at blindside instead of Scott LaValla, and Cam Dolan earns his first cap, slotting in at No. 8.
Robbie Shaw is in place of Mike Petri at scrumhalf, while Adam Siddall gets a start at center in place of Andrew Suniula (although Siddall will be at outside center, while Suniula was inside).
Taku Ngwenya takes the game off, while Luke Hume coming in at right wing, and Blaine Scully slots in at fullback in place of Chris Wyles.
Players who remain from the Tonga game are:
Eric Fry, tighthead prop.
Lou Stanfill, lock. Stanfill is by far the most-capped starter on this squad, and will captain the team.
Toby L'Estrange, flyhalf.
Seamus Kelly, who moves from outside center to inside.
James Paterson, left wing.
Only three starters have recorded ten or more caps - Stanfill, Fry, and Paterson.
Dolan is uncapped and Harriman and Wallace have one cap each.
On the bench, is an experienced group, led by regular captain Todd Clever who, if he gets on, will earn his 50th cap.
USA
1. Nick Wallace
2. Zach Fenoglio
3. Eric Fry
4. Graham Harriman
5. Louis Stanfill
6. John Quill
7. Peter Dahl
8. Cameron Dolan
9. Robbie Shaw
10. Toby L'Estrange
11. James Paterson
12. Seamus Kelly
13. Adam Siddall
14. Luke Hume
15. Blaine Scully
Reserves
16. Chris Biller
17. Shawn Pittman
18. Phil Thiel
19. Brian Doyle
20. Todd Clever
21. Mike Petri
22. Andrew Suniula
23. Chris Wyles
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Written by Press Release
Tuesday, 18 June 2013 11:57 |
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Clemson Joins Varsity Cup |
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Colleges -
Varsity Cup
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Provo, Utah— The Varsity Cup announced today that Clemson University will join the Varsity Cup National Collegiate Rugby Championship beginning in the 2014 spring season.
 Clemson completed the 2013 season finishing second in the Atlantic Coast Rugby League with a 10-2 record, behind 2013 Varsity Cup semifinalist the Naval Academy. The Tigers went deep into their respective post season reaching the national quarterfinals.
Clemson head coach Justin Hickey felt the Tigers’ inclusion in the Varsity Cup was sign of his program’s progress.
“Clemson is incredibly excited to join the Varsity Cup,” Hickey said, “The Varsity Cup has quickly become a premier competition, and it is an honor to receive the invitation and to be associated with programs of such rich history and tradition. With the vision of the Varsity Cup, its teams, and the direction of our program, the timing is right and we look forward to an excellent future for the competition.”
The Clemson Tigers are set to join the Varsity Cup having agreed to a participation commitment for the 2014 and 2015 post seasons. The decision to support Clemson’s entry into the Varsity Cup came with the unanimous backing of the Varsity Cup universities.
BYU rugby coach David Smyth commented, “Clemson is one of the top emerging rugby programs in the country and was a natural fit for the Varsity Cup’s expansion.”
“The Varsity Cup has identified Clemson as a top, consistently high performing rugby team from an NCAA university in the southeastern US,” Smyth continued, “The decision to extend an invitation to Clemson was arrived at through our due diligence in examining their team, and our belief that their program structure and coaching, along with their university support to be top notch. The Clemson Tigers will be a great addition to the Varsity Cup for the coming seasons.”
The addition of the Clemson Tigers brings the total number of Varsity Cup teams for the 2014 competition to 10 including 2013’s eight original teams and the recent addition of the University of Texas.
The Varsity Cup is also set to make a major announcement on Thursday, June 20. They are expected to announce a business partnership with United World Sports, the same company that operates the USA 7s international tournament and the CRC.
Submitted by Varsity Cup |
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Written by Pat Clifton
Tuesday, 18 June 2013 12:24 |
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Isles to Toulon Off |
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Sevens -
USA Sevens Men
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 RUGBYMag previously reported Carlin Isles was set to sign a contract with Toulon in July, following the 7s Rugby World Cup. Isles has since had a change of heart and decided not to sign with the European champs.
Isles said previously that the team and he had agreed in principle to a two-year deal that could be extended for a second year. However, some details of the contract made Isles pull back, and he's since told RUGBYMag that he plans to stick with the USA 7s team full-time for another year.
Isles is one of two contracted Eagles, Zack Test being the other, who signed an endorsement deal with Nike last month. So he has supplemental income, on top of his 7s contract, coming in. Test and Isles are the first two members of the 7s team to sign paying endorsement/sponsorship deals, which have long been the vehicle for Olympic athletes to make a living.
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Written by Alex Goff
Tuesday, 18 June 2013 00:48 |
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Flyhalf Central Figure in USA Search for Tries - P |
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National Teams -
USA Men
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The offense for the USA Men’s National has to go through the #10 jersey, and after the Eagles were once again held tryless on Friday, losing to Tonga 18-9, starting flyhalf Toby L’Estrange took a long moment to stare out at the empty field at Stub Hub! (formerly Home Depot) Center.
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The result means that the USA will play Fiji for 11th on June 23, with the losing team being replaced by Italy in next year's competition.
