|
The 26-man squad was selected after their recent Fort Lauderdale Invitational tournament where 31 players competed in three games against Rugby Super League clubs Boston Irish Wolfhounds, OMBAC, and NYAC.
Leading up to that event the U-20s had completed a summer camp in July, a winter camp in December 2008 and a development camp in February 2009.
The squad contains five returning age-grade capped players in Nick Johnson, (Metropolis) Mike Shepherd, (Indiana) Ryan McTiernan, (NYAC) Barry Sheehan (Garryowen) and Zack Test (SFGG).
Johnson was first capped against Canada at the U-19 level in June 2006 and then played in the 2008 World Juniors in Belfast. Shepherd, McTiernan, Sheehan and Test played in Wales last June at the IRB World Juniors.
Zack Test is the most capped age-grade player on the squad and is currently returning from the IRB Sevens World Series events in Hong Kong and Adelaide. They each bring a wealth of experience competing against top-tier nations and will no-doubt benefit this new generation of U-20s.
“This squad as a whole is untested internationally,” Thompson said, “but their performances at home indicate we have a promising team. We are mobile and combative up front and have a set of backs with pace and evasive skills. There are a number of players that should have outstanding performances.”
Life University freshman Cameron Dolan who emerged from the U-17s program in 2007 and the U-18s in 2008, will captain the squad.
“Cam has a positive presence and demeanor,” said Thompson. “He will be assisted by Ryan McTiernan, a vocal leader who sets the example in our forwards. Both players are currently active in the Super League for Life and NYAC, respectively.
“Our biggest challenge is to have the squad on the same page, working effectively, with little preparation time, Once in Kenya we’ll have three training days before the first game, and a total of four games in 13 days.”
The U-20 side is set to depart for Kenya on April 16 and will compete in three Pool A games against the Cayman Islands on April 21, Namibia on April 25, and hosts Kenya on April 29.
The tournament concludes on Sunday, May 3, when all teams compete for final places in their fourth game against cross pool opponents. (Pool B consists of Romania, Chile, Korea and Papua New Guinea).
“The Cayman Islands have made remarkable progress since we last saw them in the NAWIRA Tournament in 2006. Richard ‘Grizz’ Adams has built their U-20 team over the last four years and they train on a regular basis and have a few experienced European-based players,” Thompson noted of his competition.
Namibia and USA have actually played twice in the World Juniors in 2005, with them tying their first game and the USA winning their second. That Junior Eagle team included current All Americans Eric Fry (California), Ryan Taylor (California), Keegan Engelbrecht (California), and Benny Mateialona (Life), along with Joey Brown (OMBAC), Michael Bunce (Pearl City), Jason Engelbrecht (Dallas Harlequins) and current Eagle Justin Boyd.
“The third pool game verses Kenya will be a formidable challenge,” Thompson added. “The home nation is embracing rugby and expectations are riding high on the wave of success in the IRB Sevens Series.”
The winner of the 2009 World Trophy will advance into the 2010 World Juniors tournament.
US U-20s:
BAKER JOSEPH (Flyhalf, Penn State)
BARFORD TIM (Hooker, Texas A&M)
BRAUN JARED (Hooker, Peninsula Green, California)
CROY DUSTIN (Wing, Glendale Raptors)
DIAZ ANDRES (Flanker, Texas A&M)
DOLAN CAMERON (Lock/Eight, Life University)
ENOSA TAIVALU (Flyhalf, Tempe)
FENOGLIO ZACH (Tighthead prop, Loyola Marymount, California)
GLENNON CULLEN (Hooker, LSU)
HANSKE ANDREW (Eight/flanker, University of Wisconsin-Madison)
HUGHSTON MATT (Center, East Carolina University)
HUNT ALEX (Flanker, Boston College)
HUSSEY BRIAN (Scrumhalf, Miami)
JENKINS AARON (Tighthead prop, Ohio State)
JOHNSON NICK (Loosehead prop, Metropolis)
JOHNSON ROBERT (Fullback, Blackrock College, Dublin)
McTIERNAN RYAN (Lock, New York Athletic Club)
O'KEEFE NIALL (Center, Blackrock College, Dublin)
SAINT CHRIS (Scrumhalf, Penn State)
SHEEHAN BARRY (Flanker, Garryowen, Limerick, Ireland)
SHEPHERD MIKE (Loosehead prop, University of Indiana)
STROMAN KYLE (Lock, University of Indiana)
TAMEILAU DAVID (Lock, San Francisco Golden Gate)
TEST ZACK (Wing, San Francisco Golden Gate)
THOMPSON BRETT (Fullback, Tempe)
TIBERIO PETER (Center, University of Arizona)
