The All-Americans tour includes matches against the Wellington University Old Boys, Massey University and a final match versus New Zealand Universities.

USA Rugby’s CEO and president of rugby operations Nigel Melville will lead the tour with a coaching staff to be announced shortly, as some of this year's coaches are unable to commit to the tour due to scheduling conflicts and professional obligations.

“The last month has been enormously energizing watching the National Guard College Championships,” Melville said. “It is my belief that the college game will play a significant role in raising the standards of rugby across the USA. The All-American program is rich in tradition and talent and a tour to New Zealand is a tough assignment.”

All-American team manager John McNamara agreed, adding, “Playing high level rugby in one of the best rugby-playing nations in the world is a dream of most college rugby players. Competing against the New Zealand Universities team will be the most challenging contest that the All-Americans have ever encountered.

“USA Rugby’s partnership with the National Guard and the New Zealand Rugby Union have helped make this All-American tour possible and our gratitude goes out to them. This tour will create opportunities for promising young American players to experience the best of what the game has to offer both in a training setting and in match play.”

The collegiate All-American team is made up of the nation's best collegiate rugby players who are picked annually on the basis of performance at the college club championships, the collegiate All-Star championships and the preceding collegiate rugby season.

The selections for the 2008 All-American team will be deliberated during the collegiate All-Star championships held this year at Glendale’s Infinity Park, June 13-14.

For more information on the All-Americans, please log on to www.usarugby.org/goto/allamericans