(Huw Evans photo)

The U20s came from ‘88 and ‘89 born players, mostly freshmen and some sophomores in college. This year’s Cal roster contains 8 former capped USA U19s, notably All-Americans Keegan Engelbrecht, Eric Fry, Joe Welch and Ryan Taylor, along with Paul Jesseman, Andrew Mase, and Derek Sagehorn. All but Sagehorn were too old for this year. Cal also has an additional eight players that have been in camp at U18, 19 or 20 levels.

Cal bound players have always been in our sights and we often end up scouting the same players in high school. However, players at Cal face tough academic demands on top of a total commitment to Cal rugby. This makes it impractical for them to meet the demands to prepare and play continued USA age-grade international rugby.

Tim O’Brien, (St Mary’s), David Smith (BYU) and Jim Snyder (Colorado) have all promoted their age eligible players. Chad Clark, the All-American scrumhalf from St Mary’s, was capped for the U19s in June 2006. He played two tests against Canada and helped win the NAWIRA tournament in Guyana along with Robert (Lopeti) Wolfgramm, BYU, now on his 2-year mission.

Chad missed all his senior year due to football, basketball and injuries before joining St Mary’s this season. He is still U20 eligible in 2009 and is now one of the best, however, Sean Treacy, (Clontarf) and Steven Sablan, (PAC RSL and NA4) were selected over him.

Another outstanding prospect from St Mary’s, fullback, Austen Mount, was too young for the U20s this year!

BYU had a big freshman prospect at lock this season but he was due to go on his mission during the World Juniors. The other two outstanding age eligible BYU players are foreign and ineligible! Missions also took care of Ryan Roundy (flanker) and Hoseki Kofe (center), two of the players to look out for when they return in 2010.

The Junior Worlds have been an April event for years; that changed to June this year for the Tier A component. The 2009 World Trophy Event (Tier B component) will be back to April in 2009 and poses the prospect of three weeks off school and away from local club/school rugby programs. Are players and their respective club coaches willing to support this kind of commitment?

More claims have been made about casting the net into the international arena to try and identify eligible players overseas, could you state your objectives there?

There are a significant number of American citizens living and playing rugby overseas. I’ve been approached by an increasing number of foreign-based players over the past few years, eager to play for the Junior Eagles. Since they grow up and play in a rugby culture it makes sense to have a look and see how good they are.

For example James Paterson, (http://www.crusaders.co.nz/net/team/wider-training-profiles.aspx) is currently a member of the Crusaders squad in New Zealand and a former New Zealand U21. James played for the USA U19s in South Africa (2005) and Dubai (2006) where he captained the side. James lived in Colorado, went to high school for two years, earned a football scholarship to Colorado School of Mines and would have stayed if the opportunity to play high-level rugby hadn’t emerged in New Zealand.

Current England U20 tight-head prop, Alex Corbisiero, is an American who went to high school in London, played for the American School of London, was selected to play for the USA U19s against Canada in February 2006 only to be grabbed by England and capped at U18 level a month later! Alex is currently in the London Irish Academy and looks destined for a senior England career. Our current U20s have been in camp with Alex and he’s a friend to the likes of Scott Lavalla our U20 captain.

In the above two cases these young men have chosen a rugby career path overseas where it’s a reality. Within the current USA age grade depth charts there are a number of foreign-based Americans among them Liam Murphy (Young Munster), Barry Sheehan, (Garryowen), Sean Treacy (Clontarf), and Matt Edison (Cambridge City). Even more are emerging at the younger levels. Do we deny them access to the USA Teams because they have a foreign accent, or don’t live permanently in the USA? Each is an American citizen and entitled to contest their way onto the Eagles.

Looking at the current world U20 teams… Australia’s captain – Dave Pocock, is a Zimbabwe-born Western Force Super 14 player, while Scotland’s openside Andrew Rose is also a transfer from Zimbabwe. Japan’s captain, number 8 Michael Leitch, is a New Zealander! There are many more examples of immigrant or displaced players all over the world, even at the senior national team ranks.