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Boulder, Colo. -- While the rest of the nation prepares to enjoy time with their family and friends for the holiday season, young rugby players across the country are preparing for something much different. Over seventy players from across the country and beyond are readying themselves to make the most of a once in lifetime opportunity. Seventy-five players from across the country will be gathering in Tempe, Arizona from Dec. 26-31 in hopes of being selected for the 2012 High School All-Americans (HSAA’s).
The High School All Americans offer young rugby players the chance to claim a spot in USA Rugby’s High Performance program with the goal that those players will one day represent the country and the sport at the senior level. Many former age grade representatives have graduated to the Collegiate All-Americans and also the Eagles.
The camp in Tempe is only the first of many steps in the selection process for the HSAAs. After scouting over 200 eligible high school players across the country and internationally, all while receiving countless recommendations from coaches, the HSAA staff has invited almost eighty players to the winter camp. According to HSAA Head Coach, Salty Thompson, the pool attending the camp is a mix of scouted players, coach recommendations, and international players who are eligible to represent the US.
Keeping in mind that not all high school prospects will be attending the camp, Salty Thompson explains that the HSAA staff is looking beyond the camp for All-American prospects.
“We aren’t naming the team at this camp, we just want to find players who are committed” says Thompson pointing out that is the first of many steps in naming the team that will tour this coming year. The HSAA staff will attend numerous clinics and tournaments in the New Year to scout more players and from there will begin to build the team.
According to Thompson, the camp will be an attempt to identify “a core group of players” that are capable of performing at an elite level and committed to high performance rugby. “We are looking for the fundamental skills at each position, but also certain physical components like size and speed,” says Thompson. With the basics of rugby and athleticism in mind, Thompson will also closely monitor the character of the players. “We will try to identify the pillars of character that separate successful athletes from unsuccessful ones such as discipline, trust and responsibility,” he continues. Coach Thompson understands that the path into high performance sport is based around attitude but also skill.
The attitude and talent of the invited athletes will be tested thoroughly during this six day camp. While the camp serves the purpose of finding a core group of players, the athletes will be put through their paces in fitness, individual skills, unit skills, and game time performance. The week will consist of trial games, positional training sessions, and also seminars on High Performance lifestyle where subjects such as nutrition and injury prevention will be discussed. “It’s an expensive menu,” remarks Thompson, “but it will be exciting.”
It will be a busy year for the HSAAs as separate tours are planned for the U-17 and U-18 squads in 2012. But for now the focus is on the winter camp in Tempe. Starting this Monday, seventy-five promising rugby players form across the country and beyond will have the chance to propel themselves forward in what Coach Thompson simply calls “a great opportunity”.
2012 USA Rugby High School All-Americans Winter Camp Attendees
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Last Name
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First Name
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Current Team
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Hometown
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Aagard
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Bo
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Lowland Rugby
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West Jordan, Utah
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Aiava
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Nuulaiti
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Kona Bulls Rugby Club
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Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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Audsley
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Dylan
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Scottsdale Rugby Club
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Scottsdale, Ariz.
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Barrientes
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Patrick
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Jesuit High School Rugby Football Club
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Davis, Cali.
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Barry
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Niall
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Hampton School
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Cobham, UK
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Baylor
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Henry
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Marin Catholic High School
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Ross, Cali.
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Blank
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Aaron
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Tempe RFC
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Tempe, Ariz.
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Bonte
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Zach
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Back Bay Rugby
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Rancho Santa Margarita, Cali.
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Botes
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Bruce
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Katy Rugby Club
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Katy, Texas
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Brown
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Stratton
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Lowland Rugby
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Bluffdale, Utah
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Calnero
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AJ
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Jesuit High School Rugby Football Club
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Sacramento, Cali.
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Candler
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Ty
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Liberty Rugby Football Club
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Renton, Wash.
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Collins
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Danny
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Boston College High School Rugby Club
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Boston, Mass.
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Cowley
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Samuel
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Charlotte Catholic High School
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Charlotte, N.C.
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Dean
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Scott
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Liberty Rugby Football Club
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Renton, Wash.
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Edwards
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Matt
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Boston College High School
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Boston, Mass.
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Edwards
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Thomas
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Union County Rugby Football Club
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Westfield, N.J.
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Feury
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Jake
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Morris Rugby Club
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Rockaway, N.J.
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Fifita
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Kelepi
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Tempe RFC
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Phoenix, Ariz.
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Fotu
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Siosifa (Joe)
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Hayward
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San Leandro, Calif.
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Garmendia
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Anthony
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NOVA
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Centreville, Va.
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Germishuys
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Hanco
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Nebraska
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Omaha, Neb.
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Hamilton
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Eric
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Regis Jesuit High School
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Highlands Ranch, Colo.
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Hamilton
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Luc
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De La Salle Rugby
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Livermore, Calif.
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Hannon
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Brian
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Royal Irish Society
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Indianapolis, Ind.
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Houseman
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Mason
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Chuckanut Bay
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Bellingham, Wash.
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Houston
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Mike
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Brother Rice High School RFC
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Oak Lawn, Ill.
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Howell
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Noah
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Rosmini College
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Auckland, NZ
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Iscaro
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Andrew
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Gonzaga College High School
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Olney, Md.
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Jensen
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Colton
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Liberty Rugby Football Club
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Renton, Wash.
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Jones
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Codi
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San Diego Young Aztecs Rugby
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San Diego, Calif.
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Kaczmarczyk
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Andrzej
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Brother Rice High School
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Chicago, Ill.
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Krigbaum
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Joe
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West Valley RFC
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Litchfield Park, Ariz.
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Lamositele
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Titi
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Chuckanut Bay
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Bellingham, Wash.
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Laughlin
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Chris
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Mystic River Rugby Club
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Danvers, Mass.
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LeDoux
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Brandon
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Chuckanut Bay
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Bellingham, Wash.
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Mags
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Billy
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Mustang Rugby Club
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Del Mar, Calif.
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Mahon
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Sean
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Glen Ellyn Ducks
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LaGrange, Ill.
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May
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Malcolm
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Ignatius Rugby Football Club
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Chicago, Ill.
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McCarthy
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Michael
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SFGG Rugby Club
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Pacifica, Calif.
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McCarthy
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Tonuao
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Budd Bay Barbarians
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Lacey, Wash.
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Metcalf
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Brendan
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Jesuit College Prep Rugby Football Club
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Dallas, Texas
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Mills
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Brett "Keegan"
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St. Thomas Highschool RFC
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Magnolia, Texas
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Moscone
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Gavin
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Piedmont International Touring Side
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Piedmont, Calif.
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Ostberg
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Christian
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Stony Point High School Rugby Club
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Round Rock, Texas
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Palid
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Casey
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Cathedral Catholic Boys High School Rugby
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Poway, Calif.
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Paogofie
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Tama
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Kona Bulls Rugby Club
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Kailua Kona, Hawaii
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Peri
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Sam
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Lamorinda Rugby Football Club
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Moraga, Calif.
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Portillo
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Luke
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Chuckanut Bay
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Bellingham, Wash.
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Pretorious
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Christiaan
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Warrenton Wolfpack
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Haymarket, Va.
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Qoro
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Nemia
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Penninsula Green
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East Palo Alto, Calif.
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Reid
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Michael
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Warrenton Wolfpack
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Purcellville, Va.
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Rosenbaum
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Connor
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Lamorinda Rugby Football Club
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Moraga, Calif.
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Rossi
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Alex
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Scottsdale Rugby Club
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Anthem, Ariz.
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Sakalia
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Allan
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East Palo Alto U-19 RFC
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East Palo Alto, Calif.
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Salaber
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Anthony
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Dixon Rugby Football Club
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Dixon, Calif.
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Salvalaggio
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Matteo
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Latymer Upper School
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Chiswick/London, UK
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Sandoval
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Andy
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Los Angles Cougars
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San Pedro, Calif.
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Schupay
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Christian
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Indiana
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Indianapolis, Ind.
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Shaw
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Bradley
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Columbus RFC Indiana
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Columbus, Ind.
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Silliman
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John Michael
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Raider Rugby Football Club
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Marietta, Ga.
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Snyder
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Colin
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Indiana
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Fishers, Ind.
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Stachowiak
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Thomas
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Mishawaka Marian
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Mishawaka, Ind.
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Sullivan
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Joe
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Royal Irish Society
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Indianapolis, Ind.
|
|
Takiveikata
|
Albert
|
Sacramento Islanders
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Sacramento, Calif.
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Ternan
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Matt
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Jesuit High School Football Rugby Club
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Carmichael, Calif.
|
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Uganecz
|
Eric
|
Westlake Boys High School
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Auckland, NZ
|
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Vaifale
|
James
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Tempe RFC
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Chandler, Ariz.
|
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Warnock
|
John
|
Peninsula Green
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Los Altos, Calif.
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|
Watson
|
Dougal
|
Rugby Oregon
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Lake Oswego, Ore.
|
|
White
|
Parker
|
St. Thomas High School
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Bellaire, Texas
|
|
Williams
|
Ben
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Westerville Worms Rugby Club
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Sunbury, Ohio
|
|
Yazel
|
Ryan
|
Elsie Allen
|
Santa Rosa, Calif.
|
|
Zepponi
|
Anthony
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Elsie Allen
|
Sebastopol, Calif.
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