Forty-six hopefuls are in the All American camp in Houston this weekend, sweating under the scorching Texas sun in the hopes of earning their way onto the traveling roster for the August tour of Ireland. 

BOULDER, Colo. – The coach that will help develop the next generation of Olympic rugby hopefuls has been named by USA Rugby.  Tony Pacheco will coach the USA Rugby Men’s Collegiate All-American Sevens team and work to prepare the athletes for the demands of senior international rugby.

With the inclusion of seven-a-side rugby in the 2016 Summer Olympics, USA Rugby has prioritized the development of sevens athletes in order to prepare Team USA for Rio 2016 and the preceding qualification process.

Pacheco had an excellent playing career as a USA Under-19, was a standout at Kentwood Rugby Club, and a member of The Olympic Club.  Pacheco followed his playing career with an impressive sevens coaching record as an assistant at Old Puget Sound Beach and head coach at Central Washington University.

The new coach looks forward to the opportunity to work with the best men’s college rugby athletes in the country and will prepare the team to compete in the Emirates Airline USA Rugby Men’s All-Star Sevens National Championships from August 17-19 at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.

Pacheco scouted the Collegiate Rugby Championship Invitational in Philadelphia, Pa. last weekend (June 2-3) and will attend the Men’s Collegiate All-American camp in Houston in June, and work with collegiate rugby coaches around the country to identify players for the team.

“I’m looking for players who play unselfishly, create space for their teammates, and make their teammate look like the All-American,” said Pacheco of the attributes he’s seeking in an All-American Sevens athlete.

The role the new coach will play within the high performance pathway is crucial and working with other elite level coaches such as Salty Thompson with the High School All-Americans, Scott Lawrence with the Junior All-Americans, Matt Sherman the head coach of the All-American fifteens team, and Alexander Magleby the USA Men’s Eagle Sevens head coach, is key to success.

Magleby was the CAA7s Head Coach last year and since that time, three of the players on that team (Duncan Kelm, Rocco Mauer, and Will Holder) have either been invited to a National Team camp or earned an international sevens cap for the USA, a positive indication for the program moving forward.

Coordinating and aligning the Xs and Os on the field is important, but equally important is having a similar culture and similar expectations on and off the field.  In that regard, Pacheco will work very closely with the National Team coaches to ensure players have a clear sense of what they need to do if they hope to wear the red, white, and blue at the senior international level.

BOULDER, Colo. – The USA Rugby Men’s Collegiate All-Americans for 2012 have been announced.  The MCAAs staff has named 30 All-Americans and 30 Honorable Mentions in recognition of outstanding play in the 2011-2012 Season.

The All-Americans are recognized for their excellent on field performance, a result of their tireless efforts balancing the responsibilities of being an elite college athlete and the academic demands of being a student.

The MCAAs are also identified as players who can project to higher levels of competition and eventually, the USA Men’s National Team.  Currently on the USA Men’s National Team’s 36-man camp roster, 18 players are current or former All-Americans.

All-Americans, Honorable Mentions, and other notable collegiate players will be invited to attend the MCAA combine-style camp in Houston in conjunction with the Men’s National Team’s test match against Italy on June 23 at BBVA Compass Stadium.  Out of that camp, the Collegiate All-Americans staff will name a touring side for a tour to Ireland in early August.

USA Rugby would like to congratulate the following All-Americans for their dedication to the sport and for an excellent collegiate season that earned them recognition of the highest order in collegiate rugby.

2012 USA Rugby Men’s Collegiate All-Americans
Forwards
Matt Crawford (St. Mary’s College – California)
Mikey Su’a (BYU)
Nick Mostyn (Utah)
Ray Forrester (BYU)
Jamie Kelm (San Diego State)
Andrew Cook (St. Mary’s College – California)
Mike Lawrenson (Kutztown)
Jack Bristol (Air Force)
TJ Allred (BYU)
Brendan Daly (Cal)
Ryan Roundy (BYU)
Cam Dolan (Life University)
Seamus Siefring (Navy)
Danny Barrett (Cal)
Sean Paterson (Arkansas State)
Hynie Leaaetoa (BYU)

Backs
Shaun Davies (BYU)
Don Pati (Utah)
J.P. Eloff (Davenport)
Pat Sullivan (Arkansas State)
Seamus Kelly (Cal)
Paul Lasike (BYU)
Zac Mizell (Arkansas State)
Hoseki Kofe (BYU)
Tim Maupin (St. Mary’s College – California)
Colton Cariaga (Life University)
Madison Hughes (Dartmouth)
Joe Cowley (Life University)
Kingsley McGowan (St. Mary’s College – California)
Will Holder (Army)

Honorable Mention
Forwards
Jake Mizell (Arkansas State)
O.J. Auimatagi (Life University)
Nick Wallace (St. Mary’s College – California)
Mike Shepherd (Utah)
Glen Maricelli (Life University)
Jamie Gregory (Kutztown)
Demecus Beach (Davenport)
Nate Brakeley (Dartmouth)
Kyle Sumsion (BYU)
Kyle Stroman (Indiana)
Ryan Hargraves (Davenport)
Lester Soloai (Utah)
Paul Bester (Life)
Jordan Badia-Ballinger (Claremont)
Mike Erickson (Penn State)
Paul Benade (Arkansas State)

Backs
Chris Saint (Penn State)
Paul Bosco (Cal)
Dylan Lubbe (BYU)
Conor Mills (Texas A&M)
Sam Sirell (UCLA)
Dean Gericke (Arkansas State)
Nick Evans (Tennessee)
Luke Lahman (Colorado)
John Gallo (UCSB)
Anthony Lombardo (Cal)
Tim Stanfill (Central Washington)
Jake Anderson (Cal)
Joe Baker (Penn State)
Sione Tonata Lauti (Utah)