(Photos David Barpal)
 

SCOTT LAVALLA

Scott LaValla doesn't make the big runs or score much in the way of tries. He's not a goalkicker or flashy in any aspect of his play. But more than anyone else on the USA National Team this year, he has made his team better. (PS, he's also our Forward of the Year.)

LaValla makes tackles. He backs up his teammates and makes their tackles, too. He wins lineouts and goes skyward to take the kickoffs. He is a leader, a battler in the rucks - every ruck if need be. Every little tiny thing that needs to be done by a forward, LaValla does. It's nice that he seems appreciated at his club of Stade Francais, because he should be. Don't expect LaValla to score many tries, but do expect him to make sure someone else does.

LaValla is one of a few USA players who seemed destined for Eagle glory early in his career. From the time he stepped onto the trianing field with the Budd Bay Barbarians U19 team in Olympia, Wash., he was clearly a step ahead and a step above. A smart and unselfish teammate he quickly vaulted to the ranks of the national age-grade teams, and was tapped as a player to watch in international circles early. He captained the USA U19s, U20s, Trinity (Dublin University), and the full Eagles. Had he gone to college in the USA, he would have captained the All Americans, too. He joins Mike Petri, Seamus Kelly, Lou Stanfill, and Todd Clever as players who seemed "can't miss" from their hgh school days. 

He's still can't miss, and he's the Goff Rugby Report 2014 Eagles Player of the Year.

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