The recent Men’s Collegiate All American assembly produced some interesting selections - see Madison Hughes playing three different positions, for example - and, as always, some slightly surprising developments; perhaps one of the most intriguing was the development of Kalei Konrad.

Everyone’s favorite German-Japanese-Hawaiian flyhalf from San Diego capped off a very successful season with three straight starts at flyhalf for the All Americans. This despite the fact that the likes of Garrett Brewer and Hughes were challenging for the #10 jersey. Konrad emerged with his snappy generalship, calm head, and solid good kicking ability as the best.

This came on the heels of a spell with the Auckland Rugby Academy, where he got to train with Dan Carter and the New Zealand 7s team, and got to play with the North Shore club. All of it has been a bit of a whirlwind, and also a chance for rugby fans to take notice.

“The New Zealand thing was great,” Konrad told Goff Rugby Report, who got some help from a former San Diego State Aztec. “Alex Ross is working there and he got me set up and looked out for me. They were all really good guys and everyone was just great to me. I felt like I learned a lot, and saw where I needed to improve as a player.”

Playing with more experienced players certainly helped. And not only more experienced …

“Playing with players who are better than you makes you better,” said Konrad. “They see things you don’t. They are always challenging you to play better. They play the game at such a pace.”

Konrad said he learned to be calm under pressure in New Zealand, and found his decision-making speeding up.

“Coming into the All Americans assembly I felt good,” he added. “I’d been in a lot of good competition, and rubbing elbows with all of these great collegiate players just inspired me. I roomed with Paris Hollis and he’s a great guy. To see these guys who have been opponents and they become teammates was a huge part of it.”

The All Americans fell behind early against Cambridge - twice - but Konrad’s calm approach helped them come back.

Born in Germany, and raised in Hawaii, Konrad’s background is classic American rugby. He lived in Heidelberg until he was five and then moved to Hawaii, where his mother is from. There he attended Hawaii Prep and played rugby, being a teammate of Arkansas State All American Connor Cooke, making for a nifty reunion at the All American assembly.

He joined San Diego State when Dan Payne was coach, and then played for Matt Sherman before Sherman moved to Stanford. Now he has one more year - his 5th - with the Aztecs.

“I am excited to play for Alex Lichtig again,” he said of the team’s current Head Coach. “We are really fortunate to have him as coach.”

And after that?

“Rugby is a big part of my future,” he said. “My career - getting a degree - is important. But I want to pursue rugby as far as I can. If you told me a year ago that I would train with Dan Carter, train with the New Zealand 7s team, and start all three All American games at flyhalf, I wouldn’t have believed you.”

Believe.