All Americans Defeated by Ontario
The Ontario Blues scored two late tries to pull away from the Collegiate All Americans and win the final game of the All American assembly 31-16 Saturday in Canton, Mass.
The two teams played a tight, physical game all afternoon and the result was in doubt until the final few minutes. But a late red card on All American scrumhalf Niku Kruger of Kutztown made things very difficult for the college players. Kruger was trying to get the ball loose from a ruck, and used his boot. He ended up stomping in an Ontario player, and was shown the door as a result.
Solid possession by the All Americans got them on the board first, as flyhalf Kalei Konrad slotted a drop goal to move his side up 3-0.
All Americans and Ontario Set for Clash
Collegiate All Americans Head Coach Matt Sherman has named his starting lineup to face the Ontario Blues Canadian provincial side in the final match of the All Americans’ three-game sumer assembly.
Sherman has made six changes from the side that beat Cambridge University on Wednesday. Wheeling Jesuit hooker Peter Malcolm comes in for Tino Paopahavihanh (Bellevue College, but rumored to be joining Central Washington soon). Davenport prop Angus McClellan comes in for Dino Waldren.
In the second row, Mike Lawrenson starts for the third straight game, but without his regular partner, Ben Landry, who injured his shoulder in the last game. Mike Gierlach of Lindenwood takes Landry’s place.
Hawaii Prospect Picks Rugby Over Football
In an interesting twist on the college rugby v football story, former rugby High School All American Fitou Fisiiahi has passed on playing football at Oregon State to play rugby at Kutztown.
Fisiiahi had signed a letter of intent to play football for the Beavers, but remained in talks with his cousin, Kutztown rugby player Vetekina Malafu, about what opportunities were available at Kutztown.
Then Thursday news came that Fisiiahi had made the switch. He will not be getting a rugby scholarship at KU, although it’s likely his own financial situation will mean a heavy financial aid package from the school and federal government.
All Americans Part of McGowan's Journey Back
Center or wing, it doesn’t seem to matter these days, Kingsley McGowan is just happy to be on the field, and rugby fans are happy he is, too.
McGowan scored a try for the Collegiate All Americans on Wednesday as his team swept Cambridge University. For McGowan, this All American assembly is not only a nice cap to a season where he helped St. Mary’s win a national championship, it’s a cap to a long, arduous road back from injury.
Coming off the 2012 Junior World Rugby Trophy win with the USA U20s, McGowan spent some time training at the Olympic Training Center, seemed poised to help the Gaels take charge in 2012-2013. But then he suffered a catastrophic knee injury in a non-contact training. He injured his ACL, PCL, MCL, and meniscus.
“I dislocated my kneecap and popped it back into place right there,” McGowan told Goff Rugby Report. “But I knew it was bad.”
All Americans Beat Cambridge Again
The Men’s Collegiate All Americans completed the sweep against visiting Cambridge University Wednesday evening, beating the Light Blues 22-12 at Pine Banks Park in Malden, Mass.
The game was switched from from the planned location at the Irish Cultural Center in Canton, Mass. to Pine Banks on late notice, reportedly at the request of the Cambridge team.
The game was barely five minutes old when Cambridge wing Paul Loudon latched onto a crossfield kick to score in the corner for a five point lead.
All Americans Prepare for Rematch
The Men’s Collegiate All Americans have named their squad to face Cambridge University Wednesday in the second game of Cambridge’s tour to the USA.
The game will be played at Pine Banks Park in Malden, Mass., the home of the Mystic River Rugby Club. This is a move from the Irish Cultural Center in Canton, where the game was originally scheduled. Kickoff is 6pm Eastern Time.
All Americans Head Coach Matt Sherman has made several changes to the team that beat Cambridge 27-15 on Saturday. Some of the changes were prompted by injury, others by a desire to rest certain players. and still others by strong performances from the 2nd side, which lost to a Canadian Collegiate Barbarians team 35-32 on Saturday.
Shaun Potgieter - ALL American
Discussing foreign-born players is a dicey thing in the United States. It’s not that players from overseas aren’t wanted - far from it, major rugby-playing nations have provided many great players, coaches, and contributors to American rugby - it’s just that at some point American resources can get poured into a player who may not, actually, pay off.
So that brings us, happily, to this week’s Player of the Week, Shaun Potgieter, the South-African-born No. 8 from Arkansas State. Potgieter is a supreme example of what good things can happen when we open our arms to welcome players from overseas.
All Americans Hold Off Cambridge
The Men's Collegiate All Americans defeated Cambridge University 27-15 Saturday at Brophy Field in Hanover, NH to open their three-match series.
Kingsley McGowan scored an early try to extend a 3-0 lead to 10-0, and then prop Paris Hollis added a try to make it 17-3. After flanker Vili Toluta'u was sin-binned late in the first half, Cambridge stormed back with a try from Jacob Foulton and then one from former All American Nate Brakeley.
That made it 17-15, but back at full strength, the All Americans took control, scoring a try from lock Mike Lawrenson and another from Hollis to finish the game off.
All Americans Work on Unity
There's a lot of work to be done for the All Americans as they prepare to face Cambridge Saturday at Dartmouth College.
While Cambridge may have just touhed down in Boston Thursday, they are familiar with each other, while the American collegiate side is a disparate group getting to know each other. Head Coach Matt Sherman has picked a team from all over the USA.
Interesting is the choice of James Poli, the Kansas City native from Lindenwood who showed he is as physical and dangerous at inside center as anyone. He partners with a shifty, exciting Kingsley McGowan. Niku Kruger is a snappy scrumhalf who partners with Kalei Konrad, who seemed to quietly go about his business at San Diego State.
AAs to Love Paris in the Springtime
Powerhouse Life prop Paris Hollis gets his chance to run over some Cambridge University defenders on Saturday for the All Americans, and it could be the start of some bigger things for the 22-year-old.
After a long 15s season followed by 7s for Life University, the North Carolina native might be excused for being a shade tired, but he's ready to go, partnering with Angus McLellan of Davenport and Peter Malcolm of Wheeling Jesuit in an intriguing front row.
All Americans Picked for Cambridge ClashHANOVER, N.H. – Men's Collegiate All Americans Head Coach Matt Sherman has named the starting XV for the USA Rugby AIG Men’s Collegiate All-Americans’ first match against Cambridge University Saturday, June 21. Match kickoff is scheduled for 1PM ET at Dartmouth College, whose very own Madison Hughes will captain the team from left wing.
All Americans Picked for Cambridge ClashHANOVER, N.H. – Men's Collegiate All Americans Head Coach Matt Sherman has named the starting XV for the USA Rugby AIG Men’s Collegiate All-Americans’ first match against Cambridge University Saturday, June 21. Match kickoff is scheduled for 1PM ET at Dartmouth College, whose very own Madison Hughes will captain the team from left wing.
WJU's Lum Suits Up with Dan Carter
WHEELING, W.Va. – Wheeling Jesuit prop Max Lum has been in New Zealand sharpening his skills and got a rare treat, as he suited up with former New Zealand star Dan Carter.
Carter, the longtime All Black flyhalf, is making his comeback and returned to the field this weekend. He needs to work his way into it and started with the Southbridge Rugby Club just south of Christchurch, New Zealand, where his career begin.
While fans and photographers crowded the Southbridge rugby grounds last Saturday, all eyes were firmly on Carter. However, for Wheeling Jesuit’s Max Lum, it was the opportunity of a lifetime to pull on a jersey, and actually take the field with one of the greatest to ever play the game.
All Americans Get AcquaintedThe Collegiate All Americans are in training at Dartmouth College, taking advantage of the outstanding fields and clubhouse on campus.
This is a new training venue for many of the western players, and of course many of these players don't know each other all that well ... until now.
St. Mary's has the largest contingent of players, but Gaels skipper Cooper Maloney said it's important that his teammates don't just gravitate to each other.
"The Saint Mary's guys are pretty spread out so, along with everyone else, we'll be learning how to work with different players and their unique styles of play," Maloney told the Goff Rugby Report. "I am lucky to still have Kingsley McGowan inside of me at 13 so we have a connection that has grown strong throughout the year. He is a lethal weapon and I have learned how to work off his line breaks."
This is a new training venue for many of the western players, and of course many of these players don't know each other all that well ... until now.
St. Mary's has the largest contingent of players, but Gaels skipper Cooper Maloney said it's important that his teammates don't just gravitate to each other.
"The Saint Mary's guys are pretty spread out so, along with everyone else, we'll be learning how to work with different players and their unique styles of play," Maloney told the Goff Rugby Report. "I am lucky to still have Kingsley McGowan inside of me at 13 so we have a connection that has grown strong throughout the year. He is a lethal weapon and I have learned how to work off his line breaks."
All Americans Get AcquaintedThe Collegiate All Americans are in training at Dartmouth College, taking advantage of the outstanding fields and clubhouse on campus.
This is a new trianing venue for many of the western players, and of course many of these players don't know each other all that well ... until now.
St. Mary's has the largest contingent of players, but Gaels skipper Cooper Maloney said it's important that his teammates don't just gravitate to each other.
"The Saint Mary's guys are pretty spread out so, along with everyone else, we'll be learning how to work with different players and their unique styles of play," Maloney told the Goff Rugby Report. "I am lucky to still have Kingsley McGowan inside of me at 13 so we have a connection that has grown strong throughout the year. He is a lethal weapon and I have learned how to work off his line breaks."
This is a new trianing venue for many of the western players, and of course many of these players don't know each other all that well ... until now.
St. Mary's has the largest contingent of players, but Gaels skipper Cooper Maloney said it's important that his teammates don't just gravitate to each other.
"The Saint Mary's guys are pretty spread out so, along with everyone else, we'll be learning how to work with different players and their unique styles of play," Maloney told the Goff Rugby Report. "I am lucky to still have Kingsley McGowan inside of me at 13 so we have a connection that has grown strong throughout the year. He is a lethal weapon and I have learned how to work off his line breaks."
