All-Time American List: Nick Fedorenko
All-Time American List: Nick Fedorenko
Nick Fedorenko was an accomplished football player at Notre Dame and an elite rugby player throughout the 1970s.
He took up the sport at Notre Dame and went on to play 15 years for the Chicago Lions. He toured with the USA Cougars to South Africe and Rhodesia, and was considered one of the very best players to come out of the Midwest during the early years of the modern era of the rugby in the USA.
A lock forward most of the time, Fedorenko was a physical presence, a lineout force, and strong and durable. He played 68 times for the Midwest select side during a time when the program player against national teams. So while he was never capped, he suited up against England, South Africa, Japan, and Rhodesia, as well as the South African U23s.
(By the way, during the amateur heyday of rugby, these games weren't against national team wannabes. The Midwest vs England game featured pretty much England's best side, with Steve Smith, Les Cusworth, Clive Woodward, Dustry Hare, John Carelton, and Peter Winterbottom leading a very tough team.)
It's rare for us to bring into this All-Time American list a player who didn't get a cap, but Fedorenko was at the highest level of American rugby for well over a decade.
Support Goff Rugby Report by donating anonymously>>
Support Goff Rugby Report by shopping at World Rugby Shop>>
See more about our All-Time Americans Here and Make Suggestions>>
