EIRA U15s Cap Successful Tour of Spain

The EIRA backs showed significant improvement through the week. As expected with players from multiple states, they struggled to connect. But over the course of the tour they worked hard in training to improve their catch-pass timing and running lines. Their tactical decision-making was challenged from the start and Madrid played most of the first game in the EIRA end of the field. Good exits were tough to find and that also made it difficult to launch attacks. The scrumhalf pairing of Lars Starling (Katy Barbarians, Texas) and Miguel Alegria (Charlotte Tigers, NC) combined with Daniel Bennett (also of Katy), Michael Doerfler (St. Thomas Aquinas, Kan.). and John Hamilton Carter (Culpeper, Va.) to run the backs. Carter, one of the youngest on tour, played some at flyhalf and also wing and fullback. By tournament time they had a good understanding of their tactical roles and did a great job managing the attack. EIRA forwards worked hard during the week learning how to function in a flood-and-spread attack. The front row included props Evan Ingalls (Valor, Colo.), Lucas Swanson (Fond du lac Stoutmen, Wisc.), hookers Sullivan Sites (Warrior Rugby, Ohio), and Felipe Edbrooke (Strake Jesuit, Texas). Griffith Ingram, (Chuckanut, Wash.) at prop was the youngest player on tour. Heneli Iongi (American Fork, Utah) alternated between tighthead prop and No. 8 and he also carried well, while Brave Dolan (Valor, Colo.) was a menace at flanker poaching and setting the tone with strong defense and excellent support play on attack. The EIRA center combinations of Paolo Masso (Strake Jesuit, Texas), Liam McGettigan (Knightmare Rugby, Pa.) Drew Smith (Greer 76ers, SC), and Killian Ingram (Eastside Lions, Wash.) showed potential to get over the gainline with hard running lines and offloads. The back three combinations of Corbin Rose (Green Bay Leprechauns, Wisc.) David Pfaff (Roosters Youth Rugby Md.), and Tyler Gilbert (Loudoun, Va.) worked well in a pendulum defense. Corbin was especially useful with his timely clearance kicks and try-saving tackles in the open field. The flexibility and willingness of these players to quickly adapt to a variety of positions was hugely important to the success of the tour, as was the work by the coaching team of Jim Tate, Andrew Brischke, and Tommy Dolan. This team included several players who had never left the country before, and the trip was a rugby development tour for sure, but it was also a personal development tour. Players learned what it was like to be in a serious road trip and go from airplane to the work they had to do (in this case, playing rugby) in short order. The team itself came from 15 states and 22 different clubs. Tuesday April 16th – EIRA v Madrid 3 periods 1st – 17-14 EIRA 2nd – 12-5 EIRA 3rd – 0-17 Madrid Final EIRA U15s 29-36 Madrid Saturday April 20th – Arroyo International Tournament EIRA 25 Arroyo 5 EIRA 7 VRAC 0 EIRA 19 Aranda 0 EIRA 14 VRAC Select 5 EIRA U15 Tour Spain 2024 Roster First Name Last Name Age Height Weight Position(s) Rugby Club State Miguel Alegria 15 5'8" 135 Flyhalf Katy Barbarians Rugby Club TX John Hamilton Carter 14 6'1" 160 Lock Monarch RFC CO Michael Doerfler 15 5'9" 160 Flanker Valor High School CO Felipe Edbrooke 14 6'1" 185 Lock East Oregon Rugby Club OR Tyler Gilbert 15 5'11" 155 Center/Lock West Carroll Marauders MD Evan Ingalls 15 5'11" 225 Prop Chuckanut Rugby Club WA Killian Ingram 15 5'10" 200 Prop/No. 8 American Fork Rugby UT Robert Kellen 14 5'11" 165 Center Strake Jesuit Rugby TX Liam McGettigan 15 5'7" 132 Wing Rooster Youth Rugby MD Corbin Rose 15 5'7" 156 Hooker Warrior Rugby Football Club OH Magnus Smail 14 5'8" 160 Center Greer 76ers SC Lars Starling 14 5'10" 215 Prop Fond du lac Stoutmen WI Caleb Swartz 15 5'10" 150 Flanker Pulaski Rugby WI Quade Walker 14