Grand Canyon University has announced it has hired Lindenwood University backs and 7s coach Cameron Wyper as the men's rugby program's new backs and 7s coach. 

Wyper brings considerable playing and coaching experience to a GCU team that will include over 35 players who played high school rugby in the U.S. 

Wyper spent the last three years helping coach the Lindenwood rugby team as it ascended into the top-10 rankings of college rugby.  He coached the Lindenwood 7s team to the national collegiate rugby 7s title in 2015.  Wyper also brings important experience in the strength and conditioning sector to the GCU staff.

Wyper will be able to draw on his experience playing in both the international and professional ranks.  Wyper played for the Scotland national 7s squad from 2011-2012.  He also played professionally in Australia for the Canberra Vikings team.  He was a member of the ACT Brumbies Academy and the ACT Brumby Super A First XV. 

Wyper will have plenty to work with at GCU.  GCU’s roster for the 2016-2017 will be nearly 60 members strong, including over 35 high school rugby players.  GCU returns every player who played in its first round playoff loss last year.  The team will include its first class of home grown upper-classmen, and the roster will be peppered with five players who have played for the U.S. U20 or U18 national teams.  Junior co-captains, and  2016 U20 national team members, Darien Pickett and Nick Kwasniewski will help lead what is a bit of an anomaly in American college rugby – a team with no foreign-born players.

GCU Rugby will continue its tradition of playing the best teams available, and will open the fall by playing in the top two 7s competitions in the West.  Last year, GCU opened the fall 7s season by playing in the West Coast 7s where it was matched against national champion Cal Bears team in the second match.  Despite being tied with Cal at half 7-7, GCU could not hold on for the upset. 

“I look forward to helping the team prepare for the challenge of playing the best teams in the country in October,” Wyper said.  “It’s still a young team, but there’s potential.”