The International Rugby Academy of New Zealand is hosting a tournament this spring for high-level age-grade teams, and is looking for an American team to participate.
The U18 tournament will be held April 7-13 in Upper Hutt, NZ, which is Northeast of Wellington on the North Island.
IRANZ is looking to not only host the tournament but assist high-level players in their preparation and development.
So this would be a residency tournament where the players would also receive world-class coaching from the likes of Wayne Taylor (Japan National Team, Super Rugby Lions, Romania National Program), Colin Cooper (Maori All Blacks, Super Rugby), Aaron Mauger (All Black, Fiji National Team Coach, Super Rugby), Dave Ellis (English Premiership, Super Rugby, NZ Blackfersn coach), Mick Byrne (Super Rugby, All Blacks, Japan, Scotland, Australia), and international referee Ben O'Keeffe.
Throughout the period of the tournament, teams and players will benefit from the presence and guidance of IRANZ coaches, who will provide skill sessions, feedback, and leadership mentoring to help both team and individual development.
What would work best, say organizers, is a select side of top young American players to be assembled to play and learn in this event, which would potentially coincide with Spring Break for many young players.
To get more information about the event and the costs involved, go to: https://www.iranztournament.com/
As a 17-year-old Spencer Huntley required a waiver to play for the USA U20s, an indication of how he was rated in the USA age-grade pathway. He got that waiver and impressed for the USA U20s, and then moved up to the USA U23s. He led the San Diego Mustangs to a national HS Club championship in 2024.
He also played in the SoCal single-school league for Cathedral Catholic.
Hope Rogers began playing rugby at age 16 in high school and continued to compete during her time at Penn State University. There, she won four National Championships, was crowned MVP on two occasions, was named to the USA Under-20s and earned Collegiate All-American honors for four years. Rogers was also an impressive discus player during her senior year in high school where she broke a school record and won Gold at Districts for the sport.
Mike played for Life College, Philly-Whitemarsh and played for the USA National 7s and 15s teams in the 1980s and 1990s.
He was also part of the Atlantis touring side, playing 7s for the team in several around the world.
