For the third consecutive summer, the Legion Academy has returned to Australia, with the U18 squad achieving its highest success rate to date by winning its first three pool matches at the New South Wales State Championships.
The tour began with a visit to the University of New South Wales (UNSW), where players met with International Admissions staff and the Athletic Director.
The visit was led by Legion Academy Assistant Coach Tommy Wagner, a former USA U20 and U18 player who recently spent three years at UNSW playing for Randwick and the Waratahs Academy.
Now assisting Head Coach Dan Declark, Wagner is sharing his first-hand international experience with the next generation.
"The speed of the game here is the biggest adjustment," Wagner said. "Every phase is faster, and everyone knows their role."
Following the tour, the team held a training session at Latham Park, the home of Randwick Rugby, with Two Waratahs coaches running the session.
The NSW State Championships is a prestigious tournament featuring Shute Shield teams and top regional sides. Facing a field of 20 elite teams, the Legion Academy opened with a physical bout against Eastwood RFC.
Key in the game was when USA U18 player Luke Hensley blocked a kick that led to a try from tighthead prop Thomas Reynoso. For Hensley, this tour is familiar territory as he is the most traveled Legion academy player and has competed in 10 different countries over the last two years.
Three-time Legion Academy tourist, Kolo Kahanu from Nelson College NZ, later secured a vital turnover, feeding Finn Hannegan for a massive break. Hannegan will remain in Sydney after the teams go home and will play the rest of the summer with Randwick before starting his freshman year at UNSW.
West Point commit Cam Geiselman played solid defense in the backline, while flyhalf Max Ricono (headed to the US Naval Academy this fall) sealed the 13-7 victory with a late penalty goal. Last year Eastwood beat the Legion Academy 12-0, so this was an impressive turnaround.
