The Maccabiah Games are back for 2026 and the USA Maccabia rugby team is looking for U19 players.
The Maccabiah Games are sometimes called the "Jewish Olympics." It is a multi-sport international sports festival held in Israel every four years.
The USA regularly competes in the rugby competitions and Maccabi USA is looking for rugby players born in 2007-2009 (and 2010-born players if they can handle it physically).
Players will need to submit their rugby resume and film to be selected.
Players must get themselves to one of five US cities and then take a team flight to Tel Aviv. The trip includes a one-week tour of Israel, team preparation in Israel, and competition.
All athletes in the youth sports brackets can qualify for a scholarship, and athletes can learn about that when they contact the team. Each athlete also gets a fundraising site and can get tax-deductible donations.
This is a unique opportunity available for young Jewish rugby players who not only want to play rugby internationally but want to connect with their heritage.
Interested players or parents should contact John Delport at johndelport78@gmail.com to apply or learn more.
