Two star USA age-grade players have been awarded Graham Downes scholarships to train at a rugby academy in South Africa.

Hanco Germishuys and Brian Nault will spend a month at the Sharks Academy in Durban, South Africa courtesy of the scholarship fund named after the former USA and OMBAC prop.

"Basher" Graham Downes was a hugely well-respected player and later as a successful architect in the San Diego area. He was murdered in 2013, and an employee, Higinio Salgado, was found guilty of the crime and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Germishuys playing for the USA U20s. Judy Teasdale photo.

Friends and former teammates of Downes set up the memorial scholarship fund to connect young American rugby players with the place where Downes grew up and learned to play rugby, the state of Natal in South Africa. The players receive airfare to and from Durban, South Africa, and four weeks of accommodations and professional rugby instruction at the Sharks Academy.

Nault plays for Shelton in Rugby Washington and is a No. 8 with the HS All American team. He has captained the HS All Americans and is considered one of the programs best leads. He is a former Goff Rugby Report Player of the Week (click here).

Germishuys was born in South Africa but played his HS rugby in Nebraska. He has played for the HS All Americans and USA U20s, and helped Gloucester's U18 team win the national title in England. Germishuys then returned to the USA to help the Glendale Raptors win the Pacific Rugby Premiership. He is also a former Goff Rugby Report Player of the Week (click here).