As we go into the big North American Rugby Party that is the USA 7s and the Canada 7s a week later, it’s worth thinking about how rugby can be a chance to let loose and let your hair down, and also something that makes you grow up.

The Ramblin’ Jesters is an elite invitational sevens team in the grand tradition of the Barbarians and other compilation teams, operating out of London in the UK.   This year they won the Rosslyn Park Floodlit 7s (beating London Irish and five-time winners Harlequins en-route to the final). The Jesters also won the Rugby Rocks Festival in London and the Copenhagen 7s in Denmark.  In addition, the team also finished runner-up tp the German national team in the Nancy 7s tournament in France, and, on their first trip to the USA, took third place in the Serevi RugbyTown 7s in Glendale Colo., finishing 6-1, and losing only to the eventual winners, Denver. The Ramblin’ Jesters are keen to grow their US activity and connections and create opportunities for players on both sides of the Atlantic to play rugby to an elite level.  One demonstration of this initiative was that last week the Jesters had a squad of 13 players in Glendale, of which seve were US-based college players, all under the age of 21. Those players mixed with players from overseas for a unique playing experience. The Ramblin’ Jesters are pleased to sponsor this Goff Rugby Report USA Young Sevens Player of the Month Award.

For Stephen Tomasin, this is especially true. The former Santa Rosa U19 player was named a collegiate All Americans as a freshman at San Diego State, and joined the USA 7s program that year, also. Seemingly out of nowhere, he was training and playing on some of rugby’s biggest stages, and learning along the way.

It didn’t hurt that his then-coach at San Diego State, Matt Hawkins, became the USA 7s team coach. But while Hawkins didn’t stay as coach, Tomasin has stayed as a player, making and at 22 is now a USA 7s team veteran, and has even been capped at 15s.

Not tall - he’s about 5-10 - but powerful - he’s over 200 lbs - Tomasin is a balfback with a hooker’s body, a 7s prop who can run like a center, and he can pass and tackle. 

He had to develop all of those skills as a teenager in the USA system, and it wasn’t easy.

“It has been quite a journey for me through the program, and one that I wouldn't trade for anything,” Tomasin told Goff Rugby Report. “I’ve grown so much as a player but even more so as a person. My game has evolved immensely since I was first with the program in 2013. When you train around professionals you have no choice but to learn and improve or you won't last long in a program like ours. It is tough but it makes you grow up and mature quickly which I am thankful for. Wouldn't be the athlete or person I am now without it.”

Playing and training at the international level was a big jump up for Tomasin, but even more so after he was injured.

“The game at this level is so fast, in order to make this team you have to be able to read game situations quickly and react accordingly. That was something I struggled when I was first back from my injury.”

The injury - we’d have been impressed with how Tomasin has worked his way through regardless of any other obstacles, but what hurt the young player was a serious knee injury that put him out of commission for a long period, and could have discouraged anyone.

“My injury was a hard time for me because I'd never been seriously injured growing up,” said Tomasin. “Then to completely blow out my knee reminded me how lucky I was to be where I was with the team. I was fortunate to have Friday and his staff keep me with the training squad when they took over. There's no way I would've been able to recover like I did without the constant encouragement I was receiving from the boys we had.”

Chief among those was Zack Test, who had started with the USA 7s program as a teenager, like Tomasin, and had gone through learning phases, setbacks, and injuries, as well.

“Zack Test has been a great mentor to me over the years,” explained Tomasin. “He’s always given me advice and encouragement through the process and especially my injury.”

Working with Brian Green on the USA staff, Tomasin got himself back to playing shape. It wasn’t easy; it required a ton of work, but he is back on the team and playing well.

“I feel great,” he said. “My knee is better than I ever expected it to be. I continue to rehab it still. I've learned a to respect my body and take good care of it or it will eventually get too worn down. My hopes for the year are to play better and better each leg of the World Series. Even though our squad has changed to a less experienced one post-Olympics, we still have a great squad and one that will do big things. We expect ourselves to finish top 5 by the end of the season. We have the ability to do that. Now it's just us putting our individual games together to produce quality rugby every weekend.”

It's easy to forget that Stephen Tomasin is only 22, because he's been with the USA program for four seasons. But he's already shown a ton of heart and the desire to learn, and we know his best years are ahead of him.

Stephen Tomasin is our Ramblin' Jesters Young 7s Player of the Month.

For more on the Ramblin' Jesters, see here.