Born in Virginia but trained in Australia, Mike Hercus returned to the United States with an eye toward making the USA team, and not only did he accomplish that fete, he obliterated records.

The flyhalf joined Belmont Shore and immediately emerged as one of the best players in the league. Within a year he was on the Eagles, and helped that team rebound from a rough 2002 to log one the USA men's 15s team's best seasons in 2003. That year the USA finished 7-6—easily the most wins they'd ever recorded in a calendar year—and also logged their best results in the World Cup, going 1-3, with a bonus-point win over Japan and a close loss to Fiji.

Through it all Hercus was the center of the USA attack. He often set up his backs by slipping through gaps and then feeding his runners. His goalkicking was on point, and as a result he started to rack up the points. 

Through his USA career that ran from 2002 to 2010, Hercus was capped 48 times and his 465 points is the most by an Eagle by almost 200 points. His 77 points in World Cups is the most by any Eagle (by over 30) and he also holds the record for points in one World Cup, scoring 51 in 2003.

Hercus was a successful pro overseas as well, and everywhere he went he brought energy and excitement to his attacking play. And he was always putting points on the scoreboard.

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