A strong college presence will help Old Blue try to climb the club 7s championship mountain next week, with recent collegians Michael Al-Jiboori (Oklahoma), Dylan Carrion (Arkansas State), Harry Higgins (Arkansas State), Gavan D'Amore Morrison (AIC), Marcus Henderson (Stanford), Michael St. Claire (Stony Brook), and Bobby McMahon (Columbia) on the club's squad for the big tournament.

Old Blue will be captained by former University of Minnesota All Americans Nate Augspurger, who now plays with the USA 7s team. 

Coach Stephen Lewis said the influx of college players gave his experienced team a boost, but it was also a learning experience for them.

"For a lot of them, the physicality of the men's game was a surprise, and some of them struggled with it," said Lewis, who will keep the college players in his Northeast Academy through August for the Serevi RugbyTown 7s in Glendale, Colo, World Club 7s in Limerick, Ireland, and the Elite City 7s.

Asked which college players managed the adjustment the best, Lewis didn't hesitate, and named Carrion, easily the smallest player on the team, Carrion is a fearless terrier of a player, and was the 2013 USA Rugby College 7s Championships MVP. Being small, Carrion is used to going up again bigger players, so bigger, scarier club players held no worry for him.

Higgins, who was a big part of ASU's championship in 2013, is back after missing most of the summer due to injury. He is a physical presence to go with D'Amore Morrison.

"I believe that the Northeast comp is the most competitive in the country and we will be all the better for it, having been tested regularly by other talented Northeast clubs such as fellow qualifiers Mystic, our crosstown rivals NYAC, and the Bulldogs," said Lewis.