While the Eagle Impact Rugby Academy U16s are getting an early foray into high performance touring, the U17s are already old hands. 

Head Coach Brendan Keane took a large chunk of the U17s to British Columbia last year, and they swept the BC U16s in two games. So they are relatively seasoned coming into this week.

“We’re looking to build on last year,” Keane told Goff Rugby Report. “Several of these guys were in BC last year or in Las Vegas. We’re developing a really good culture where they’re all pushing themselves to be better.”

This U17 team is now looking to be, along with some other select sides, a nice step toward the HS All Americans. 

There are several breakout players in the EIRA U17s, including two flyhalves in David Hannon out of Royal Irish, and Desi Streater out of Granite Bay. Blake Richards-Smith had a habit of scoring clutch tries this past year, and the Coastal Dragons lock, along with West Pines (Fla.) No. 8 Chase Schor Haskin, United (Utah) loose forward Bailey Wilson, and Union (Okla.) lock Asa Carter, will help the EIRA team bring some height and aerial skills to the party.

The EIRA U17s (see full roster here) will face the BC U17s at 1pm Wednesday in the first of the two games on this tour.