Feb. 19th 2012

Greetings
Riaan Van Schalkwyk
Director:NC All Stars
7044512023

Dec. 23rd By USA Rugby

The Men’s Junior All-Americans (JAAs) are gearing up for the 2012 season that will culminate in June with the Junior World Rugby Trophy. To begin the process of selecting the team, Head Coach Scott Lawrence will hold two combines to assess the talent in the nearly 100-player pool he has named. 

To accommodate the number of athletes being considered for JAA selection, two combine-style selection camps will be held this winter, a December camp in Atlanta and the other in San Francisco in January.

The athletes will undergo strength and explosiveness tests including vertical leap, the 10-meter dash with and without the ball, the 40-meter dash, and agility tests.

A key goal for Lawrence is to get a good look at each athlete by acquiring data, sharing that information with the players, and giving them an idea of where they need to be if they hope to make the team.

Lawrence has enlisted the help of a number of talent identifiers with proven records for eyeing rugby talent.

At the east coast combine, Lawrence has employed the help of Matt Huckaby (Arkansas State), Dan Payne (Life University), Alex Houser (Arkansas State), and Paul Barford (High School All-American Assistant Coach).

The west coast talent identifiers are Chris Osentowski and Vaha Esikia (Las Vegas Rugby Academy). Both are former Eagles with World Cup experience.

Of course, game play and awareness are also key for coaches and the final day of each combine will provide a glimpse of what the players can do as it will consist of scrimmages under the watchful eye of Lawrence and his talent identifiers.

The Atlanta camp had a slight damper put on it by the weather, as the turf fields that Garry Sullivan and the Atlanta Renegades generously volunteered for the combine replaced the original grass field at Life University.

An extensive network of scouts charged with identifying talent around the country at regional and national all-star events submitted their findings to Lawrence, who will begin to narrow the pool down.

The squad will begin to take shape in the early spring as player availability and fitness will inform final selection to the JAAs.

The All-American pathway, beginning with the High School All-Americans, is a proven track to international honors. Notable former Junior All-Americans (formerly USA U20s) include Takudzwa Ngwenya, Zack Test, Mike Petri, and Todd Clever.

Oct. 5th 2011

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*NOTE: You must complete the Introducing Rugby Course before the Developing Rugby Skills Course. Each course is a 2 day course, you can only take one course per location.

**If a workshop does not have 10 participants enrolled 10 days prior to the workshop date, it will be cancelled.  We encourage all participants to register at the early bird rate (see price breakdown below schedule).  USA Rugby is not responsible for refunding travel costs associated with attending a course, even if it is cancelled due to lack of enrollment or otherwise.

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Important Price Information:

1. All price changes occur 15 days prior to the scheduled course dates, we encourage all coaches to register at the Early Bird rate.
2. Online registration closes the Wednesday before the workshop at 12:00pm MST. You will be considered a walk-in at the $300 rate after this time.

3. If a workshop does not have 10 participants enrolled 10 days prior to the workshop date, it will be cancelled.  We encourage all participants to register at the early bird rate