Junior All Americans named for winter camp

Interim head coach JD Stephenson has named 52 players to participate in a Junior All Americans training camp at Arizona’s Casa Grande Academy from December 19-22. The camp will act as a preliminary selection vehicle for a second camp to be held in January, and ultimately to take part in a one-off match against Canada u20 on February 13 in Austin, Texas. The winners of that fixture will qualify for the 2016 World Rugby u20 Trophy tournament to be held in Harare, Zimbabwe, starting on April 19.

Stephenson, currently the director of rugby at Lindenwood University, took over the head coaching role from Scott Lawrence, who had been appointed in August but was forced to step down due to expanded work commitments. Lawrence will continue to play a role as technical director and specialist defense coach. Last year’s head coach Michael Engelbrecht is also named with combined roles, acting as manager and backs coach.

A number of players were unavailable with school, family, overseas commitments, and injuries all proving obstacles. Those players will be considered for later training camps and final selection. Flanker Hanco Germishuys and flyhalf Ben Cima are the most notable of the absentees.

Props James Gannon, Nick Kwasniewski, and Darien Pickett were all part of last year’s squad that came up short in two games against the Canadians. Halfbacks Evan Clark and Austin Taefu were part of the All American 7s program along with outside back Tyler Sousley. Brennan Falcon is the younger brother of former Junior All American skipper Cameron.

FORWARDS
Israel Brown (Lee), Dustin Dowers (Lindenwood), Sone Faitau (Kansas City Islanders), Sean Gannon (Indiana), Carter Hunchik (Life), Nick Kwasniewski (Grand Canyon), Mason Pedersen (Arizona), Darien Pickett (Grand Canyon), Thomas Rippert (Clemson), Roman Salanoa (Kahuku High), Chance Wenglewski (Lindenwood), Bruce Yun (California State), Steven Branham (Arizona), Zach Haley (Metropolis), Dan Hostetler (U of Cardiff), Malon Al-Jiboori (Lindenwood), Jesse Mendenhall (San Diego State), Makai Clearwater (Utah Valley), Sam Devine (Kutztown), Brennan Falcon (Louisiana State), Angel Santiago (Kutztown), King Dazem Stevenson (1823), Ovalati Moala (Life West), Veuki Taumoefolau (Las Vegas Irish)

BACKS
Evan Clark (Colorado), Ruben de Haas (Little Rock), Austin Taefu (Tempe), Brian Hannon (Arizona), Jihad Khabir (AIC), Kyle Makaiwi (Utah Valley), Joseph O’Shields (Kutztown), Cameron Troxler (Louisiana State), Duncan van Schalkwyk (Life), Alex Walsh (Arizona State), Conor Fay (Virginia Tech), Will Fifita (Rangeview High), Aedan Mangan (Dayton), Conner Mooneyham (Life), Will Ben Sims (Trinity College), Lui Sitama (AIC), Lorenzo Thomas (Lindenwood), Jeremy Fleet (Arizona), Aaron Gray (Wheeling Jesuit), Travis Heer (Lindenwood), Deion Mikesell (Lindenwood), Dan Moore (Belmont Shore), Nathaniel Short (Arizona State), Tyler Sousley (Arizona), Dante Weeks (Arizona), Richard Parker (San Diego State), Cristian Rodriguez (Lindenwood), Mitch Wilson (Life)

Head Coach – JD Stephenson
Technical Director / Defense Coach – Scott Lawrence
Manager / Backs Coach – Michael Engelbrecht
Forwards Coach – Paule Barford
Skills Coach – Kevin Battle
Strength & Conditioning – Justin Goonan
Therapist – Dennis Greenhill