Six Colorado-based players make Eagles' 35-man Spring Camp roster

Article by Chad Wise | Originally published at usarugby.org

Mike Tolkin’s Eagles will prepare for a three-match tour to South America, the Pacific Nations Cup, and the upcoming Rugby World Cup in England and its buildup matches with a spring camp in Sunrise, Fla., Feb. 26 to March 1.

Thirty-three domestic-based athletes, including Todd Clever (unaffiliated) and Mike Petri of New York Athletic Club, as well as two international-based, capped Eagles in Ronnie McLean and John Quill, have been called to assemble at long-time Eagle training venue KICS Facility.

John Cullen, Tim Stanfill, Ben Tarr, and Matt Trouville will head to Florida having gained their first test caps last fall in matches against Fiji, New Zealand, Romania, and Tonga. The Eagles’ tour was highlighted by the sold-out crowd of 61,500 at Soldier Fieldin Chicago for the Eagles’ match against the All Blacks.

Tolkin and staff, including Assistant Coach Justin Fitzpatrick, held a forwards camp at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., earlier in February with 20 pool players, which gave the staff time to work with players in specific set piece scenarios. An Eagles Select XV squad will be chosen from this weekend’s camp to play three A-side matches against Uruguay and Argentina Jaguars in South America in April and May.

“After a long time apart, our Spring Camp always serves as an opportunity to get the Eagle pool players back on page with how we operate, and it also serves to introduce any new tactics that we’re looking to implement for the upcoming international season,” Tolkin said. “Moreover, it provides a venue for some talented new and younger players to be seen and evaluated for the first time at this level.”

Boys High School All-American and AIG Men’s Junior All-American Ben Cima, currently enrolled and playing rugby at University of Maryland, earns his second call to an Eagles camp, with his first coming prior to the Eagles Select XV’s Americas Rugby Championship campaign last October.

Eagles November squad member Angus MacLellan and Kutztown University’s Niku Kruger and Mike Lawrenson – the latter now attending Palmer College – also represent the college ranks in the Spring Camp roster. Alec Gletzer of University of California and Kyle Sumsion of Brigham Young University were unavailable for selection.

“It is an exciting time as our pool continues to grow in numbers and talent, and both of these factors present our staff with greater opportunity as well as greater challenges,” Tolkin said.

While Tolkin welcomes back Toby L’Estrange from an injury sustained in early 2014, the Eagles will be without Adam Siddall, who has retired from international rugby. The fly half started seven of his eight international tests with the Eagles, including his debut against Canada in Edmonton May 25, 2013. His 52 points from eight conversions and 12 penalty goals helped the Eagles to three wins, including a latevictory against Georgia Nov. 16, 2013.

Life University graduate and current club standout AJ MacGinty will get his first taste of an Eagles assembly in Florida. The American Rugby Premiership’s leading scorer with 75 points is now eligible to represent the United States at the test level.

Danny Barrett, who missed out on the majority of the match against the All Blacks due to an injury sustained in the first few minutes, is one of five Men’s Eagles Sevens representatives at the Spring Camp. Folau Niua of 12 caps and Andrew Durutalo and Zack Test, called upon for the ARC, will travel to Sunrise with Barrett and Maka Unufe. The sevens team is coming off of its first Cup Semifinal of a World Rugby HSBC Sevens World Series leg since 2010 at USA Sevens Valentine’s Day weekend.

“The Spring Camp takes on further significance as we look towards selecting players for the development tour to South America in April,” Tolkin said. “The camp is also the starting point for building the Rugby World Cup squad later this summer. There’s quite a lot of competition for spots among the domestic players alone, so the way players go about their business on and off the field, no matter their longevity with the Eagles, will be incredibly important in how they are evaluated by the staff.

“I’d like to personally thank the clubs and universities for the use of their players, some during the competitive season, and I would like to thank the Men’s Eagles Sevens program for their cooperation and participation in our camp.”

KICS Facility, adjacent to Sawgrass Grand Hotel, affords the players and staff the unique opportunity to walk directly from the hotel to the training field, maximizing the on-field time over the course of the weekend as well as minimizing ground transportation costs. Fort Lauderdale Rugby Club will also support the Eagles with equipment and operational needs during camp.

The Eagles Select XV’s matches in South America begin in Montevideo against Uruguay Thursday, April 23, before two against Argentina Jaguars Tuesday, April 28, and Saturday, May 2, in Buenos Aires and Mendoza, respectively.

Men's Eagles Spring Camp
PLAYER | CLUB/SCHOOL
Danny Barrett | Men's Eagles Sevens
Chris Baumann | Santa Monica Dolphins / New York Athletic
Ben Cima | University of Maryland
Todd Clever | Unaffiliated
John Cullen | Seattle Saracens
Andrew Durutalo | Men's Eagles Sevens
Zach Fenoglio | Glendale Raptors
Lemoto Filikitonga | Metropolis Rugby
Troy Hall | New York Athletic
Seamus Kelly | San Francisco Golden Gate / New York Athletic
Olive Kilifi | Seattle Saracens
Niku Kruger | Kutztown University
Ben Landry | Seattle Saracens / Milwaukee Barbarians
Mike Lawrenson | Palmer Dragons
Toby L'Estrange | New York Athletic Club
Chad London | Glendale Raptors
Angus MacLellan | Davenport University
Al McFarland | New York Athletic
AJ MacGinty | Life Running Eagles
Ronnie McLean | Ealing Trailfinders
Folau Niua | Men's Eagles Sevens
Brodie Orth | Glendale Raptors / Boston Rugby
Mike Petri | New York Athletic
Ben Pinkelman | Denver Barbarians / Colorado State University
John Quill | Dolphin Rugby (Ireland)
Jope Ravolaca | Seattle Saracens
Mike Shepherd | Seattle Saracens
Tim Stanfill | Seattle Saracens
Shalom Suniula | Seattle Saracens
Ben Tarr | Glendale Raptors
Zack Test | Men's Eagles Sevens
Phil Thiel | Life Rugby
Matt Trouville | Seattle Saracens
Maka Unufe | Men's Eagles Sevens
Nick Wallace | Glendale Raptors


Unavailable for selection 
Alec Gletzer - University of California 
Kyle Sumsion - Brigham Young University

Injured 
Louis Stanfill - Seattle Saracens Rugby Football Club

Men's Eagles Coach Staff | Spring Camp 
Mike Tolkin - Head Coach 
Justin Fitzpatrick - Assistant Coach, Forwards 
Nate Osborne - Assistant Coach, Backs/Attack 
Phil Bailey - Assistant Coach, Defense 
Neil McMillan - Strength & Conditioning Coach 
Chris O'Brien - Assistant Coach/Video Analyst 
Richard Quincy - Physiotherapist 
Zach Vyhnanek - Physiotherapist 
Marc Kowalsky - Doctor 
Sean Lindersmith - Assistant Manager 
Tristan Lewis - Team Manager