SIX SELECTED FOR USA CAMP
Jacob Broselle will join a group of Wildcats in representing the Cats. (Photo credits: Brandon Nowak)
Dec 27- Arizona Rugby received an early Christmas gift this past week when six of their top prospects were selected for the 2021 USA age-grade camp. This year's mark is one of the highest in the country, and the most Wildcats selected since 2016. The 97 athletes will assemble in Chula Vista, California for a short camp combining the USA Under-18, Under-20, and Under-23 sides, with an eye on future opportunities this Summer and continuation through the age-grade pathway.
Leading the group is Senior Kyle Fulton as the speedster from Laedera Ranch, California looks to impress the USA U23 staff. The All PAC-12 Wing will look to build on a standout career for the Wildcats and a strong Sevens preseason.
Five Wildcats will be in the U20 camp, as the US looks to establish continuity with an eye on the Junior World Rugby Trophy and other age-grade programming later this year. Up front, Freshman Prop Dalton Slaughter (CO) earns the nod after a strong first preseason in Tucson. Jack Brown, a 6-4 225-pound Lock from Charlotte joins him in the tight five. In the back row, EJ Freeman looks to impress at Flanker after earning the Mark Shively award in 2021 as the Freshmen of the Year.
Two Sevens standouts who played instrumental roles in the Fall have also earned selection for this year's camp in Scrumhalf George O'Brien and Wing/Center Jacob Broselle. Each of the Sophomores have emerged as key pieces for the present and future, and will look to impress the U20 staff in their return to the age-grade scene. Five of the six selections played a part in previous age-grade camps and tours, and will look to continue on the pathway followed by alumni like recent olympian Brett Thompson and current USA standout Ryan Matyas, amongst others. "We are proud to support these athletes and the US national teams in their goal to develop and identify talent early so that we can collectively move the country forward. All six of these guys have worked hard, and they're hoping to follow in the footsteps of guys that have come before them. We know they'll represent us well and to have so many athletes selected is a great sign for our talent development as a staff" said Director of Rugby Sean Duffy.
The Wildcats are joined by Lindenwood University (9) and Army (8) with the most selections in this year's camp, which will be overseen by Head of Performance Huw Bevan and Men's High Performance Pathways Manager Brendan Keane. Newly-hired USA U20s Head Coach Kyle Sumsion (Army) and U23s Head Coach Todd Thornley (Central Washington) oversee the sides that the Wildcats this week before their return to Tucson for minicamp and the kickoff to the season January 22nd.