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Bombers Make USA Elite Player Squad
March 20, 2008 - Boulder, CO
Following careful consideration from the National Team selectors and High Performance Managers, USA Rugby has officially announced the 2008 Men’s and Women’s Elite Player Squads (EPS).
The Elite Player Squad serves as the primary selection vehicle for USA Rugby Senior National Teams throughout the year. All athletes named to the EPS will be closely monitored by National Team coaches and selectors, as well as four High Performance (HP) managers, who will act as the main points of contact for players in their respective regions. Each player will follow an agreed HP plan designed to boost conditioning, nutrition and skills and supported by regular fitness testing and assessments.
USA Rugby High Performance programs will now focus on building stronger, more competitive squads for upcoming major international events such as the Men and Women’s Rugby World Cup Sevens qualifiers in 2008, the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2009, the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2010, and the Men’s Rugby World Cup qualification 2010 and finals in 2011.
“As the competitive season gains momentum it is important that our National coaches and High Performance staff keep a close eye on all of the Elite Players,” said USA Rugby CEO and President of Rugby Operations Nigel Melville. “These initial squads are a starting off point - players will be added on account of their performances and when necessary, players will be released from the squads if their performance is not thought to be at the level required.”
Men’s 2008 Elite Player Squad
John Tarpoff (St. Louis Bombers)
Hayden Mexted (St. Louis Bombers)
Mark Aylor (Life)
Inaki Basauri (Agen)
Corey Blair (Huntington Beach)
Henry Bloomfield (Belmont Shore)
Blake Burdette (injured)
Todd Clever (OMBAC)
Paul Emerick (Newport Gwent)
Chad Erskine (injured)
Vaha Esikia (Las Vegas)
James Gillenwater (unaffiliated)
Troy Hall (White Plains)
Matt Hawkins (OMBAC)
Mike Hercus (Gordon)
Owen Lentz (Maryland Exiles)
Jason Lett (BIW)
Mike MacDonald (Leeds)
Valanese Malifa (Belmont Shore)
Mike Mangan (Denver Barbarians)
Tyson Meek (Denver Barbarians)
Travis Meidinger (Denver Barbarians)
Matekitonga Moekiola (Park City Haggis)
Jone Naqica (SFGG)
Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz)
Andrew ‘Tui’ Osborne (OMBAC)
Thretton Palamo (Biarritz)
Mike Palefau (Petrarca)
Alec Parker (Aspen)
Mike Petri (NYAC)
Rikus Pretorius (Cal Berkeley)
Jason Pye (OMBAC)
Kort Schubert (Olympic Club)
Salesi Sika (Beziers)
Louis Stanfill (Cal Berkeley)
Dallen Stanford (Austin Blacks)
Albert Tuipolotu (Beziers)
John Van Der Giessen (Denver Barbarians)
Francois Viljoen (Belmont Shore)
John Vitale (Chicago Lions)
Ben Weidmer (Old Belvedere)
David Williams (Denver Barbarians)
Chris Wyles (OMBAC)
The Elite Player Squad serves as the primary selection vehicle for USA Rugby Senior National Teams throughout the year. All athletes named to the EPS will be closely monitored by National Team coaches and selectors, as well as four High Performance (HP) managers, who will act as the main points of contact for players in their respective regions. Each player will follow an agreed HP plan designed to boost conditioning, nutrition and skills and supported by regular fitness testing and assessments.
USA Rugby High Performance programs will now focus on building stronger, more competitive squads for upcoming major international events such as the Men and Women’s Rugby World Cup Sevens qualifiers in 2008, the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2009, the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2010, and the Men’s Rugby World Cup qualification 2010 and finals in 2011.
“As the competitive season gains momentum it is important that our National coaches and High Performance staff keep a close eye on all of the Elite Players,” said USA Rugby CEO and President of Rugby Operations Nigel Melville. “These initial squads are a starting off point - players will be added on account of their performances and when necessary, players will be released from the squads if their performance is not thought to be at the level required.”
Men’s 2008 Elite Player Squad
John Tarpoff (St. Louis Bombers)
Hayden Mexted (St. Louis Bombers)
Mark Aylor (Life)
Inaki Basauri (Agen)
Corey Blair (Huntington Beach)
Henry Bloomfield (Belmont Shore)
Blake Burdette (injured)
Todd Clever (OMBAC)
Paul Emerick (Newport Gwent)
Chad Erskine (injured)
Vaha Esikia (Las Vegas)
James Gillenwater (unaffiliated)
Troy Hall (White Plains)
Matt Hawkins (OMBAC)
Mike Hercus (Gordon)
Owen Lentz (Maryland Exiles)
Jason Lett (BIW)
Mike MacDonald (Leeds)
Valanese Malifa (Belmont Shore)
Mike Mangan (Denver Barbarians)
Tyson Meek (Denver Barbarians)
Travis Meidinger (Denver Barbarians)
Matekitonga Moekiola (Park City Haggis)
Jone Naqica (SFGG)
Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz)
Andrew ‘Tui’ Osborne (OMBAC)
Thretton Palamo (Biarritz)
Mike Palefau (Petrarca)
Alec Parker (Aspen)
Mike Petri (NYAC)
Rikus Pretorius (Cal Berkeley)
Jason Pye (OMBAC)
Kort Schubert (Olympic Club)
Salesi Sika (Beziers)
Louis Stanfill (Cal Berkeley)
Dallen Stanford (Austin Blacks)
Albert Tuipolotu (Beziers)
John Van Der Giessen (Denver Barbarians)
Francois Viljoen (Belmont Shore)
John Vitale (Chicago Lions)
Ben Weidmer (Old Belvedere)
David Williams (Denver Barbarians)
Chris Wyles (OMBAC)