USA RUGBY MEDIA CONTACT Event Communications Manager
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
2013 MEN’S EAGLES XV CHRIS BILLER Birthday: October 11, 1985 Position: Hooker Height: 5’11” Weight: 230 College: University of California Hometown: Concord, California Career Highlights: Biller made his Eagles debut on May 31, 2009, against Ireland in Santa Clara, California. He has earned 28 caps with the Eagles after a successful career at the University of California, during which time he was named a Collegiate All-American. Biller played for Aviva Premiership’s Bath Rugby in 2011 and signed for Northampton Saints in 2012. 2013 MEN’S EAGLES XV TODD CLEVER Birthday: January 16, 1983 Position: Flanker Height: 6’4” Weight: 213 College: University of Nevada, Reno High School: Santa Teresa High School Hometown: Palm Springs, California Twitter: @ToddsClever Career Highlights: Clever was the fourth-youngest Eagles player to be capped at the age of 20 years August 23, 2003, against Argentina in the Pan-American Championship. Currently the Eagles’ captain, Clever has started 51 matches during his nine-year career. He has scored 11 tries for 55 points and has appeared in both the 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cups. Clever has played for the Lions in Super Rugby, Old Mission Beach Athletic Club, and Japan’s Suntory Sungoliath and NTT Shining Arcs, his current club. He became the first American to play and score a try in the then-Super 14 for the Lions. Clever also made 24 tournament appearances for the Men’s Eagles Sevens from 2004-2009 and was a three-time Collegiate All-American at the University of Nevada, Reno. 2013 MEN’S EAGLES XV CAMERON DOLAN Birthday: March 6, 1990 Position: Flanker Secondary Position: Eight Height: 6’6” Weight: 238 College: Life University High School: Naples Bears Hometown: Fort Myers, FL Twitter: @Cam_Dolan Career Highlights: Dolan captained the Eagles Select XVs at the 2013 IRB Americas Rugby Championship, where the Eagles finished 2nd with a win against Canada. He has been capped by the Eagles four times, earning his first start against Fiji in Japan June 19, 2013, in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup. 2013 MEN’S EAGLES XV BRIAN DOYLE Birthday: February 28, 1984 Position: Lock Height: 6’7” Weight: 245 College: University of Rhode Island Hometown: New City, New York Twitter: @bdoyle28 Career Highlights: Doyle earned his Eagles debut on June 7, 2008, in Ottawa, Canada, at the Churchill Cup against England A. He has played in eight Eagles matches, starting two, with one try against Russia November 9, 2012, in the IRB International Series in Colwyn Bay, Wales. Doyle earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and played rugby at the University of Rhode Island, captaining the Rams. Doyle helped New York Athletic Club win two Rugby Super League titles in 2008 and 2010 and spent the 2009 season with Northern Suburbs in Sydney, Australia. 2013 MEN’S EAGLES XV TITI LAMOSITELE Birthday: February 10, 1985 Position: Prop Height: 6’0” Weight: 250 High School: Chuckanut Bay Rugby Club Hometown: Bellingham, WA Twitter: @titilamo Career Highlights: Lamositele played football, wrestled and competed in track and field at Sehome High School. He started playing rugby three years ago. Lamositele played for the USA Rugby AIG Boys High School All-Americans before getting called up to the USA Eagles National Team. During the Eagles World Cup qualifier against Canada at Blackbaud Stadium on August 17 he broke the record for the youngest player to play for the Eagles. He was also a member of the Eagles Select XVs at the 2013 IRB Americas Rugby Championship in Langford, British Columbia. 2013 MEN’S EAGLES XV SCOTT LAVALLA Birthday: July 4, 1988 Position: Flanker Secondary Position: Second-Row Height: 6’4” Weight: 235 College: Dublin University High School: North Thurston High School Hometown: Olympia, Washington Career Highlights: LaValla earned his Eagles debut against Russia in the Churchill Cup June 5, 2010, in Glendale, Colorado. In his 17 matches, LaValla has scored one try, against Canada in Kingston, Ontario, June 9, 2012, and appeared in the 2011 Rugby World Cup. LaValla currently plays professional rugby for Stade Français of the Top 14 league in France and signed a contract extension through the 2015-16 season. He played club rugby for Dublin University Football Club and was elected Club Captain for the 2010-11 season. 2013 MEN’S EAGLES XV TOBY L’ESTRANGE Birthday: September 2, 1988 Position: Fly-Half Secondary Position: Center Height: 6’0” Weight: 192 College: Sydney University High School: Marist College Canberra Hometown: Berkeley, California Career Highlights: L’Estrange made his Eagles debut November 9, 2012, in a 40-26 win against Russian in Colwyn Bay, Wales, also scoring his first try. His 10 Eagles caps have come in the past year with the November 2012 Tour and the 2013 Summer Series. L’Estrange was also a member of the Eagles Select XVs at the 2013 IRB Americas Rugby Championship in Langford, British Columbia. L’Estrange was born in Berkeley, California, but grew up in Australia, where he attended Marist College Canberra and played rugby in the under-sevens. He then went to Sydney University on their Elite Athlete Scholarship Program. Since 2012, L’Estrange has lived in New York City, playing for New York Athletic Club with fellow internationals Mike Petri and Brian Doyle. 2013 MEN’S EAGLES XV SHAWN PITTMAN Birthday: January 22, 1988 Position: Prop Height: 6’4” Weight: 260 Hometown: Bellingham, Washington Career Highlights: Pittman became the ninth-youngest Eagle when he made his debut against Uruguay at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Colorado, November 8, 2008. He has appeared in 30 matches for the Eagles with 23 starts, including all four 2011 Rugby World Cup matches. Though he has not scored in his international career, the Eagles’ record with Pittman in the lineup is 10 wins and 20 losses. Pittman signed with London Welsh in 2010 and helped the English club earn promotion to the Aviva Premiership during the 2011-12 season. 2013 MEN’S EAGLES XV ANDREW SUNIULA Birthday: April 30, 1982 Position: Center Height: 6’2” Weight: 255 Club: Chicago Griffins RFC-USA Hometown: American Samoa Twitter: @Suni_3 Career Highlights: Andrew Suniula has represented the U.S. multiple times on the international stage, with his mostA recent appearances coming in the 2011 Rugby World Cup. His brothers, Roland and Shalom, have also been members of U.S. national teams. Suniula has 25 caps and recently signed with London Wasps of the Aviva Premiership for the 2013-14 season. 2013 MEN’S EAGLES XV USA RUGBY STAFF Head Coach - Mike Tolkin Residence: New York City, NY College: St. John’s University, Fordham University Head Coach of USA Rugby Men’s 15s since: February 2012 Previous USA Rugby coaching positions: National team defensive coach, 2009-2011; USA A Head Coach, 2008; US Under-19 Team backs coach, 1992-1995 and 1998-2002 COACHING STAFF MEDICAL STAFF Assistant Coaching Staff - Billy Millard, Team Doctor Justin Fitzpatrick, Phil Bailey, Chris O'Brien Dr. Marc Kowalsky Strength and Conditioning Coach Physio David Williams Richard Quincy Video Analyst Rob Wassilak Paul Goulding Massage Therapist Sarah Sall 2013 MEN’S EAGLES XV ABOUT USA RUGBY Established in 1975, USA Rugby is the governing body for the sport of rugby in America. Currently headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, USA Rugby is charged with developing the game on all levels and has over 110,000 active members. USA Rugby oversees four national teams, multiple collegiate and high school All-American sides, and an emerging Olympic development pathway for elite athletes. It also hosts over 30 national playoff and championship events every year as a service to its members. In October 2009, the International Olympic Committee announced that Rugby Sevens (the seven-a-side version of the game) will appear in the 2016 Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro. USA Rugby became an official Olympic Sport member of the United States Olympic Committee in 2010. Visit www.usarugby.org for more. OUR ATHLETES USA Rugby has 10 National Teams. Athletes selected to national teams represent the USA in international rugby competitions around the world. In January 2012, USA Rugby began offering full-time training contracts to rugby sevens athletes. Currently 16 male and 16 female athletes live nearby the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California and train year-round under the guidance of the coaching staff. The development was unprecedented in American rugby as the 32 athletes are focusing full-time on increasing their competitive edge on the world stage, a nod to the future of sevens and the 2016 Olympic Games. Despite this recent development, a majority of USA Rugby's national team players hold jobs and juggle their professional and rugby careers. These remarkable athletes exhibit the ethos and passion inherent in rugby, and make large sacrifices to represent and play for their country. The Men's and Women's senior national teams are referred to as the Eagles. RUGBY AND THE OLYMPICS In October 2009, the International Olympic Committee announced that rugby sevens (the seven-a-side version of the game) will appear in the 2016 Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro. USA Rugby became an official Olympic Sport member of the United States Olympic Committee in 2010. The USA Men's National Sevens team claimed a bronze medal in the 2011 Pan American Games, the team's first competition as part of Team USA, the moniker given to all USA athletes supported by the United States Olympic Committee. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS USA Rugby puts on over 30 national playoff and championship events every year as a service to its members. From boys’ and girls’ high school championships to senior men's and women's champi- onships, USA Rugby ensures teams have a fair chance to compete in these events.