Why HS All-Star Tournaments Matter: 9 Rugby Stars Who Played In Them
Why HS All-Star Tournaments Matter: 9 Rugby Stars Who Played In Them
Nine major rugby stars who played in the High School RCT all-star tournaments.
Do you remember the first time you saw Hanco Germishuys, McKenzie Hawkins, or Ruben de Haas play?
The Great Northwest Challenge and Midwest Regional Cup Tournament get underway this weekend in Boise, Idaho, and Fishers, IN, respectively, offering a chance to see not only two of the best high school all-star events of the summer but also an early glimpse at the potential college and national team stars of tomorrow.
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Great Northwest Challenge (June 22-23) | Midwest RCT (June 23-24)
Here are nine players who have made a noticeable impact on the game in the last year or so and whose talent came to light at a high school all-star tournament:
1. Alex Maughan
The captain and leader of Life University, Maughan played for North Carolina in the South RCT and is now quite possibly the best prop in college rugby.
2. Hanco Germishuys
No one really knew much about rugby in Nebraska, but they found out quick when Germishuys led a strong Cornhusker State effort in the Rocky Mountain Challenge. Soon he was on the High School All-Americans and is now an Eagles star.
3. Lilly Durbin
Durbin was MVP of the Great Northwest Challenge as a freshman (that's right, as a freshman). She was capped for the USA 7s team before she graduated high school.
4. Richelle Stephens
Like Durbin, Stephens was a Southern California standout who was an Olympian as a teenager.
5. Kelsi Stockert
Stockert represented Washington in the GNC and has been capped at both 7s and 15s.
6. Malon Al-Jiboori
After playing for the Oklahoma select team, Al-Jiboori went on to suit up for the USA men's 7s team.
7. McKenzie Hawkins
This year's Sorensen Award winner as the top college rugby player in the entire country, Hawkins played in the RCTs for Tennessee.
8. Ruben de Haas
De Haas was the heart and soul of the Junior Stormers team that played in the RCTs and went on to captain the HS All-Americans and USA U20s. He's now capped as a senior Eagle and has a pro contract with the Cheetahs in South Africa.
9. Titi Lamositele
The former Washington Loggers prop went on to become the youngest men's 15s Eagle ever and is now a seasoned pro with Saracens in the UK.