COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - July 17, 2001 - The country's top U-19 rugby players will travel to Leadville, Colo., this week to participate in the USA Rugby U-19 Training Camp.
The camp, the first in a series of team assemblies in preparation for the 2002 U-19 World Cup, will be held at the High Mountain Institute, July 19 through Aug. 2.
The U-19 camp, advanced by USA Rugby National Technical Director Geoff Old, is part of the elite athlete pyramid suggested by the United States Olympic Committee for youth development, USA Rugby U-19 Head Coach Mark Bullock explained.
The camp will work specifically on individual skill development, as well as team patterns of play. Furthermore, present and former USA Senior Eagles will work with the young players on specific position skills and the competitive nature of international matches. The camp will also include speed training, core strength development, instruction in proper nutrition and sports psychology.
As part of team building exercises the players will also have the opportunity to raft the Arkansas River through the Royal Gorge, participate in a ropes course and climb Mount Elbert, the highest peak in Colorado at 14,431 feet. The team will also participate in three controlled scrimmages with several rugby clubs in Colorado.
Based on the lessons learned at the recently completed 2001 U-19 World Cup in Santiago, Chile, manager Mike Dunafon believes the training camp will be the best method to prepare for 2002.
Santiago taught us the hard lesson that we are not secure in our own abilities when faced with the intense pressure and speed as demonstrated at the World Cup, Dunafon said. We need to develop our individual skills so we are comfortable and confident in pressure situations. The goal of the camp is to develop that ability.
The players selected for the camp were identified at USA U-19 trials, the USA Rugby National High School Championships, LAU Select Side events/competitions and overseas-based players. The following players will be attending the U-19 Training Camp:
Name Hometown
Nick Barton Arlington, Va.
Inaki Basuari Bethesda, Md.
Chris Bergstrum Santa Rosa, Calif.
Antoine Blanchet Peachtree City, Ga.
Alexandre Boudiak Versailles, France
Tom Burns Singapore
Cheffron Canady Washington, D.C.
Todd Clever San Jose, Calif.
Eric Consolo Phonixville, Pa.
John Convad Kent, Wash.
Jamie Crum Westerville, Ohio
Braden Despain Sandy, Utah
David Doperalski Golden, Colo.
Paul Gabriel Bethesda, Md.
Padraic Galloway Gaithersburg, Md.
Manuel Garford Potamic, Md.
David Julius Bethesda, Md.
Benja Kaner Corte Madera, Calif.
Andrew Locke Houston, Texas
Peder Lueben New Brighten, Minn.
Brendal Lundy St. Belle Harbor, N.Y.
Jeff Macke Olympia, Wash.
Mike Maday Shoreview, Minn.
Dominic Mara Monroe, Conn.
Pedro Mayorga Bethesda, Md.
Jonathan Meldrum Flintshire, N. Wales, United Kingdom
Tyler Mintz Castle Rock, Colo.
Justin Neville Piedmont, Calif.
Barry Oberholzer Durban, South Africa
Chris Pacious Silver Springs, Md.
Mike Petri Brooklyn, N.Y.
Ratu Rabuka Queens Village N.Y.
Carl Reichenbach Kent, Wash.
Brian Riveria Brooklyn, N.Y.
Ben Rubke Piedmont Calif.
David Sasalu Sacramento, Calif.
Frank Sharp Sacramento, Calif.
Chris Shelly Granger, Ind.
Dan Smith Mclean, Va.
Bret Tali Sugar Creek, Mo.
Metul Vailea Sacramento, Calif.
Taufui Vakapuna Salt Lake City, Utah
Richard White Cambridge, United Kingdom
USA Rugby, founded in 1975, is the national governing body for rugby and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the International Rugby Board (IRB).
For more information, or if there is a problem with this transmission, please contact Allison Swickard, USA Rugby media and public relations coordinator, at (719) 637-1022 ext. 18 of via e-mail at
[email protected].
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