Going into the final two games of the PAC Conference 7s a few weeks ago, Cal was thinking about a championship, and most observers were expecting the veterans to bring the trophy home.

That trophy was brought home, for sure, but one of the guys who helped get it there was freshman Sam Cusano, who ran in five tries in the final two games.

Cusano, who was a big part of why Granite Bay won a Boys HS Rugby National Championship thanks in large part to his counter-attacking ability, was given the chance to showcase his ability to read the field and punish defensive gaps in a pretty big stage, and he came through.

The Ramblin’ Jesters is an elite invitational sevens team in the grand tradition of the Barbarians and other compilation teams, operating out of London in the UK.   This year they won the Rosslyn Park Floodlit 7s (beating London Irish and five-time winners Harlequins en-route to the final). The Jesters also won the Rugby Rocks Festival in London and the Copenhagen 7s in Denmark.  In addition, the team also finished runner-up tp the German national team in the Nancy 7s tournament in France, and, on their first trip to the USA, took third place in the Serevi RugbyTown 7s in Glendale Colo., finishing 6-1, and losing only to the eventualy winners, Denver. The Ramblin’ Jesters are keen to grow their US activity and connections and create opportunities for players on both sides of the Atlantic to play rugby to an elite level.  One demonstration of this initiative was that last week the Jesters had a squad of 13 players in Glendale, of which seve were US-based college players, all under the age of 21. Those players mixed with players from overseas for a unique playing experience. The Ramblin’ Jesters are pleased to sponsor this Goff Rugby Report USA Young Sevens Player of the Month Award.

Somewhat surprised to get a callup to the 1st team for the conference championships, Cusano nonetheless took the opportunity with both hands.

“It was a surprise, but it was also a huge honor,” Cusano told Goff Rugby Report. “It was really cool the coaches selected four freshmen. We knew, though, that once you have the jersey on, no excuses. You’ve got to play like you’ve been there before.”

Cusano is not an experience 7s player. He only played one 7s tournament as a high-schooler (playing for the Rhino Rugby Academy at the LVI). But he has the skills, and has taken to it without trouble.

“Learning a system is a whole new thing for me,” said Cusano. “I’ve learned my role and learned how to let the seniors and upperclassmen do their work. I have a job, and that’s to finish it off on the outside, and I need to trust the bigger guys to do their job. It’s been great learning from them, and I know I can rely on them to make big plays.”

The smooth-running Granite Bay product has been learning from senior players, and needed some time to get used to 7s.

“In the end I think it went well for me,” he explained. “It was definitely different, but it was really about me taking my 15s skills and applying it to 7s. I made some mistakes - usually about tackling the wrong guy - making sure I communicate on defense and read the play. But I really enjoyed it.”

Cusano added that his experience playing for Granite Bay helped prepare him for the challenge of playing at Cal.

“Granite Bay has been extremely important for me, it’s where I learned to play,” he said. “The families, the coaching, it’s given me a great foundation and prepares me a lot for college and playing at the next level.”

Freshman year is a tough adjustment for any college student, and when you add on some extra athletic responsibilities, the stress can multiply. Like the rest of the Cal players, Cusano can get help from the academic advisors who work with the Athletic Department, but in the end, it’s up to the student to do the job.

“It’s a challenge,” he said. “Our academic advisors do a really good job of helping us with our schedules. But we freshmen have to be able to stay on top of our classes, and the rest of our schedules. It’s what we have to figure out.”

Well, it seems he’s been able to figure out a lot. Our Ramlbin’ Jesters Young 7s Player of the Month is Cal’s Sam Cusano.

For more on the Ramblin' Jesters, see here.