With the USA U20 winter camp done, and with three games against the Men’s Collegiate All Americans in the books, it’s time to look ahead to the next job, which is a two-game qualification series with the Canada in June.

Before the U20 camp, the U20 program fielded a U19 team in two games against Canada’s U19s. That U19 team was selected based on performance at the high school Regional Cup Tournaments (RCTs). Players who attended the various fall camps didn’t necessarily get picked for the U19s, because that was all based on the RCTs in the summer. 

Photos Ed Petersen.

Calvin Gentry

“The U19s were really out four identification piece,” said USA U20 Head Coach JD Stephenson. “We had three ID camps and the U19s. It was interesting because the guys who were in the ID camps and then in the U19 series did well, and progressed on to the U20s.”

So all of these camps, including this last winter assembly, were about development, and getting players used to the national team terminology. 

“We did want to give guys an experience and give them an exposure to us as a coaching staff,” said Stephenson. “We know we’re not with the players all through the year, but maybe we’re a new voice, a different voice. What ends up happening is the age-old story that a club or school coach says ‘I’ve been telling him that for years!’ If we can give things a different voice and use it as a good experience and give some return on investment for the players.”

With last year’s U20 team sending players directly to the senior national team, it’s likely that will happen again. Stephenson expects it, and tells players he is trying to get them ready for that callup. At the same time, he’s still looking at players. There are those in college programs that are already playing games and Stephenson is looking at them, too.

“We’ve got a wider training squad but we’re still looking at guys,” said Stephenson. “You’ve got to have consistency and transparency in the process, and make sure players all have an understanding of where they fit in. We aren’t shutting the door on anyone.”

So how does someone get a look? Send good video footage and a coach’s and character reference to Stephenson. jstephenson@usarugby.org

“What we need is buy-in,” said Stephenson. “And we’ve been getting it.”

The U20s will assemble after the CRC tournaments in June, with 30 players working with coaches, and four being cut before the final U20 roster goes to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The Junior All Americans will then play the Canadian U20s on June 10 and against on June 14 (Flag Day) to decide which of those two teams will play in the World Rugby Under 20 Trophy in Uruguay starting August 29.

Camp Roster
David Ainuu - Liberty Patriots (Wash.) 
Malon Al-Jiboori - Men's Eagles Sevens player pool 
Steven Benson - Little Rock Stormers (Ark.) 
Lucas Bienstock - Dartmouth College  
Steven Branham - University of Arizona 
Ben Broselle - Chuckanut Bay High School (Wash.) 
Tommy Clark - American International College 
Jackson Clark - Kutztown University 
Kyle Crawford - Pennsylvania State University 
Jordan Crofts - Pennsylvania State University 
Daniel Crowley - Santa Monica Dolphins (Calif.) 
Brendon Curle - Grand Canyon University 
Maxwell Dacey - University of Mary Washington 
Ruben de Haas - Little Rock Junior Stormers (Ark.) 
Nicalus Franklyn - American International College 
Joseph Freeman - Pennsylvania State University 
Maanaima Fualaau - Life Chiropractic College West 
Alexis Glover - Santa Barbara City College 
Cale Harbour - Kansas City Blues 
Zachary Heisterkamp - University of Arizona 
Jon Jacobs - University of Arizona 
Jacob Jorstad - San Diego State University 
Martin Keuchkerian - Mystic River (Mass.) 
Tavite Lopeti - Life Chiropractic College West 
Sean Lumkong - Coastal Dragons (Calif.) 
Nafitalai Maafu - Tempe Old Devils (Ariz.)
Patrick Madden - San Diego Young Aztec Warriors (Calif.) 
Deven Marshall - Central Washington University 
Conor McManus - Fort Hunt Warriors (Va.) 
Jack Miller - University of Colorado 
Noah Niumataiwalu - Saint Joseph's University 
Kareem Odeh - Life University 
Quinn Perry - Santa Monica Dolphins (Calif.)
Jonas Petrakopoulos - Royal Irish (Ind.) 
Campbell Robinson - Arkansas State University 
Cristian Rodriguez - Lindenwood University 
Patrick Sheehy - Dartmouth College 
Lincoln Sii - Grand Canyon University 
Mark Spicer, Jr. - Spring Hill College 
Veuki Taumoefolau - Las Vegas Irish (Nev.) 
Nicholas Taylor - Lindenwood University 
Bronson Teles - University of Arizona 
Lorenzo Thomas - Lindenwood University 
Daemon Torres - Life University 
Samuel Walsh - Scots College, Wellington (NZ)
Chance Wenglewski - Lindenwood University 
Harley Wheeler - Life University 
Jaret Williamson - St. Bonaventure University 
Robert Zarcone - Central Washington University

Coaching Staff 
JD Stephenson - Head Coach 
OJ Hawea - Team Manager 
Michael Engelbrecht - Defense Coach 
Shawn Pittman - Forwards Coach 
Justin Goonan - Head Strength & Conditioning Coach 
Jimmy Harrison - Analyst 
Rob Randell - Assistant Forwards Coach 
Britney Schenck - Physiotherapist 
Michael Elam - Assistant Manager 
Colton Cariaga - Backs Coach