GLENDALE, Colo.—USA Rugby has today announced the attendees for two Talent Confirmation and Development Camps to be held in Glendale, Colo. from July 15-18 and 20-25, for U18-20 and U23 players, respectively. 

The camps are the next step leading on from the Talent ID Days held around the country during May and June and also include players identified through the Eagle Eye Scout Network, referrals from National Development Programs, MLR and the open Player Nomination process.  

Over 80 athletes will be attending the two camps which act as a filtering process for further development and representative opportunities. These opportunities include the USA Rugby Academy that will run for nine weeks in the fall of 2021, also in Glendale, and advancement into the USA Rugby Junior and Senior National Teams. 

The Talent Identification, Confirmation and USA Academy programs are part of the ongoing partnership between USA Rugby and World Rugby to help identify, develop, and place the most talented American athletes in the best possible environments to prepare them for competition at the highest level. The Academy program is designed as an accelerator for capable players to rapidly upskill them in preparation for the elite levels of the game and has included recent USA Eagle debutantes Mika Kruse, Andrew Guerra, and Matt Harmon as well as USA Squad members Mike Dabulas, Ryan Rees, Ryan James, and Chance Wenglewski.  

“As we look to reinvigorate the Pathway after nearly 18 months off due to Covid-19, we are excited about the talent identified through a variety of avenues," said USA Rugby Men’s High-Performance Pathways Manager Brendan Keane. "We had over 450 male athletes — so many we are still working on the feedback documents — come through the Talent Identification Days in May and June and a further 250+ players nominated from other sources. We are looking forward to adding a number of these exciting players to the Academy in the fall. With this being our first step back into in-person player development, we are aiming to invigorate a new yearly cycle of development and competition.” 

STAFF 
Men’s U18 7s Head Coach | David Fee
Men’s U20s Head Coach | Kyle Sumsion
Men’s U23 Head Coach | Todd Thornley 
Men’s U23 Assistant Coach | Dominic Wareing
Men’s U18 Head Coach & HP Pathways Manager | Brendan Keane 
Director of Men’s Pathways Coaching | Mike Tolkin 
Operations and Logistics | Kieran Browner
Athletic Trainer | Janie Kluempers
Athletic Trainer | Anna Unnasch
Strength and Conditioning | Albert Sasu