GRR: All-Time Americans
Anyone who has been reading these All-Time Americans list articles has got to have been waiting for this one.
Perry Baker is one of the very, very best 7s players ever in American rugby. He came to prominence as a teenager parachuting into the Daytona Beach club and helping that club play at club nationals. He was young, very skinny, but multi-skilled and a game-changer.
Keenya Warner was capped eight times for the USA, which may not be a lot, but she made them count.
The vice captain for the 2006 Rugby World Cup team, she commanded great respect in the midfield as one of the best centers in the tournament. She helped lead the USA to a 4-1 record and a 5th-place finish that was lower than they truly deserved.
A physically imposing and unflinching second row, Nancy Fitz was capped 21 times by the USA and captained the Eagles as well.
Tommy Smith was a supremely talented 7s and 15s player, who was good enough as a 15s backline player to be selected for a World XV that beat the Barbarians in Hong Kong in 1981.
The story of a man born in France and grows up playing rugby, walks on to the University of Georgia football team, sets an all-time record in sacks, and then goes on to play for the USA rugby team and New England Patriots NFL team is as improbably as the man.