USA Rugby has announced the 2003 Collegiate All-Americans, sponsored by Barbarian Rugby Wear. A travelling squad of 26 athletes will tour New Zealand in August.
"We looked hard at the Collegiate All-Star Championship, and I'm confident we have selected the best college players in America," said head coach Rob Holder on announcing the All-American team.
Holder's touring side almost exclusively earned their places at the Collegiate All-Star Championship. Military academy commitments kept Air Force prop Sean Hansen from competing at the CASC, but he is the only All-American tourist who was not at the territorial event.
A short list of five players were named full All-Americans, but will not tour. Four are involved with the senior National Team and its Rugby World Cup campaign. The fifth is first-time honoree Joe Schmitt, a standout prop from Arizona who is unavailable for the annual tour.
The Pacific Coast is well represented among the All-Americans after dominating the All-Stars, winning both its matches by a combined score of 125 - 28. But Holder has also identified good athletes on lesser-known programs. Flanker Jon Hartman, for example, will represent Southwest Missouri State on the All-American side.
In total, the 31 All-Americans come from 15 different schools and there are 19 first-time selections.
The All-Americans are to play the University of Victoria and the University of Massey on the August tour through New Zealand.
The 2003 Collegiate All-Americans:
Eric Andersen University of California
Andrew Armstrong University of California
Gary Roy Bechtold United States Naval Academy
Kevin Boyer University of Colorado
Cameron Bunce University of California
Todd Clever University of Nevada-Reno
Joshua Dean United States Air Force Academy
Joel DiGiorgio University of California
Sean Hansen United States Air Force Academy
Jon Hartman Southwest Missouri State
Mike Hobson United States Air Force Academy
Alex Houser University of California
Kyle Khasigian University of California
Jason Lauritsen Cal Poly
Tim Naylor Harvard University
Michael Petri Penn State University
Michael Renda Middle Tennessee State
Michael Sahag United States Naval Academy
Tom Sanders University of Virginia
Matt Sherman University of California
Salesi Sika Brigham Young University
Jacob Stanfill University of California
Tyler Stegeman United States Military Academy
Marc Tausend University of California
Anthony Vontz University of California
JD Waddell United States Air Force Academy
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Paul Emerick University of Northern Iowa
Kimball Kjar Brigham Young University
Mike McDonald University of California
Cayo Nicolau Middle Tennessee State University
Joe Schmitt University of Arizona