Arizona Announces Incoming Freshman Class
Arizona Announces Incoming Freshman Class
The University of Arizona has named its incoming freshman rugby players
The University of Arizona men's rugby program announced its incoming freshman class this week.
"It's potentially the deepest class we've ever signed, both in their talent but also in their character, and they have all bought in already and are competing on day one," Wildcats head coach Sean Duffy said.
Several of the players attending Arizona have shown well in elite competitions.
Arizona has bolstered its engine rooms with four additions at lock. High School All-American Steven Benson joins the Wildcats from Arkansas after an impressive three-sport high school career in rugby, football, and basketball. Billy Esposito was a standout at Xavier High School in New York. Austin Strehlow is a 6-foot-6 lock out of the Danville Oaks (CA) program. Tyler Nichol transfers in from Catholic University.
Some back-rowers also join the Arizona pack as Duffy looks to increase the teams overall size. Australian Riley Kerr joins from Sunshine Coast Grammar School in Queensland. Alex Rayton brings leadership and talent from Texas state champion The Woodlands.
At openside flanker, Steven Rohde had an outstanding career at Saint Thomas Aquinas High School (KS), while Anders Bergfalk joins the team from Granite Bay (CA), the latest in a long line of Grizzlies to play at Arizona. The back row also sees two transfers from Central Washington University joining the program, with Sinclair Clinton and Fabian Lumsden hailing from Australia and the UK, respectively.
In the backs, Jesuit High School (CA) star George Niethammer is now a Wildcat after helping his team to the national single-school title. National club runner-up Fort Hunt (VA) send center/flyhalf Robert Figley, a skillful player with plenty of size who can play as a forward in 7s.
Former Marin (CA) center Kyle Fulton looks solid, and Luke Kampton arrives in Tucson after the past two seasons with UCLA and Santa Monica City College. Fellow transfer Koto Fujimura, originally from Tokyo, Japan, joins the Wildcats after two seasons with New England College.
And on the outside, Granite Bay fullback/wing Jon Rogers is the third of the Rogers brothers to play rugby at Arizona. He is also an excellent goalkicker. St. Edward High School standout and High School All-American Jack Bradfield comes in from Ohio as a tall, imposing back who can play almost anywhere and can also kick.
The Wildcats' preseason kicks off this weekend as Arizona Second XV travels to take on New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM.
2017 Recruiting Class & Transfers
Steven Benson
Anders Bergfalk
Jack Bradfield
Sinclair Clinton
Billy Esposito
Robert Figley
Koto Fujimura
Kyle Fulton
Luke Kampton
Riley Kerr
Fabian Lumsden
Kyle Mooney
Tyler Nichol
George Niethammer
Alex Rayton
Jon Rogers
Steven Rohde
Austin Strehlow
"It's potentially the deepest class we've ever signed, both in their talent but also in their character, and they have all bought in already and are competing on day one," Wildcats head coach Sean Duffy said.
Several of the players attending Arizona have shown well in elite competitions.
Arizona has bolstered its engine rooms with four additions at lock. High School All-American Steven Benson joins the Wildcats from Arkansas after an impressive three-sport high school career in rugby, football, and basketball. Billy Esposito was a standout at Xavier High School in New York. Austin Strehlow is a 6-foot-6 lock out of the Danville Oaks (CA) program. Tyler Nichol transfers in from Catholic University.
Some back-rowers also join the Arizona pack as Duffy looks to increase the teams overall size. Australian Riley Kerr joins from Sunshine Coast Grammar School in Queensland. Alex Rayton brings leadership and talent from Texas state champion The Woodlands.
At openside flanker, Steven Rohde had an outstanding career at Saint Thomas Aquinas High School (KS), while Anders Bergfalk joins the team from Granite Bay (CA), the latest in a long line of Grizzlies to play at Arizona. The back row also sees two transfers from Central Washington University joining the program, with Sinclair Clinton and Fabian Lumsden hailing from Australia and the UK, respectively.
In the backs, Jesuit High School (CA) star George Niethammer is now a Wildcat after helping his team to the national single-school title. National club runner-up Fort Hunt (VA) send center/flyhalf Robert Figley, a skillful player with plenty of size who can play as a forward in 7s.
Former Marin (CA) center Kyle Fulton looks solid, and Luke Kampton arrives in Tucson after the past two seasons with UCLA and Santa Monica City College. Fellow transfer Koto Fujimura, originally from Tokyo, Japan, joins the Wildcats after two seasons with New England College.
And on the outside, Granite Bay fullback/wing Jon Rogers is the third of the Rogers brothers to play rugby at Arizona. He is also an excellent goalkicker. St. Edward High School standout and High School All-American Jack Bradfield comes in from Ohio as a tall, imposing back who can play almost anywhere and can also kick.
The Wildcats' preseason kicks off this weekend as Arizona Second XV travels to take on New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM.
2017 Recruiting Class & Transfers
Steven Benson
Anders Bergfalk
Jack Bradfield
Sinclair Clinton
Billy Esposito
Robert Figley
Koto Fujimura
Kyle Fulton
Luke Kampton
Riley Kerr
Fabian Lumsden
Kyle Mooney
Tyler Nichol
George Niethammer
Alex Rayton
Jon Rogers
Steven Rohde
Austin Strehlow