By Austin Willis

Justin Johnson has been in college for only two semesters, pursuing degrees in business administration and computer information, and has already competed in major championships in Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Miami. 

In six short months, this 18-year-old flanker/lock from Mira Costa, CA, went from being the first and only Life University rugby player recruited via the LifeU online recruiting form to a starting role in both the D1A and Collegiate Rugby Championship finals.

Life lost both championship games in May and June, respectively, but only one month later Johnson would join the USA South team in Miami for the Rugby Americas North tournament. Over the course of 10 days, the squad beat Jamaica, Bermuda, and Mexico to become Rugby Americas North champions. Johnson was named MVP of the tournament. 

While the accolades are now starting to stack up, Johnson’s journey to the top of collegiate rugby began long before this year. For Johnson, he feels like “the learning process it takes to be great in this sport has only just begun.”

FloRugby: Do you feel you are a forward or a back?

Johnson: It’s funny because I started my rugby career as a fullback because I was athletic but didn’t know how to play and slowly I’ve been making my way down the numbers with the transition to wing, then center, and finally at flanker where I’ve been playing. I feel like my height plus athleticism makes me a good flanker because I’m a threat in the lineouts but also with the ball in hand in open field, so I just feel like a slower back.

Why did you sign with Life University? 

My junior year of high school I started reaching out to every school who had a rugby team to try and find a scholarship. My top school was Penn State. They had a good rugby team who was fifth in the nation and a very good academic reputation. I was committed to go there, but the recruiting coach ended up leaving and that dream just drifted away. 

I ended up at Life after my High School All-American tour at the University of British Columbia the summer of my senior year, when one of my coaches suggested I go there. Before then I had never heard of Life, but my coach knew they were a powerhouse. And actually to this day I am the first and only Life University rugby player to be recruited via the LifeU online recruiting form, so that’s pretty funny.

What has “the Life” experience been like for you?

Life is the rugby experiment that I’ve always wanted. To be able to play at one of the top schools in the nation is a dream. The team that we have is basically as good as a USA team. I compete every day in practice and workouts while still pursuing two degrees in computer information and business administration. Life might not have all the bells and whistles as many of the other schools we go against, but we pride ourselves on the little stuff we have. Which makes us the program we are today.

What was it like playing in the D1A National Championship as a freshman?

Starting in a national championship as a freshman is one of the best experiences of my life. I would have never thought of seeing myself play on TV or having my friends and family who cheer me on from home, watching me play the game I love. 

Who is your biggest fan? Who follows your career the most?

My mom. She knows nothing about rugby but still supports me in everything that I’ve been doing. In high school she went to all the games, watched all my USA games on broadcast, and now watches all the games that I have at Life. Even though she doesn’t know what is happening, she gives me feedback on what I look like and what I might need to tweak or work on.

How did the loss to Saint Mary's in the national championship affect you emotionally?

The loss to Saint Marys was heartbreaking. In my rugby career I’ve only lost three games, and to lose a big game like that was something I couldn’t deal with. After the game I was almost in tears when one of the senior players told me to hold it together and let the other team see no emotion and that stuck with me. But it is all a learning process and sometimes you need to learn how to lose to win.

You then went on to start in 7s and find your way to another national championship. What was the transition from 15s to 7s like?

The transition to 7s wasn’t easy. I played 7s in high school but this was nothing like that. Life’s 7s team was very organized with several patterns and defensive structures. The main thing is that tackles are the key, and as a flanker in 15s that was easy to transition to open field tackles in 7s.

What was the mood after the CRC loss?

Just like any loss it was saddening. To be so close to another national championship and lose is one of the worst feelings imaginable. But we knew we gave it our best, and to go from the lowest seed in the playoffs to beat a second-place Saint Mary’s team and then a third-place Lindenwood squad to advance to the final all in one day was an amazing moment and we were proud of that.

What was your USA South Experience like?

Playing for USA South was the best time I’ve ever had playing rugby. I’ve heard many stories about the South team and people kept telling me that they aren’t as good as the name sounds, but they are all wrong. The South could compete with any team I’ve been a part of or played, and we showed that at the tournament as we went undefeated. It was an honor to be named MVP of that exceptional team and one of the most fun two weeks of my life.

What’s your best USA South story?

The best USA South story was when we all went to the beach on our day off. Our No. 12, Calvin Gentry, came late and ended up coming to the beach in a long Argentina jersey, black jeans, black Jordans, and a gold watch with no swimming trunks in the heat of Miami summer. He ended up borrowing [teammate Shea O'Hanlon's] silk shorts and of course ended up ripping them.