Belmont Shore is undergoing a youth movement, and the Long Beach, CA, club's opening game in the Pacific Rugby Premiership this Saturday in San Francisco is set to provide the perfect testing ground for those newcomers.

For longtime coach Ray Egan, who has also coached in the club’s age-grade levels, getting the youngsters up with the senior club is a welcome thing. 

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“When I came to the United States about six years ago we had a lot of guys in their prime, like Tai Tuisamoa, Peter Sio, Peter Dahl, and Ian Carpenter,” Egan said. “They were such good players for such a long time, and they held their positions for upwards of 10 years. But now there definitely is a turnover, but maybe it’s a picture of where American rugby is that those established players can be dethroned.”

Egan brought current Eagles Mike Te’o and Joe Taufete’e, who helped the USA beat the Argentina XV this past Saturday, up to the senior club when they were very young (Te’o was still in high school). 

“It’s nice to have new blood and guys so eager to do well,” Egan said.

So who will step up to the challenge against PRP first-round host San Francisco Golden Gate this Saturday? Watch out for Mafi Seanoa, a former No. 8 turned prop who is an athletic specimen and mobile.

“He’s got a big future and I think this PRP will be great for him,” said Egan, who hopes to do what he did for Taufete’e and send him overseas for in the offseason to put on some finishing touches.

A former USA U20 player, Sione Masoe is a very strong open-side flanker who maybe needs to add size but is explosive and dynamic.

“Having guys like that around players like Peter Sio and Sam Lilley definitely will help those boys, so it’s a good mix,” Egan said. “Because they need that experience. You look at Olympic Club getting beaten by Cal and Saint Mary’s I think is partly because Olympic Club hasn’t had a lot of time together, and Cal and Saint Mary’s have a number of games under their belts. 

"And that’s why the PRP is so great, because it won’t be big blowout games. It’s team really tough games, week-in week-out. Playing a hard, physical game and having to roll out and do it again next week, is the best benefit for our players.”

Shore has played three warmup games, beating Santa Monica and Denver and losing a close one to OMBAC. Whether that's a harbinger of things to come, we'll see.

PRP Round 1 Schedule

Saturday, Feb. 10 (all times Pacific)

11 AM: Life West vs. Santa Monica

1 PM: SFGG vs. Belmont Shore

3 PM: Olympic Club vs. OMBAC

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