The University of Arizona has announced its 2018 recruiting class, with 23 student-athletes from nine states to go along with four foreign countries joining the Wildcats this season.

Check Out FloRugby's List Of College Commits For This Season

West Coast Talent

The Wildcats continues their strong recruitment in their backyard, with multiple players from Arizona, California, and Colorado joining the squad. At Hooker, Braeden Looper (AZ) joins the Wildcats after a highly successful career which featured him earning High School All-American selection and ranking by FloRugby as the No. 1 hooker in the United States. Building on past classes, Jesuit HS (CA) is well-represented with lock/flanker Carson Harthun, Prop Max Richins, and fullback Mason Phillips heading to Tucson.

Across The USA

Arizona continues to have success in recruiting nationwide, with a strong Midwest and East coast presence in this year's class. In the back row, flankers Charlie Green (OH) and Jack McCrossin (VA) join the squad after leading their teams to successful High School National Championship seasons the past two years. In the Carolinas, center Matthew Start (NC) and scrumhalf Sidney Shoop (SC) join the side after strong high school careers that saw them earn both USA and Eagle Impact Rugby Academy selections. 

Five From Overseas

Five standout players from overseas make their way to Tucson, with the university and program bringing some of the best and brightest from worldwide to Arizona. Hong Kong under-20 James Karton at center/flyhalf is already making his presence felt with the Wildcats, while Alasdair Scott-Watson (SCO) and Center/Wing Joseph Sargeant (ENG) bring a wealth of experience to the team and look to contribute in the backline. In the forwards, 6-foot-4 No. 8 Jakob Brown and prop Theo Smith join the Wildcats after highly successful careers with their clubs in Australia, and England, respectively.

"This is a special class," said head coach Sean Duffy. "We are thrilled to have such a decorated group of captains, leaders, students, sons, brothers, and teammates joining us, and they've come here because of our players we currently have. They, not me, are our best recruiters and what we're building each year is special. A huge thanks to our admissions department here at the university which has also been so supportive of our effort to bring the best and the brightest to Tucson." 

These players along with a soon-to-be-announced walk-on player pool join with the returners to form this year's team that hopes to continue Arizona's rise in the national stage. The Wildcats open their preseason this Friday as Arizona Second XV hosts Grand Canyon University Second XV. 

2018 Recruiting Class 

Amico, Nate

Agasse, Lucas

Brown, Jakob

Castillo, Victor

Clarke, Carter

Elias, Ryan

Green, Charlie

Harthun, Carson

Heer, Tyler

Hutkin, Blaze

Karton, James

Looper, Braeden

McCrossin, Jack

Miller, Cyprian

Ognall, Zach

Phillips, Mason

Richins, Max

Sargeant, Joe

Scott-Watson, Alasdair

Shoop, Sidney

Smith, Theo

Start, Matthew

Wander, Jordan