Wednesday's Ruck & Maul

SEATTLE, A WHO’S WHO OF U.S. RUGBY.

Today we will take a look at some of Seattle’s players. Seattle RFC has a long 49 year history, (1966 founding). In 1971 Old Puget Sound Beach RFC formed. Finally, in 2006 Jeff Lombard’s (well known in Victoria), OPSB merged with Seattle and the club became the Saracens. This blogger recalls matches some 45 years ago when the team’s composition was 80% “accents”, imports employed at Boeing. Today, the club boasts a horde of U.S. Eagle’s players, foremost being; retired Sevens player, Kevin Swiryn, recently “retired” prop, Shaun Pittman and current Sevens player, Pat Blair.

Names that could be dropped as a likely selection read like a veritable “Who’s Who” of Eagle Rugby. Club captain, Matt Trouville, Tim Stanfill, Shalom Suruila, Lou Stanfill, John Cullen and Olive Kulifi played against the All Blacks and were with the Eagles on their fall tour. Mike Palefau was the top U.S. try scorer on 2011/12 IRB Sevens Series and Miles Craigwell also played Eagles Sevens. #9, Jope Motokana is a RWC prospect and rounding out the talent are Peter Tiberio and Rocco Mauer who are rated on the Sevens depth chart and Eric Soto who scored five tallies in a fall match, not to forget young prop, Valdemar Lee Lo (pictured),who starts with the Junior All American selects. Captain Trouville on Seattle’s success; “hard work, competition from amongst ourselves, commitment and playing to our strengths”. No matter who makes the trek, we will see considerable talent on display on Saturday.