Rugby Alumni in the News
With more than 100 years of rugby at Saint Mary's College, the Gaels have a broad-based support network.
Alumni, Family, and Friends assist with the many needs of the program through philanthropy and volunteerism. Enthusiastic and committed supporters are the backbone of the Gael Rugby Nation.
Saint Mary's Rugby Alumni Playing for USA!
Vili Helu #6 and Tavite Lopeti #23 headed to Portugal for the Rugby World Cup Qualification! Read more here!
Karl Keane Signs with Seattle Seawolves
Saint Mary's Rugby Alumni Selected for the USA Falcons Squad!
3 Saint Mary's Men's Rugby Alumni were selected for the USA Falcons National team. Read more here!
- Ronan Murphy -2021 Graduate
- Aaron Matthews - 2020 Graduate
- Karl Keane - 2022 Graduate
Chase Jones - 2022 MLR Draft
Chase Jones was selected in the first round of the 2022 Major League Rugby College Draft. He was the 6th pick overall! Chase graduated with a Masters in Business Administration in 2022 after 5 years! He had a long fulfilling career as a Gael where he had an immediate impact on the team. Chase had a career of many different playoff wins, eventually bringing his team to the National Championship in 2022! During his five years here at Saint Mary's Chase played Lock and Flanker. He went on to be drafted as a lock for Nola Gold! Congratulations and good luck Chase!
Tavite Lopeti - Rookie of the Year
Tavite Lopeti has gone on to have immediate success in the rugby world. Lopeti was drafted third overall in the 2021 Major League Rugby as a center for the Seattle Seawolves. After being a vital player throughout his career at Saint Mary’s we had no doubts of his capabilities in the MLR. After his rookie season for Seattle and a heartbreaking loss in the finals, Tavite was selected as MLR’s 2022 Rookie of the Year. Along with success in the MLR, Lopeti has made a big impact on the USA Eagles. Earning his first cap in 2021 against Canada, adding 6 more in the following year. Lopeti and the USA Eagles will get one last chance to make the 2023 Rugby World Cup in November. Congratulations, Tavite Lopeti!
Men's National Team Announces Full Squad for Americas.
Alums Tim Maupin and Dino Waldren are named on the roster for USA's Men's Eagle Team. Read more here.
Alumni Tim Maupin joins Dylan Audsley and Dino Waldren for November Internationals 2018
After a great showing at the Americas Pacific Challenge, TIm Maupin joins fellow Gael alumni Dylan Audsley and Dino Waldren on the USAR Men's Nationals squad for the November Internationals 2018. All games will be livestreamed via FloRugby!
Click here for more info.
Three SMC Rugby Alums set to play in the Americas Pacific Challenge tournament this weekend
Dylan Audsley, Tim Maupin, and Holden Yungert are on the USA Selects playing in the Americas Pacific Challenge tournament this weekend in Uruguay. The APC will expose all athletes to the high level of international play and a chance for them to give standout performances (as it's weeks away from final selections for the November Internationals). Watch the interview between Alex Goff and injured Hooker Peter Malcom who both give much praise to the three Gaels as well as neighbor Cal Alum, Nick Boyer.
***Note: Holden Yungert is not listed on the roster, we are unsure if there's been a last minute injury. The interview, however, intended Yungert to be expected to play.
All games will be livestreamed via FloRugby.
Two SMC Alumni are named to the Men's Select Roster for the America's Pacific Challenge 2018
Tim Maupin and Holden Yungert are two SMC Rugby Alumni just selected on the Men's Select Roster for the America's Pacific Challenge 2018 held in Montevideo, Uruguay. They are joined by 25 other athletes across the Major League Rugby circuit, MCAA side, as well as capped National Team players. They are set to play October 6th-14th against Tonga A, Uruguay XV, and Argentina XV (reigning champs).
For more information about the tournament and schedule, click here.
Big Second Half Sees Eagles Fly Past Condors | FloRugby | Alex Goff
Using a quick-pass attack, the USA weathered a fairly substandard first half to gallop away with a 45-13 defeat of Chile Saturday in the Americas Rugby Championship Round 3. The Eagles got seven tries from six different players. An early break from Te’o set up Ryan Matyas for a run on the wing. About to be tackled, Matyas sent a looping pass back inside where scrumhalf Nate Augspurger was ready to make the catch and go over for the opening try. Read more about how Dylan Audsley and Dino Waldren helped lead their team to a USA victory here.
Eagles Name Starters To Face Canada | This is American Rugby
As expected head coach Gary Gold has only made one change to his line-up as his team takes on Canada on Saturday. An injury to Marcel Brache means he won't play and in his place comes Dylan Audsley. That is expected as well after Audsley came on for Brache on Saturday. With Audsley moving into the starting line-up Josh Whippy moves to the bench. The rest of the team remains exactly the same, as it should given their strong performance last week.
Forwards: Titi Lamositele, Joe Taufete'e, Dino Waldren, Nate Brakeley, Nick Civetta, Hanco Germishuys, Tony Lamborn, Cam Dolan
Backs: Nate Augspurger, Will Magie, Ryan Matyas, Bryce Campbell, Dylan Audsley, Blaine Scully (C), Mike Te'o
Bench: James Hilterbrand, Huluholo Moungaloa, Angus MacLellan, Ben Landry, Andrew Durutalo, Shaun Davies, Will Hooley, Josh Whippy
Nick Wallace Signs with Seattle Seawolves
The Seattle Seawolves have announced the signing of Bellingham native and former USA Eagle prop, Nick Wallace.
“We warmly welcome Nick to the Seawolves front row,” said Seawolves head coach Tony Healy. “He is a character man who will be relied upon to provide go-forward ball as well as the platform from which our backs can attack. His experience with the Eagles and desire to return to international form will considerably aid our forward pack.”
Wallace was born in Bellingham, Washington and began playing rugby in middle school with Chuckanut Bay Rugby Club. While attending Squalicum High School, he found success in football while continuing to perform as a standout player in rugby. After accepting a scholarship to Western Washington University in 2008 to play football, Wallace realized his true passion was in rugby. Following his red-shirt first semester at Western, Wallace transferred south to play prop with rugby powerhouse Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, California where he earned the honors of being a four-time Collegiate All-American. After finishing his collegiate career, Wallace had his first appearance with the USA Eagles Select XVs in June of 2013 and scored his first International try a few months later in a victory over Georgia. Following appearances with the national team against the likes of New Zealand, Japan, and Canada, Wallace took his skills to Colorado in 2016 to compete in the Denver Stampede.
“I am looking forward to the opportunity to continue pushing Rugby in the right direction in this country,” said Wallace. “I feel very fortunate and I am excited to get to be a part of the first professional rugby team in the pacific northwest!”
Three Eagles Linked With San Diego Legion | Alumni Dylan Audsley '17
There has been little out of the San Diego Legion about their future plans for the upcoming season but thanks to today's Eagles ARC roster announcement we know at least three players that have been officially linked to the club. We already knew that Ryan Matyas was likely to turn out for the side given that he posed for the official photo shoot. However, after the announcement we know that both Mike Te'o and Dylan Audsley have been tied to the club.
Alumni Dino Waldren '16 starts as a USA Eagle
"We are really looking forward to the rematch with the Georgians," said Interim Head Coach Dave Hewitt. "Knowing how passionate they are about rugby will add to a game that should be exciting to watch." Read more at here.
“Dino Waldren, 60 minutes (7.5): We thought that this was the match Waldren needed in an Eagles jersey. He was strong in the scrum helping out the Eagles there. He was also very strong in the open field. That may not be enough to fend off challengers for the starting spot but it was a strong effort.”
"Dino Waldren '16 Effective Up Front" This is American Rugby
Alumni News: Eagles Abroad | This is American Rugby
In the British & Irish Cup Dino Waldren starts once again... read more here.
Senior Mike McCarty '18 joins three other SMC Alumni in the USA Select Team playing against Uruguay.
Tim Maupin, starting at #14 Wing; Mike McCarthy, starting at #10, Flyhalf; Holden Yungert '17, starting at #9, ScrumHalf; and Reserve Huluholo Moungaloa, Prop.