Wikipedia / USA Falcons (2005–2006)
Wikipedia / USA Falcons (2005–2006)
The USA Falcons was one of two national representative rugby union teams from the United States that competed in the North America 4 Series.
History
Formation
The Falcons were founded in 2005 by the NA4 Committee. The NA4 Committee is made up of the International Rugby Board, Rugby Canada and USA Rugby. The committee is charged with operating and financing the four North American teams (the others being the USA Hawks, Canada East, and Canada West. In 2008, however, each franchise will be sold and become privately owned.
Inaugural competition: 2006 North America 4 Series
The Falcons' first ever match occurred on 20 May 2006 during the inaugural NA 4 Series. They faced Canada East in pool play and won the match 29-14. They finished the competition with a 3-2-0 record and had an average of 29 points scored and 23 points scored against per match. They faced Canada West in the championship final and lost by a score of 20-31 on 29 July. South African native Patrick Bell, of Life University, captained the squad during the inaugural campaign.
PARMA Select XV
The PARMA Select XV is the all-star squad composed of the best players of the competition as determined by the Pan-American Rugby Media Association (PARMA). Patrick Bell, Hayden Mexted, Mark Aylor, Vaha Esikia, Andrew “Tui” Osborne, and Brian Barnard were selected to the starting XV. John Tarpoff, Alex Parker, Chad Erskine, and Jason Pye were named as reserves. Of the 22 spots on the PARMA XV, 10 were from the Falcons squad, the most of any NA4 club.
2006 squad
The 2006 NA4 squad was as follows
Jarvis Albury - Arkansas State
James Angus - Frederick
Kevin Armstrong - Santa Monica Rugby Club
Mark Aylor - Austin Blacks
Brian Barnard - San Francisco Golden Gate
Patrick Bell - Life
Matt Brown - OPSB
Chris Cowan - Santa Monica Rugby Club
Aaron Davis - Santa Monica Rugby Club
Vaha Esikia - Las Vegas Blackjacks
Chad Erskine - OMBAC
James Finau - Hayward
Mike French - OMBAC
Mark Griffin - Old Blue
Carl Hansen - Olympic Club
Jeff Hullinger - BYU
Scott Jones - Chicago Lions
Saimone Laulaupeaalu - Hayward
Sean Kim - Charlotte Rugby Club
Andrew Locke - USMA
Hayden Mexted - St. Louis Bombers
Andrew Osborne - Washington
Alec Parker - Aspen
Mike Petrie - Penn State
Tony Petruzzella - Olympic Club
Jason Pye - Utah
David Rader - New York Athletic Club
Ronald Rosser - Caly Poly
Brian Schoener - OPSB
Garry Sullivan - Life
Alipate Tuilevuka - BYU
John Vitale - Chicago Lions
References