BERKELEY — The number of former California rugby student-athletes to play for the United States National Team in test match, 15-a-side rugby grew to 56 on Saturday, and their combined test match appearances reached 713, when former Golden Bear Brendan Daly came on as a replacement during the national team's 45-13 win over Chile at Titan Stadium in the Americas Rugby Championship in Fullerton, Calif.
 
An All-American in collegiate 15s for the Blue and Gold who also made eight appearances in 7s while at Cal, Daly entered the match against Chile in the 57th minute. The 6-5, 245-pound lock arrived at the University from across San Francisco Bay at St. Ignatius High School and graduated as a Scholar Athlete from the Haas School of Business in 2013. Daly was named National Club Player of the Year when he led the senior San Francisco Golden Gate side to the final of the Pacific Rugby Premiership in 2016.
 
Daly's achievement on February 17 continues Cal's history in developing more players for the national team than any other club or team in the United States.
 
"I'm proud of our University's credential in developing international rugby players," said head coach Jack Clark. "The credit belongs to the man, but we can all enjoy their success. I'm especially proud of our newest International, Brendan Daly, for his willingness to chase excellence. I know his father is looking down with a big smile."
 
Daly joins an all-time list of fellow former Bears who played for their country in the modern era since 1980, as well as eight players who represented Team USA in 15-a-side play at the 1920 and '24 Olympic Games.
 
Each of these players receives a unique number for his chronological place in the history of United States test rugby upon his first appearance with the national team. On Saturday, Daly became USA Eagle No. 521 on the all-time list.
 
The all-time list of Cal players on the USNT in 15s for test matches includes current assistant coach Mike MacDonald, all-time USA Eagle No. 300 who retired in 2014 with the most appearances in U.S. history, as well as Cal head coach and former USNT head coach Jack Clark (all-time USA Eagle No. 105). Beyond that list, other esteemed figures in Cal rugby with international appearances include Cal associate head coach and former USNT head coach Tom Billups (all-time USA Eagle No. 221), former Golden Bears and 1950s New Zealand All Blacks Noel Bowden and Pat Vincent, and any other player with international appearances on teams outside the U.S., such as those made recently for the Philippines by Alex Aronson.
 
Congratulations go to Daly and all the players on Cal's all-time list of test match 15s Internationals, many of whom will be back at Witter Rugby Field March 10-11 for Homecoming, when generations of champions will be celebrated at the Cal Invitational, a four-team, two-day tournament featuring the Rugby Bears with UCLA, Army and Claremont Colleges.
 
All-Time Test Match 15s Players On U.S. National Team
(Player in USNT History, Golden Bear)
29, George Fish
33, Charles Mehan
42, George Davis
43, Colby Slater
51, George Dixon
52, Charles Tilden
56, Ed Turkington
74, Eric Swanson
79, Don Guest
103, Rick Bailey
105, Jack Clark
108, Jeff Hollings
121, Tim O'Brien
128, Dave Bateman
130, Bo Meyersieck
139, Blane Warhurst
143, Mark Deaton
150, Whit Everett
165, Gary Hein
169, Mark Carlson
173, Ron Zenker
194, Don James
196, Chris Williams
210, Ramon Samaniego
220, Andre Bachelet
223, Wayne Chai
230, Ed Schram
232, Steve Hiatt
233, Rob Lumkong
236, Ray Green
242, Ray Lehner
258, Kevin Dalzell
276, Shaun Paga
281, Kirk Khasigian
291, Matt Kane
292, Kort Schubert
300, Mike MacDonald
308, John Buchholz
312, Brian Surgener
321, Chris Miller
328, Jacob Waasdorp
330, Matt Sherman
344, Louis Stanfill
398, Joe Welch
401, Chris Biller
409, Brian McClenahan
410, Colin Hawley
421, Eric Fry
423, Blaine Scully
430, Derek Asbun
440, Seamus Kelly
452, Danny Barrett
467, Jake Anderson
479, Alec Gletzer
521, Brendan Daly