NAIROBI, Kenya – Six rising sophomores from California rugby are set for competition at the World Rugby U20 Trophy tournament. Cormac Saint, J.P. Vinter, Cade Crist, Solomon Williams and Rand Santos will represent Team USA while Max Threlkeld will play for Team Hong Kong. All matches will be contested at the Nyayo National Stadium in Kenya between July 15-30.
 
This year's competition marks the return of the World Rugby U20 Trophy after a four-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eight teams have qualified for the tournament and will battle for a spot in the World Rugby U20 Championship, set to take place in 2024.
 
The six Golden Bears representing Cal all saw playing time at Witter Rugby Field in their freshmen debuts in 2022-23. Santos, Threlkeld and Williams culminated their first-year campaigns by earning the call-up to Cal's starting XV in the D1A National Championship match against Navy. Williams was the starting scrumhalf for the Bears' entire postseason run while Santos and Threlkeld ended the season as two of Cal's top try-scorers with 10 apiece.
 
Crist played as Cal's starting hooker eight times throughout the season, including in the quarterfinals 29-28 win over Saint Mary's and the 55-31 semifinal victory over BYU. Vinter scored a pair of tries in the Bears' 79-3 win over Santa Clara, the first points of his collegiate career, while Saint saw time in three matches for the Blue & Gold in 2023. 
 
"On the years the Trophy is played during the academic year, our players take a pass as it's difficult to take several weeks off classes at Cal," head coach Jack Clark said. "However, when the competition is in the summer like this year, the boys are clamoring to participate. I know they are honored to represent and we are proud of them."
 
Each contest will be streamed live for fans to tune in from around the world. A full match schedule for the tournament and live streams for each contest can be found here.
 
USA Schedule (Pool A)
Saturday, July 15 vs. Uruguay at 14:00 (4 a.m. PST)
Thursday, July 20 vs. Scotland at 14:00 (4 a.m. PST)
Tuesday, July 25 vs. Zimbabwe at 10:00 (12 a.m. PST)
 
Hong Kong Schedule (Pool B)
Saturday, July 15 vs. Spain at 16:00 (6 a.m. PST)
Thursday, July 20 vs. Samoa at 10:00 (12 a.m. PST)
Tuesday, July 25 vs. Kenya at 12:00 (2 a.m. PST)
 
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