BERKELEY – When the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup kicks off Saturday, July 18, at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, five former Golden Bears – Danny Barrett, Eric Fry, Seamus Kelly, Blaine Scully and Lou Stanfill – are in the mix to represent their country as the U.S. National Team takes on Samoa at 7 p.m. PT.
Less than one week later that same group, which together represents 116 international appearances so far in their careers, may be in the lineup when the Americans play Japan at Sacramento’s Bonney Field on Friday, July 24, at 8 p.m. PT.
These matches will be followed by four more tests as the U.S. faces the Tonga National Team July 29 in Toronto followed by the Pacific Nations Finals Day in British Columbia Aug. 3, the Harlequin F.C. of the English Premiership Aug. 30 in Philadelphia and the Australia National Team Sept. 5 in Chicago before these same Cal alumni strive to be selected to compete at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, which kicks off Sept. 20 in England.
The University of California has produced more international rugby players than any other club or team in the United States, with 641 appearances in the 15-a-side game made by 45 players since USA Rugby formed the modern national team in 1976. Those numbers are compounded by a volume of former Bears, including Barrett, who have also blossomed in the Olympic 7s style of the sport, in which the U.S. has qualified to enter the 2016 Summer Olympics as the reigning gold medalists.
Even by Cal standards, the prospect of five Rugby Bears representing up to one third of the starting lineup for the U.S. National Team this summer is a remarkable indication of the high-performance environment of world-class excellence in which these players were schooled during their collegiate matriculation in Berkeley.
The most recent graduate on the U.S. squad is Kelly, the incumbent starting outside center who will be aiming to build on his 15 international appearances, eight of which he made during his historic collegiate career as the first three-time captain in the 134-year history of Cal rugby.
When he’s not traveling internationally or otherwise committed to the national team, Kelly calls Berkeley his home and headquarters to utilize world-class resources like the Simpson Center for Student-Athlete High Performance and Witter Rugby Field. These are same locales where Kelly put in the work to come away with such a successful collegiate career, and he’s found them to be vital to his ongoing success as an international player.
“There’s a level of comfort in training at Cal and the high-performance center, but it’s not just about comfort,” Kelly said. “It’s the best-quality training I could possibly get. It’s always put me on a great platform to have success both at Cal and with the national team.”
Even with the granular daily grind in pursuit of potential, which can make time stand still amid excruciating tests of mind and body, Kelly agreed that it seems amazing to appreciate the progress that American rugby has made. “It’s definitely exciting to be where we are right now,” he said. “Rugby has taken some massive leaps in the country in the last couple of years. Personally, it was my time at Cal that allowed me to envision these goals that I’m now realizing, and to do so alongside other teammates who wore the Cal jersey is a tremendous thing.”
When Kelly and his teammates look for leadership on the U.S. team, they can look no further than vice-captain Blaine Scully, a wing whose professional career in the English Premiership has continued an elite arc that few Americans have achieved, and whose 20 international appearances on the U.S. National Team include the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
“I look to Blaine as the guys who’s had the most influence on me, to get a gauge of what I need to do to contribute to a team on an international level,” said Kelly. “His professionalism has been a great example to follow.”
“Blaine’s strong work ethic and athletic abilities have made him a successful international player and a leader among the squad,” added national team head coach Mike Tolkin.
Scully shares in the excitement of this juncture in U.S. rugby history, but also carries a grounded commitment to the task at hand to which everyone on the national team can anchor.
“This summer will provide us with a unique opportunity to spend significant time together in the buildup to the World Cup,” Scully said. “It’s now our responsibility to make that time meaningful. It’s a chance for us to build our systems, develop our unique culture and establish our identity. This is what most excites me: a group of committed individuals and rugby players coming together to be the best we can, representing our country and competing on our sport’s greatest stage. It should be an awesome experience.”
Like every Cal rugby player who takes on the mantle of the student-athletes who competed before him, Scully looks to his fellow Bear teammates for their skill and accountability.
“All the Cal guys are well respected and proven performers at a high level. Eric Fry has developed into an excellent front rower, strong and committed as ever. Lou Stanfill has been a great servant to the Eagles for many years and his veteran leadership is highly valued. Seamus Kelly is mature beyond his years, culturally as good as it gets, and will be a rock for the team. Danny Barrett has established himself as an international force. Last year was a breakout year for him and this year on the 7s circuit, he was one of the best in the business.”
Although professional responsibilities limit his visits back to the Bay Area, Scully, like all Cal rugby alumni, carries his collegiate foundation with him around the globe.
“Cal continues to be a touchstone for me,” Scully explained. “I owe so much to this place and have so much respect for it and the people who make it what it is. I’m grateful not only for how my experience there has shaped me and what it did for me, but what it continues to do for me.”
Scully’s Cal connections have recently deepened with his marriage to former Cal softball player Shannon Houston, a 2010 graduate who became Shannon Scully at the beginning of July.
“It's always funny to get a text that ends with ‘I love you. Go Bears,’” Blaine said.
Fry and Stanfill top off the other Rugby World Cup veterans in this mix of Cal alumni, with Fry a prop and 2011 RWC veteran whose 26 international appearances with the U.S. are augmented by his professional career at Newcastle in the English Premiership, and Stanfill a flanker and No. 8 who continues to build on 51 career matches in international play as he positions himself for a third straight RWC.
Barrett, like Stanfill a back-rower, may be the least experienced among these five Rugby Bears, with four internationals in 15s competition, but his achievements have already reached historic proportions, having played a starring role as the U.S. National 7s Team won the London Sevens in May and its regional qualifier in June to earn a slot at the next Summer Olympics. Those achievements have opened the door for more American players, from Cal and elsewhere, to vie for another medal and add to the golds won by USA at the last two Olympics, 1920 and ’24, that included rugby as a medal sport.
Barrett said of the upcoming matches taking place in his home state, “There's nothing like playing in front of a home crowd. To have family, friends and loved ones out supporting us in what we love is one of the best feelings for an athlete. Knowing that so many people care about our team, combined with being able to see the people that care about you after the game, is a very powerful feeling.”
Seeing his former Cal teammates also in U.S. jerseys is another powerful propellant for Barrett and his fellow Golden Bear alumni. “Being out there with Blaine, Eric, Lou and Seamus, guys that have a pretty good pedigree under their belts, is an honor. It's an honor to be in the long line of Cal players who have pulled on the USA jersey.”
Everyone who has followed these great Golden Bears in their collegiate and post-graduate careers shares in the powerful feeling of watching them pursue their potential. The summer competition featuring so many Cal players in international play simply sets those passions further ablaze.
