GLENDALE, CO – USA Rugby’s High Performance Pathways have today announced the 26 members of its Eagle Eye Scout Network. The network is made up of regional coordinators and zone representatives who attend events in their region to identify top high school (under-18) talent in the men’s and women’s game.
Eagle Eye Scout Network (EESN) spans the East, West and Central United States. Each region is led by two regional coordinators with support from another six zone representatives. Scouts collect and submit reports on players they see while working hand-in-hand with the local community to review player recommendations.
Teams and leagues should provide schedules and player recommendations directly to the representative in their area. Local clubs without a scout in their immediate vicinity can apply to host an Opportunity Day which functions as a combine-like event.
.See the full list of Eagle Eye Scouts below. For more information about the Eagle Eye Scout Network and a list of other High Performance Pathways initiatives, click here.
Manager of Women’s High Performance Pathways, Martha Daines said:
“The development of a more formalized and supported scouting system is a great step for our High Performance Pathways, especially after a year without much community rugby. The work of the EESN will make it much easier for us to find new talent, track player progress and to provide development opportunities for deserving athletes. In conjunction with other pathways initiatives, the expanded scouting network should also help us better connect with rugby communities around the country.”
Manager of Men’s High Performance Pathways, Brendan Keane said:
“As we expand our ability to reach and understand emerging rugby talent across the country, the Eagle Eye Scout Network serves an important role of observing players perform in their own environments. By allowing us to reach players in their own local areas, we can discover more athletes who would otherwise not have been known to us.
“With the EESN, as well as our own Opportunity Days, talent identification camps and National Development Programs, we hope to build a more accessible, cohesive, and effective ecosystem to identify and develop players. The young men and women who are currently in or have recently graduated from high school will be important members of our teams for the Olympic Games 2024 and 2028, as well as Rugby World Cup 2025, 2027 and beyond.”
EASTERN REGION
Regional Coordinators
- Cynthia Kouril (Connecticut) ckouril@usa.rugby – Men
- Joel Bonnaud (Virginia) jbonnaud@usa.rugby – Women
Zone Representatives
- Eric Jerpe (Pennsylvania) ejerpe@usa.rugby – Men
- Marcus Wood (D.C.) mwood@usa.rugby – Men
- Ross Devonport (Florida) rdevonport@usa.rugby – Men
- Ryan Hargraves (Massachusetts) rhargraves@usa.rugby – Women
- Jade Garcia (Florida) jgarcia@usa.rugby – Women
- Lisa Jackson (North Carolina) ljackson@usa.rugby – Women
CENTRAL REGION
Regional Coordinators
- Sue Whitwell (Minnesota) swhitwell@usa.rugby – Women
- James Wilber (Colorado) jwilber@usa.rugby – Men
Zone Representatives
- Garrett Fisher (Ohio) gfisher@usa.rugby – Women
- Jamie Stephen (Illinois) jstephen@usa.rugby – Women
- Karl Barth (Colorado) kbarth@usa.rugby – Women
- Paul Eteaki (Texas) peteaki@usa.rugby – Men
- Ryan McBride (Illinois) rmcbride@usa.rugby – Men
- Daryl Jackson (Colorado) djackson@usa.rugby – Women
WESTERN REGION
Regional Coordinators
- Stuart Proctor (S. California) sproctor@usa.rugby – Men
- Jacquelin Finlan (N. California) jfinlan@usa.rugby – Women
Zone Representatives
- Alema Fitisemanu (Utah) afitisemanu@usa.rugby – Women & Men
- Nusi Tukuafu (Hawaii) ntukuafu@usa.rugby – Women & Men
- Neil Foote ( N. California) nfoote@usa.rugby – Men
- James Saddler (Oregon) jsaddler@usa.rugby – Men
- Greg Reid (N. California) greid@usa.rugby – Men
- Benjamin Lebeaupin (S. California) blebeaupin@usa.rugby – Women
- Lauren Barber – (Washington) lbarber@usa.rugby – Women
- TJ Olsen – (S. California) tolsen@usa.rugby – Women