BOULDER, Colo. – USA Rugby has announced the 2011 Boy’s High School All-Americans Touring Squad consisting of 30 of the best American high school rugby players.

The team will depart for South Africa on July 12 to take on two top high schools and two developmental sides. The 20-day tour is made possible through the generous support of Aircraft Charter Solutions.

The Boy’s High School All-Americans (HSAAs) will travel to Durban to play George Campbell Tech College and Glenwood High School and then make their way to Cape Town to face Tygerburg Rugby Club and Durbanville High School.

HSAA Head Coach, Salty Thompson, and his staff have scouted the Regional All-Star Tournaments and the National High School Championships, looking to find the best young players in the country.

The selection cycle started with a winter camp in Santa Barbara, Calif. where the squad beat Canada’s Under-17s then moved onto Las Vegas in February for the first ever HSAA Sevens team assembly where two HSAA teams finished 1st and 3^rd in their division. A spring assembly, sponsored by Aircraft Charter Solutions, provided a further 60 players an opportunity to compete for a place on the touring side.

Thompson and his staff aim to help players improve their overall skills and decision making to, ultimately, enable them to compete at the next level and further their development in the sport.

"Traveling internationally and playing quality teams in South Africa is the best development opportunity for aspiring young players", added Thompson.

Selection to the High School All-Americans is a common entry point to the pathway to senior international rugby. The next progression is selection to the Junior All-Americans (Under-20s) then to the Collegiate All-Americans and eventually the Men’s National Team.

2011 BOY’S HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICANS | SOUTH AFRICA TOUR

Forwards
Michael Bush (Sacramento Jesuit High School), Jeffrey Calzaretta (Marin Highlanders), Christian Castro (Davis Rugby), Joseph Corrado (Xavier High School), Pierce Dargan (Blackrock College, Dublin), Cameron Falcon (Shaw Eagle Rugby), Henry Hall (St. George’s School), Brendan Hardiman (Marin Highlanders), Richard Korvick (Kansas City Junior Blues), Titi Lamositele (Chuckanut Bay Rugby Club), Peyton Lauber (Southside U19 Rugby Club), Christian Ostberg (Stony Point High School), Andy Sandoval (Los Angeles Cougars), Blake Simons (De La Salle Rugby Club), Colin Snyder (Rugby Indiana), Seteone Vaitafa (Red Mountain Youth Rugby), Ekapatelisio Veamatahau (San Mateo Warriors)

Backs
Sione Aisea (Rugby Oregon), Taryn Allbritton (Alliance RFC), Gavin Brown (North Central H.S.), Matthew Chipman (Jesuit Rugby), Charlie Hutchings (Tampa Barbarians), Saaitua Laei (Lowland Varsity), Sione Letoi (Tempe U19 Rugby Club), Zachary Miller (Raiders Rugby), Jesse Milne (P.I.T.S Rugby), George Naufahu-Talakai (San Mateo Warriors), Michael Reid (Warrenton Wolfpack), Sakalia Alofagia (East Palo Alto Razorbacks), Alexander Taefu (Tempe U19 Rugby Club)

Coaching Staff
Salty Thompson (Head Coach), Michael Engelbrecht (Assistant Coach), David Fee (Assistant Coach), Jason Payne (Assistant Coach), Paule Barford (Assistant Coach), Mark Stephens (Trainer), Eric Taber (Manager)

2011 BOY’S HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICANS SOUTH AFRICA TOUR

July 19: USA Boy’s High School All-Americans v. George Campbell Tech College| 4 p.m.

July 23: USA Boy’s High School All-Americans v. Glenwood High School | 3 p.m.

July 26: USA Boy’s High School All-Americans v. Tygerburg Rugby Club | Kickoff Time TBD

July 28: USA Boy’s High School All-Americans v. Durbanville High School | Kickoff Time TBD

Looking at the list of names who played well for the USA in the recent Churchill Cup, or who had good moments, one of the names conspicuously absent was that of Kevin Swiryn.

The former USA 7s and St. Mary’s team captain, and professional for Agen, had probably his worst series for the Eagles, and the wing/center told RUGBYMag.com that he knows it.

“No need to sugarcoat it, I didn't play well,” Swiryn said Wednesday. “My defense was abysmal and embarrassing. When you get to this level if you're not your toughest critic, you won't make it very long. I know how I played and there's nothing anyone can say that I haven't already said to myself.”

The key next step, said Swiryn, is to pick himself up.

“I'm fortunate that I have a few games under my belt from previous years that show my capabilities,” he said. “If I didn't, the likelihood of me playing again for the US this summer wouldn't be very high.”

Asked if he felt the long French season – Swiryn’s first professional season – was a factor in tiring him out, the former All American said it’s possible, but that’s just an excuse.

“It's a World Cup year and we need to be playing the best players to give our team the best chance to compete and to win games,” he said. “If I fall out of form then maybe I'm not the guy. If I play two bad games and one good one, then I'm inconsistent and, again, I may not be the guy. But if I play like I have in the past for the Eagles, then I know I'm the guy.”

Everyone can have slumps, said Swiryn, pointing to former baseball MVP Ryan Howard’s 0-23 run this year.

“That doesn't make him a poor hitter; he just has something going on that's not allowing him to maximize his performance. In the Churchill Cup I played poor defense, but I can say with confidence that normally I'm a solid defender. I had my slump and it's time for me to get out of it, just like Howard did when he hit a home run.”