Endicott Athletics and Recreation

    • Kanamaru Shines In Debut For Northeast Rugby Academy

    BEVERLY, Mass. – Earlier this month (11/7), Endicott men’s rugby senior Riki Kanamaru (Tokyo, Japan) represented the Gulls well in his debut for the Northeast Rugby Academy in Herriman, Utah against the Utah Warriors Professional Rugby Selects team.

    Kanamaru Shines In Debut For Northeast Rugby Academy
    November 17, 2020

    MATCH RECAP | NORTHEAST RUGBY ACADEMY 

    BEVERLY, Mass. – Earlier this month (11/7), Endicott men's rugby senior Riki Kanamaru (Tokyo, Japan) represented the Gulls well in his debut for the Northeast Rugby Academy in Herriman, Utah against the Utah Warriors Professional Rugby Selects team.

    In that 15s match a few weeks ago, Kanamaru and his Northeast Rugby Academy teammates raced out a 17-14 lead at halftime; however, the Selects bounced back in the second stanza to claim an eventual 28-27 victory.

    Meanwhile, as for Kanamaru, his journey to making the Northeast Rugby Academy squad included a series of grueling tryouts to secure his spot on the squad. The Northeast Rugby Academy serves as a National Development Program (NDP) for the Northeast and is sanctioned by USA Rugby.

    "This is quite an honor for Riki," said Endicott men's rugby head coach Dave Kenkel. "We are proud of him for making the team and representing our program well at this level."

    Founded in 2013, the Northeast Rugby Academy was created with the mission to develop the individual, the sport of rugby, and the Northeast community through effective, purposeful coaching and leadership. The Northeast Rugby Academy also is sponsored by the Major League Rugby (MLR) franchise, the New England Free Jacks, who Endicott men's rugby alum Jackson Thiebes '18 (Manchester, Mass.) currently plays for.

    As for the Warriors Selects team, that squad is made up of the best Utah Men's Premier Division (MPD) players, who have previously been crowned 7s National Champions in 2016 and 2017. In addition to sponsoring the Selects season, the Utah Warriors provide the Utah MPD with tools to develop players and coaches and are the title sponsor for MPD games.  The partnership is a direct pathway for MPD athletes to progress to the Warriors Selects and possibly a spot on the Utah Warriors roster.

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    (Photo Credit - Mike Connors)