Date of birth | September 15, 1970 | ||||||||||||||||
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Place of birth | Baltimore, United States | ||||||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | ||||||||||||||||
Weight | 184 lb (83 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
School | Great Bridge High School | ||||||||||||||||
University | College of William & Mary | ||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||
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Brian Hightower (born September 15, 1970) is an American former international rugby union player. [1]
Hightower, born in Baltimore, is of Native American descent. [2] He attended Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Virginia and picked up rugby union his sophomore year at the College of William & Mary. [3]
A winger, Hightower made his United States debut in 1997 against Wales in Cardiff and played all three pool matches at the 1999 Rugby World Cup, scoring a try in their two-point loss to Romania. He gained 17 total caps during his career. [4]
Hightower played rugby for the Gentlemen of Aspen, while working as a teacher at Aspen Middle School. [5]
The Romania national rugby union team represents Romania in men's international rugby union competitions. Nicknamed Stejarii, the team is long considered one of the stronger European teams outside the Six Nations. They have participated in all but one Rugby World Cup and currently compete in the first division of the European Nations Cup, which they won in 2017. Rugby union in Romania is administered by the Romanian Rugby Federation.
The United States men's national rugby union team, nicknamed the Eagles, represents the United States of America Rugby Football Union in men's international rugby union. USA Rugby is the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in the United States, and is a member of Rugby Americas North, one of six regional governing bodies under World Rugby. Until rugby returned to Olympic competition, with sevens at the 2016 Rio Games, the United States was the reigning Olympic rugby champion, having won gold at the 1920 and 1924 Summer Olympics.
The Canada men's national rugby union team represents the Canada in men's international rugby union competitions. They are overseen by Rugby Canada the governing body of rugby union in Canada.
Eddie O'Sullivan is an Irish rugby union coach, player and a former Gaelic footballer. He is a former head coach of Buccaneers RFC the United States national rugby union team and of the Ireland national rugby union team. He was head coach of Biarritz Olympique, who play in the second tier of France, until October 2015.
David Hodges is an American businessman and former professional rugby union player and coach. His current role within rugby is uncertain following his last employer, the Austin Gilgronis, being expelled from the MLR. He was an American rugby union coach of the United States national rugby union team, the Eagles. Hodges is a former professional rugby union player, professional, collegiate American football player, and collegiate American football coach. Hodges was captain of the U.S. national rugby team for 28 matches, a U.S. record that stood until 2013. Since retiring from the international game, Dave joined Falcon West Insurance Brokers and works successfully as a commercial insurance broker alongside another well-known rugby player, Bill Leversee. He resides in Colorado and is still actively involved within the rugby community on many levels.
Tom Billups is an American former rugby union rugby player, who played for the USA Eagles as an international and Blackheath Rugby Club, Harlequin F.C., and Pontypridd RFC as a professional. After retiring as a player in 1999, he joined the staff of the United States national team and was the head coach from 2001 to 2006. In addition to coaching the Eagles, Billups managed the U.S. national sevens team program and coached the 2005 U.S. sevens team. In 2015 Billups was inducted into U.S. Rugby Hall of Fame, and was the first person to be inducted as both a player and coach. In 2018 Billups became the 14th recipient of the Craig Sweeney Award which was first award in 1979 in memory of former United States national team member and captain, Craig Sweeney. The Sweeney Award is presented to a former national team player who has contributed significantly to the game while displaying exemplary character on and off the field.
David Niumataiwalu, better known as David Niu, is an Australian-American dual-code international rugby league and rugby union administrator, coach and former player. Regarded as one of the founders of rugby league in the United States, he established the American National Rugby League (AMNRL), the United States' first domestic rugby league competition and formerly the national governing body for the sport. He later served as president of AFL Global, an organization promoting arena football.
Ian Martin Buckett was a Welsh international rugby union front row forward, who played for Swansea and London Welsh. He also played county rugby for North Wales. He was a championship winning player, an international and an academic.
Roland Suniula is an American international rugby union player who plays for the Austin Elite as a centre in Major League Rugby (MLR).
Blaine Hansen Scully is an American former rugby union player who played for the U.S. national team as a fullback or wing. Scully was captain of the U.S. national team and previously served as co-captain alongside long-serving USA Eagle, Todd Clever. Professionally, Scully last played in Wales for Cardiff Blues and for the Leicester Tigers. Scully also founded the United States Rugby Players Association (USRPA) with former 7s Eagle, James Gillenwater.
Greg Peterson is an Australian-born USA international rugby union player who plays for the San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby (MLR). He previously played for Glasgow Warriors. His regular playing position is lock. Peterson has played professionally in Australia and Europe. Peterson has played for the United States national rugby union team since 2014, including at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
David Walter Fee is an American former rugby union player who played for the United States national teams, where he primarily played wing. Fee earned 28 caps for the 15's US national team from 2002 to 2005 and started all four games in the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Fee also played on the 7's team, competing in the 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Hong Kong.
Benjamin Tarr, is an American rugby union player who plays for the New Orleans Gold in Major League Rugby (MLR). His usual position is tighthead prop. He also played for the United States national team.
Tudor-Andrei Boldor Boghiță is a Romanian rugby union Rugby player. He plays as a fly-half for professional Liga Națională de Rugby club Dinamo București.
Thomas Wright is an Australian professional dual-code rugby player who plays as a fullback for Super Rugby club the Brumbies and the Australia national team.
Malon Maurice Al-Jiboori is an American rugby union player who plays for the United States men's national rugby sevens team and the United States men's national team (XVs). He currently plays for Ealing Trailfinders and the Houston SaberCats in Major League Rugby (MLR).
Juan Grobler is a South African-American former rugby union player who played centre.
Robert Anthony Lumkong is an American former international rugby union player.
Kurt Daniel Shuman is an American former international rugby union player.
Peter William LeClerc is a New Zealand-American former international rugby union player.