Birth name | Cameron Alexander Dolan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | March 7, 1990 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Fort Myers, Florida, United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 198 cm (6 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 115 kg (254 lb; 18 st 2 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University | Life University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Cameron Dolan (born March 7, 1990) is an American rugby union player who normally plays at the Number 8 position. He currently plays professionally for the NOLA Gold, since 2018, in the Major League Rugby (MLR). Dolan previously played rugby outside the United States at professional level.
Dolan began playing rugby in high school with the Naples Bears in Florida, although he did spend a very successful term in the 1st XV at St Edward’s school in Cheltenham [2] before playing college rugby at Life University in Atlanta, Georgia. Dolan played with Life University at the Collegiate Rugby Championship, and was named to the CRC All-Tournament team in 2012 and 2013. At Life University, Dolan was a four-time First Team All-American, and won a National Championship in 2013. [3]
Dolan's performance against the Maori in November 2013 was seen by Jim Mallinder, Head Coach of Northampton Saints, who offered Dolan a professional contract with the Saints. [4] Dolan was brought in as an injury replacement for James Craig. Dolan joined fellow U.S. international Samu Manoa at the club. Dolan did not make any first team appearances for Northampton during the 2013–14 season. However, he made several appearances for the Saints' sevens team and second side, Wanderers. [5] His strong performances in training earned him a one-year extension with Saints for the 2014–15 Premiership season. [5] Dolan made his professional debut for Northampton Saints on January 31, 2015 in the Anglo Welsh Cup. [6]
Following two seasons with Saints, Dolan joined Cardiff Blues for the 2015-16 Pro 12 season. [7]
Dolan first appeared on the International scene during 2009, where he was named captain of the United States U20's team for the 2009 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy. [8] At this time he was the United States Rugby Foundation Development Grant Recipient, which is a foundation to develop and improve upcoming rugby talent in the United States.
His efforts for the Under 20s side and his club side landed Dolan in the United States senior side for the 2013 IRB Pacific Nations Cup, the inaugural year for the United States in the competition. He made his full International debut at No.8 against Fiji, as a replacement for captain Todd Clever who was unable to play this match due to injury. His third and fourth cap, came when the USA faced Canada in Round 3 of the 2015 Rugby World Cup Americas qualifications, which ended in a 2–0 defeat thus parachuting USA down to the NACRA-CONSUR playoff final.
In October 2013, Dolan was named captain for the USA Select XV side in the 2013 Americas Rugby Championship. He led the side to two victories; against Canada A and Uruguay. [9] [10] Following this Championship, Dolan was named in the American squad for their 2013 end-of-year rugby union tests. He was named Man of the Match in their opening game against the Māori All Blacks, picking up a try at the 71st minute. [11]
At the conclusion of 2013, Dolan was named the U.S. Breakout Player of the Year by Rugby Mag. [12]
Dolan was the starting No. 8 for the USA when they achieved their first-ever win over a Tier 1 nation, Scotland in 2018. [13] Dolan became the USA Eagle with the most victories at 30 wins in 59 appearances, following the USA's victory over Chile in 2023 World Cup qualifying. [13]
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.
Felipe Contepomi is an Argentine professional rugby coach who is currently the head coach of the Argentine national side.
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.
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.
Chris Wyles is a former American-English rugby union player. Until his retirement from international rugby in January 2016, Wyles had represented the United States in three World Cups. He was the USA Eagles Captain in the 2015 World Cup. In the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 season, he was Captain of the USA National Sevens team, a core team in the World Rugby Sevens series. In 2015, he was selected for the USA Olympic team to compete in the Sevens rugby event at the Rio Olympic Games.
Phillip Thiel is a former American rugby union player who currently coaches Atlanta Old White rugby football Club and played for Life University Men's Senior Rugby Club in the American Rugby Premiership as a hooker and prop.
John van der Giessen is an American former rugby union player. He played lock for the USA Eagle XV side. John earned a captaincy role for the USA and represented the side in the 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cup. Van der Giessen played professional rugby in the English Premiership and French Top 14. John has since retired.
Samu Manoa is an American rugby union player who plays for the Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby (MLR). Manoa was described in 2014 by ESPNscrum.com as "perhaps the finest No. 8 playing the game in the northern hemisphere." He retired from international rugby in 2019 with 22 caps.
Eric Fry is an American international rugby union player who plays prop. Fry last played for RC Vannes of the Pro D2 in France, and previously played in the English Premiership for Newcastle Falcons and London Scottish in the RFU Championship. He can play either tighthead prop or loosehead prop, and is considered a strong scrummager with a high work rate.
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.
Shalom Suniula is a former rugby league and rugby union player, who played for the Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby (MLR), and for the United States national rugby sevens team. He played rugby union for the United States Eagles XV's, USA Sevens, and at club level for Belmont Shore RFC, as a scrum-half or fly-half. His brothers Andrew and Roland Suniula also played rugby for the U.S.
Alexander Magleby is the CEO of the professional rugby union team, The New England Free Jacks. He is a former professional rugby union coach, and former United States national team player and captain.
Gabriel Farley is a rugby league and rugby union player who plays for the Austin Gilgronis in Major League Rugby (MLR).
Marvin Orie is a South African rugby union player for the South Africa national team, the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship and Western Province in the Currie Cup. His regular position is lock.
Madison John Hughes is a professional rugby union player who plays as a fullback. Born in England, he represents United States at international level after qualifying on residency grounds.
Callum Braley is an English-born Italian rugby union player who plays for Saracens in the Premiership Rugby.
Nate Augspurger is an American rugby union player from Minneapolis, Minnesota who plays scrum-half for the Chicago Hounds of Major League Rugby (MLR).
Ramiro Moyano is an Argentine rugby union player who plays for the national Argentina team The Pumas and most recently at club level for Edinburgh Rugby in the United Rugby Championship. Moyano mostly plays as a full-back but has on occasions played wing.
William John E. Hooley is a former rugby union player who played fly-half for the San Diego Legion in Major League Rugby (MLR) and the United States.
Dylan Audsley is an American rugby union player who plays center and fullback for the San Diego Legion in Major League Rugby (MLR) and the United States men's national team.