FULLERTON, Calif. -- Jessieville High School graduate and national rugby standout Ruben de Haas debuted for the full USA Rugby national side Saturday as the Eagles finished 3-0 at home in the 2018 Americas Rugby Championship.
De Haas' family moved to Arkansas when he was in elementary school. His father, Pieter de Haas, played professional rugby in South Africa and helped establish the Little Rock Junior Stormers as the area's under-18 youth rugby club.
The Eagles made de Haas one of the youngest players to be ever called up for the full national team last month ahead of the Americas Rugby Championship. They began with a 17-10 victory over Argentina XV on Feb. 3 at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. The Men's Eagles overcame longtime rival Canada, 29-10, on Feb. 10 to keep the CANAM trophy at Papa Murphy's Park in Sacramento, Calif.
Men's Eagles General Manager Dave Hodges said the roster would evolve as some players returned to their clubs overseas before Saturday's match against Chile.
"A few players have gone back to their professional setup," said Hodges. "While that is a challenge, we acknowledge and work through, the players who have come into the camp this week have helped energize the team and will add a positive impact to the group."
Changes to the roster were also expected to provide opportunities for several players to earn their first official caps. De Haas was among several players vying for the chance to be capped from their positions as reserves.
"This next test match gives us an opportunity to improve our own performance," said Hodges. "While we did get the win in each of our opening ARC matches against Canada and Argentina XV, the overall accuracy of the team needs to improve. That's a massive challenge for us going into the match against Chile."
De Haas was listed as a reserve at scrum half for the Chile match. He made his debut as the Eagles finished the homestand with a 45-13 win at Titan Stadium in Fullerton, Calif.
The Eagles will continue play in the competition next month in South America. De Haas will travel with the men's team and could earn a start against Brazil or Uruguay.
They will face Brazil on Saturday at Martins Pereira Stadium in Sao Jose Dos Campos. The Eagles will have another match on March 3 against Uruguay at Estadio Charrua, in Montevideo. All of the matches can be viewed on http://www.therugbychannel.tv.
Of the competing teams, only the USA and Uruguay have secured positions in the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
De Haas starred for the Junior Stormers and progressed from the Boys High School All-Americans to the Men's Junior All-Americans to compete around the world. He was scouted by CSM Sports and Marketing and subsequently reached an agreement to play for the Cheetahs' academy in South Africa.
Sports on 02/18/2018