NCR RELEASE
Wilmington, Del. — 369 athletes across 120 institutions will head to Silverbacks Park in Athlanta, Georgia, to play in the National Collegiate Rugby All-Star Tournament. Three Saints have earned the prestigious honor to be invited and play in these games. The tournament will begin with pool play on Saturday (Jan. 18), and conclude on Sunday (Jan. 19). 

Jacob Easterling, Jackson Andrews, and Gavin Thompson will be competing for The Great Lake Thunderbirds, who are the defending champions as they went 10-0 within 2024. This is the first time that any men's rugby player has had this opportunity to play in the NCR All-Star Tournament. 

Easterling and Andrews will compete with the All-Star team, as Thompson will compete on the Rising Stars team. Both factions representing Midwest as part of The Great Lake Thunderbirds.

This tournament will see players ranging within the ranks of Division I to Division III, from all across the country. Here are the other teams competing within the tournament.

• All-Star Teams
  • Great Lakes Thunderbirds
  • Mid-Atlantic Sharks
  • Midwest Barbarians
  • New England Independents (Red)
  • New England Independents (White)
  • Pac-Coast Grizzlies
  • Southeast Bears
  • Tri-State Foundry
• Rising-Star Teams
  • Great Lakes Thunderbirds
  • Mid-Atlantic Sharks
  • Midwest Barbarians
  • New England Independents (Blue)
  • Southeast Bears
  • Tri-State Foundry