1. WheelingJesuitCardinals
HeadCoach: Tommy Duffy
2015 Fall Record
In Conference Overall
4 – 3 7 – 3
4th
Place,RugbyEast
CurrentD1A Top-20 Ranking
#17
Players to Watch
Hugh McAllister,Sr. - Captain Lock Honorable Mention All-Conference,2015
Inosi Kau,Sr. Center 2nd
TeamAll-Conference,2014
Joji Vakasisikakalala,Jr. Fly-half
AndrewWaggoner,Sr. Flanker
Frank Rolf,Jr. Prop
AugustMurphy,So. Lock
2015 was a bannerseasonforWheelingJesuitRugby. Currently ranked17th
nationally,the varsity
program hasturnedheadsand made namesof several athletesinashortamountof time.
Unfortunately,2016 has so far hashad the distinctlookof the program’smost tryingcampaignto date.
First,theygraduatedfourof theirfive 1st
TeamAll-Conference performersfromlastfall.ThenCecil Rich,
theirother1st
Team All-Conference staronthe year,ruptured hisAchilles inthe springplayoffs.He will
missthe entire fall campaign. Whathurtthe program most though intheiroffseasonof tumult,werethe
lossesof coach, Tal Bayer andDirectorof RugbyEric Jerpe.
Withno official headcoachnamedas of August27th
, the teamlooked fairly rudderlessintheirfirstpre-
seasonmatch. Shortlyafterthe 59-5 drubbingat the handsof Notre Dame College finalphone calls were
made to geta contract inked,andthe UniversityannouncedTommyDuffyasthe new HeadCoach and
Directorof Rugbyon Sept.1st
. Wheelingfollowedthatfirsthitout witha much betterperformance
againstMt. Saint Mary’s onSept.2nd
.
Formerstandoutplayers,PeterMalcolmandAllanHansonhave beenactingasunofficial Interim
coachesthroughthe preseason, afterreturningfromthe springseasonwithPRORugby’sOhioAviators.

2. Theyappearto have done a fine job,consideringthatone weekturnaround.Boththe teamandDuffy
are excitedaboutthe officialannouncementthough.
Duffyisa Wheelingnative,havinggrownupjustpacesawayfromthe WJU Rugbypitch inthe ‘70s. He
creditsWheelingRugbywithinspiringhislove of the game. DuffyhasenjoyedhisopportunitiesatThe
Citadel andthe SouthernConference,but hasanopportunityhere toheada stellarprogram, inhis
hometown.
Duffyarrivesthisweekandthe conference scheduleforwheelingdoesn’tactuallyopenuntil September
17th
. We sawPennState handle theirearlyseasoncoachingchangeslastseasonwithaplomb,so there is
plentyof hope forthe Cardinals tomake noise againthisyear.Team Captain,HughMcAllisteris
confidentthe squadcanlive up to the standardstheyhave setin the past.
Recruitingeffortsinthe springbroughtin20-some freshmanfromthe UK, Zimbabwe andmanyhighly
rankeddomesticHighSchool programs.Alsocomingbackto the teamis their2014 All-Conference
Inside Center,Inosi Kau.He andJoji VakasisikakalalaatFly-half are aslickpair of runnerswhoshould
orchestrate some craftybackline moves.
“Everyone isreallyexcitedforthe seasontogetunderway,” saidMcAllister.“We have a tonof talent,
experience andunderclassmenwhoare readyto step-upandtake the league bystorm.”
Article &Artworkby Ryan J.Trost
Thisis American Rugby – RugbyEast