McWilliams, Hickie to Coach Men's Collegiate All-Americans

USA Rugby recently announced the coaching staff for the AIG Men’s Collegiate All-Americans, and two of the three coaches for this elite squad hail from the Ivy Rugby Conference. 

Dartmouth Men’s Rugby Coach Gavin Hickie will assume head coaching duties. He will be assisted by Yale Head Coach Greg McWilliams (backs coach) and Clemson Head Coach Justin Hickey (forwards coach).  

Hickie, McWilliams and Hickey were chosen “following an extensive search of qualified candidates at home and abroad,” according to USA Rugby. 

Dublin native Hickie, head coach at Dartmouth since 2012, has ample experience working with US national teams, having previously been forwards coach for the Men’s Collegiate All-Americans and Men’s Junior All-Americans. McWilliams, director of rugby at Yale as well as men’s head coach, joined the program last year after coaching the Leinster U19’s in his native Ireland for four years. 

Justin Hickey has helmed Clemson for five years, coaching the team to two ACRL championships and a “Palmetto Bowl” victory over in-state rival (and SRC champion) South Carolina at the ACRC Bowl Series last November in Charlotte.

Scouts Also Named

Working with scouting director Tony Pacheo this year will be newly-appointed head scouts: Brandon Sparks (Michigan), Josh Macy (AIC), Jeramy Katchuba (Minnesota-Duluth) and Jeremy Treece (New England College). Each represents one of four regions in the Eagle Eye Scout Network, which seeks to identify and develop rugby talent through a national network of training, testing and recruitment of college players. 

The collegiate All-American team has proven a stepping stone for several current members of the USA Eagles sevens team.