Three Men’s Rugby Players to Represent USA U20 Team

Three men's rugby players will represent the Team USA U20 team this summer in the Junior World Trophy qualifier. , , and will report to camp on May 15 to prepare for two matches versus Team Canada that will take place between June 4 and June 13.   

If the United States squad finishes the two-match series against Canada with a higher aggregate score, a final selection will be named for the Junior World Trophy taking place from July 15-30 in Kenya.   

Schaefer and Devos will attempt to make the team as props, while Fortune will showcase his skills as a back row player. As a sophomore, Devos earned the start at prop in five of the six Mid-South Conference (MSC) matches the Lions played, coming off the bench in one of them. He was also selected as a starting prop for both D1A playoff matches in 2023. 

In his freshman campaign, Schaefer came off the bench in two of six MSC matches. He also had appearances in both playoff games, as well as an appearance against Army, the 2022 defending national champions. 

Fortune was a consistent selection for the Lions match day roster in 2023. He appeared in five out of six conference matches, with one of his appearances being a start versus Davenport. Fortune was also selected in both playoff matches for the Lions this spring. 

Men's General Manager of High-Performance Scott Lawrence previewed the qualifier.

"The return of the Junior World Rugby Trophy and international competition for our U20's is a welcome opportunity to develop players for the future," Lawrence said. "There is no bigger priority for our pathways this year than to get behind these potential 2027 and 2031 Eagles."  

The World Rugby U20 Trophy will return for the first time since before the pandemic. After three cancelled editions (2020-22), the biggest men's U20 tournament returns in 2023 and will feature the world's best young talents in rugby's bicentennial year.  

Exact dates and times of the matches will be determined as the tournament dates approach.  

Prop

5' 11"

Sophomore

Eight Man

6' 3"

Freshman