Cam Dolan

Cam Dolan
Cam Dolan playing with the USA U-20 side against Namibia in the 2009 JWRT
Full name Cameron Alexander Dolan
Date of birth March 7, 1990
Place of birth Florida, United States
Height 198 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Weight 115 kg (254 lb; 18 st 2 lb)
School Naples Bears
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Number 8, Flanker
Amateur clubs
Years Club / team
2009–2013 Life University
Professional / senior clubs
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2013–present Northampton Saints 1 (0)
correct as of 1 February 2015.
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
2013– United States
United States U20		 10 (10)
correct as of 15 June 2014.

Cameron Dolan (born March 7, 1990) is an American rugby union player who normally plays at the Number 8 position. He currently plays professionally for the Northampton Saints, a team in the English Premiership. Dolan is one of few Americans to play rugby outside the United States, at professional level.

Early career

Dolan began playing rugby in high school with the Naples Bears in Florida,[1] before playing college rugby at Life University in Atlanta, Georgia. Dolan played with Life University at the Collegiate Rugby Championship, and was named to the CRC All-Tournament team in 2012 and 2013. At Life University, Dolan was a four-time All-American and won a National Championship in 2013.[2]

International

Dolan first appeared on the International scene during 2009, where he was named captain of the United States U20's team for the 2009 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy.[3] At this time he was the United States Rugby Foundation Development Grant Recipient, which is a foundation to develop and improve upcoming rugby talent in the United States.

His efforts for the Under 20's side and his club side landed Dolan in the United States senior side for the 2013 IRB Pacific Nations Cup, the inaugural year for the United States in the competition. He made his full International debut at No.8 against Fiji, as a replacement for captain Todd Clever who was unable to play this match due to injury. His third and fourth cap, came when the USA faced Canada in Round 3 of the 2015 Rugby World Cup Americas qualifications, which ended in a 2–0 defeat thus parachuting USA down to the NACRA-CONSUR playoff final.

In October 2013, Dolan was named captain for the USA Select XV side in the 2013 Americas Rugby Championship. He led the side to two victories; against Canada A and Uruguay.[4][5] Following this Championship, Dolan was named in the American squad for their 2013 end-of-year rugby union tests. He was named Man of the Match in their opening game against the Māori All Blacks, picking up a try at the 71st minute.[6]

At the conclusion of 2013, Dolan was named the U.S. Breakout Player of the Year by Rugby Mag.[7]

Professional

Dolan's performance against the Maori in November 2013 was seen by Jim Mallinder, Head Coach of Northampton Saints, who offered Dolan a professional contract with the Saints.[8] Dolan was brought in as an injury replacement for James Craig who suffered from a serious shoulder injury. Dolan joined fellow U.S. international Samu Manoa at the club. Dolan did not make any first team appearances for Northampton during the 2013–14 season, however, he made several appearances for the Saint's sevens team and second side, Wanderers.[9] His strong performances in training earned him a one year extension with Saints for the 2014–15 Premiership season.[10] Dolan made his professional debut for Northampton Saints on January 31st 2015 in the Anglo Welsh Cup.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "US Eagles No8 Cam Dolan signs for Northampton Saints", Guardian.com, December 16, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2014
  2. ↑ USA Men's Eagles - Cam Dolan
  3. ↑ USRF Development Grant Recipient Cameron Dolan Named Captain of USA Men's U20s Team
  4. ↑ USA SELECT XV DEFEAT CANADA A
  5. ↑ USA 20, Uruguay 8
  6. ↑ Capacity crowd witnesses compelling 19-29 Eagles loss in Philadelphia
  7. ↑ "USA Rugby and Northampton Saints Cam Dolan Answers Some Tough and Not So Tough Questions", Rugby Wrap Up, April 5, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  8. ↑ US Eagles No8 Cam Dolan signs for Northampton Saints
  9. ↑ "Cam Dolan Signs Extension With Northampton, Tuisamoa Joins London Scottish". This is american rugby. this is american rugby. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  10. ↑ "Cam Dolan Signs Extension With Northampton, Tuisamoa Joins London Scottish". This is american rugby. this is american rugby. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  11. ↑ espnscrum http://www.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/match/235821.html. Retrieved 1 February 2015. Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links