Forward Hayden Smith, who joined the Denver Barbarians this past spring after completing his basketball eligibility with Metro State College of Denver, was named a 2008 Collegiate Rugby All-American. Smith, who was a scholarship basketball player for 4 years at Metro State, had been out of rugby since his schoolboy days in Australia when he joined the Barbarians.

However, Smith quickly recalled how to utilize his 6'6", 245 lbs on a rugby pitch and became a quick fixture on the Barbarian Division 2 squad, and helped that squad to a 3rd place finish in the Western Rugby Football Union Championship in April, 2008.

Smith also was selected to several of the Barbarians' Rugby Super League rosters and appeared in Rugby Super League matches for Denver. The Barbarians finished third in the USA Rugby Super League in 2008.

Smith's return to rugby form was further recognized when he was named to captain the Western Rugby Football Union (WRFU) collegiate all-stars at the USA Rugby College All-Star Championship earlier this month. The WRFU lost an exciting final to the Pacific Coast Rugby Football Union in the USA Rugby All-Star Championships held in Glendale on June 13 and 14. It was at this tournament that Smith caught the eyes of national selectors and was named to the 2008 All-American squad.

An All-American team is being sent to New Zealand from July 16-31 for a series of matches against strong Kiwi competition. The final squad for that tour has not been released by USA Rugby. Smith intends to stay in the Denver area and is looking to start his career in business and finance.