BARBARIANS' NIC JOHNSON NAMED TO RUGBY WORLD CUP QUALIFIER SQUAD
By Ken Matthews
Denver Barbarians' Nic Johnson has been named to the Rugby World Cup squad for the USA Eagles two-match qualifier series against Uruguay. The matches will be held in Montevideo, Uruguay on November 14, 2009 and at Broward County Regional Park, Lauderhill, Florida, USA on November 21, 2009. The squad will assemble in Florida on November 8 th and depart for South America on November 10.
The US lost its first World Cup Qualifier when it split matches against Canada the past summer, with Canada advancing on the point differential. Should either the US or Uruguay win both matches, that country will automatically advance to the 2011 Rugby World Cup. In the case of these squads splitting these two encounters, the winner of the point differential will advance directly to the 2011 Rugby World Cup pool, with the other side continuing to further qualification matches.
The USA has a 9-1 win-loss record over Uruguay over the past 20 years, and had to challenge the South American side for their last qualification into the Rugby World Cup four years ago, winning both matches and posting a two-game point total of 75-20. The 2011 Rugby World Cup will be held in New Zealand between September 10 and October 22, 2011. The final will be held in Auckland's Eden Park
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Johnson, who has been with the Barbarians for the past 3 years, was named to the Churchill Cup, American Rugby Championship, and Canada World Cup qualifier squads this past summer and fall, playing primarily at #8.
Barbarians' head coach and director of rugby David Hodges is the assistant US coach, handling the forwards.
The Barbarians wish Nic, David, and the Eagles the best of luck in the upcoming matches.
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Denver Barbarians Rugby Club was formed in 1967 and has provided more than 30 players to the USA Eagles during the course of its history. Denver Barbarians Rugby Club is the only Colorado member of the Rugby Super League, the elite-side rugby club competition in the United States. Many referees, coaches, and administrators at all levels have emerged from the Barbos ranks. The Club has won championships at the National, Territorial, and Local level in both 15's and seven-a-side play.