CCIG Tiger Rugby, the rugby sevens team sponsored by Oakland’s Phillip H. Tagami, managing partner of California Capital Investments Group, finds itself, once again, a top performer in a tournament for the sport.
Last time, it was at the Las Vegas Sevens in March, and where CCIG Tiger Rugby posted a five-and-one record, defeated only by Japan in the finals. This is, while the record is a less stellar 1-2 to date, it’s headed into the semis of the Hong Kong Sevens rugby contest, where it forecasts success.
CCIG Tiger Rugby, with founding coaches James Walker, Paul Holmes, and directed by Age Ferris, consists of such stars as…
• Sam McGuffie, the multi-sport star who once played for the Oakland Raiders, and then more recently went from being on the US Olympics Bobsleading Team to joining CCIG Tiger Rugby is less than a week.
• Zach Bonte (of UCLA, now at Life West), Nick Boyer (Cal Berkeley), Harry Higgins (Arkansas State), Lorenzo Thomas (still at Lindenwood), Cody Melphy (Life University), an are on the tour with CCIG Tiger Rugby.
• USA players Pat Blair, Naima Fuala’au, Bren Broselle, and Tala Talapusi, from Eagles Sevens
• Life West’s Devereaux Ferris, Charlie Brennan, Huluholu Moungaloa, Jay Finau, are with CCIG Tiger Rugby on the trip. Joining them are former internationals Cornal Hendricks from South Africa, and Matt Turner representing England.
• Chris Frazier, from Mystic River is on tour with CCIG Tiger Rugby, along with American High School All-American Junior Waqavesi.
• Peni Tagive also joins CCIG Tiger Rugby. Flo Rugby, the rugby publication took note of Tagive, reporting that the 30 year old “Australian-born Fijian”, “played rugby league in Australia and football with Baylor,” and is “6-foot-4, 220-pounds” and “a big and powerful wing who could be a useful find for Tiger.”
Of the Hong Kong Sevens, Mr. Tagami said “This is a fantastic experience for american players. To compete against the best in the world and test their metal. The GFI HKFC 10s is a wonderfully run tournament hats off to our hosts this week.”
Thursday’s game is against the Sedbergh School Old Boys in the Bowl Quarterfinals.
Stay tuned.