Mountain View Native Selected to U.S. Rugby World Cup Team

It had been two years since Mountain View native Brian McClenahan got to represent his country against an international opponent for the U.S. Men’s National Rugby Team before he got some unexpected news.

The pleasant surprise came in the form of a phone call: McClenahan had just been selected as one of 30 players to represent the USA in next month's Rugby World Cup.

A dream come true.

“I was in disbelief at first,” McClenahan said. “Then just came pure excitement. I’m just really fortunate to have this opportunity and to be able to represent my country on this big of a stage.”

The Rugby World Cup (RWC) brings the best squads in the world to the beautiful island setting of New Zealand. The first match for the Stars and Stripes is on Sept. 11 against the No. 5 ranked team in the world, Ireland.

Russia, Italy and No. 2 ranked Australia are also in the U.S. group.

“We weren’t able to win a match in 2007,” McClenahan said. “The goal is to get out of our pool. We have a really tough bracket so it won’t be easy.”

Just a few days after finding out the big news, McClenahan stood on the football field at in Mountain View and received a good luck offering from the , a local youth rugby program founded by Scott Miller and Paul Lynch that serves more than 60 local kids in the area.

Seven members of the Bobcats presented their volunteer coach, mentor and fan a good luck card signed by all the players.

“He’s been a big supporter of the program,” Bobcats co-founder Miller said. “The program has grown for 25 kids in year one to 65 in year three.”

McClenahan graduated from in 2000 and then went up the road to attend Cal-Berkley during his college years.

A member of the Olympic Club team in San Francisco these days, McClenahan was touched to receive a hero’s send-off by the Bobcats.

One of three hooker’s named to the team, a position change from prop to hooker became the best thing that could have happened to the local rugby star.

“It was the greatest thing I did,” McClenahan said. “I was undersized for a prop but I’ve always played in the front row. My fitness helps me out where ever I play.”

A hooker plays in the middle of the front row, right in the epicenter of the physical game.

A football player first during his days as a Lancer, McClenahan decided to give the sport a try once football season ended his senior year.

“To be honest, the sport just grabbed me,” he said. “I just started playing and haven’t pulled away since.”

Future rugby stars and current Bobcats Ciaran Lynch and Trevor Miller were two of the players to present the U.S. team player with the card on Thursday afternoon in Mountain View.

“The game (Rugby) is fast paced and fun,” Trevor Miller said. “That’s why I like it.”

Miller and Lynch have played together for three years, two of which came as members of the Bobcats.

“I just like to run down field,” Lynch said. “I like scoring too.”

McClenahan leaves to train with the team in Santa Barbara for a few days before heading out to New Zealand on Sept. 1.

The RWC can be seen on NBC and on Universalsports.com starting next month.