Three A-State Rugby Players Receive USA Rugby College 7s All-Tournament Honors

JONESBORO, Ark. — Three standouts from Arkansas State University’s 2013 USA Rugby College 7s National Championship team have received men’s Division I all-tournament honors, USA Rugby announced Wednesday afternoon.

The three are scrumhalf Dylan Carrion, fullback/wing Tom Haussrer, and fullback/fly Zinzan Elan-Puttick. In addition, Carrion is the winner of the prestigious Dave Sitton Memorial Trophy that recognizes the tourney’s most valuable player.

The Dave Sitton trophy is named after Dave Sitton, head coach of he University of Arizona men’s rugby club from 1978-2013. Sitton passed away earlier this year and the trophy was so named to honor his lasting contributions to rugby.

Carrion is a 5-8, 150-pound senior from Plano, Texas; Elan-Puttick is a 6-0, 180-pound senior from Bloemfontein, South Africa, and Haussrer is a 5-10, 175-pounder from Auckland, New Zealand.

The all-tournament team of 15 players was selected by a vote of a panel of coaches and other officials at the national championship tournament last weekend in Greensboro, N.C. Number one-ranked Arkansas State successfully defended its 2012 title by winning all six matches in tournament play, including Sunday's victories over Air Force, 24-12; Dartmouth, 32-5, and then knocked out St. Mary’s in the title game, 32-12, after taking Saturday victories over North Texas (36-0), Florida (41-0) and Oregon State (46-5) Saturday in Bryan Park Soccer Complex. The team closed out the sevens season with a perfect 19-0 record.

Here is a list of the men’s division I all-tournament team members:

Men’s Division I All-Tournament Team:Jackson Bristol – Air ForceAdam Sandstrom – Arizona StateDylan Carrion – Arkansas State (Dave Sitton Memorial Trophy Winner)Tom Haussrer – Arkansas StateRobert Elan-Puttick – Arkansas StateTanner Barnes – Central WashingtonJacob Bates – Central WashingtonMadison Hughes – DartmouthReece Czarnecki - DavenportHarley Davidson – LifeParis Hollis – LifeSebastian Kalm – LindenwoodGarrett Brewer – Saint Mary’sCooper Maloney – Saint Mary’sJoey Reavy – Saint Mary’s

Established in 1975, USA Rugby is the governing body for the sport of rugby in America and a full sport member of the United States Olympic Committee. Currently headquartered in Boulder, Colo., USA Rugby is charged with developing the game on all levels and has over 115,000 active members.

USA Rugby oversees four national teams, multiple collegiate and high school All-American sides, and an emerging Olympic development pathway for elite athletes. It also hosts over 30 national playoff and championship events every year as a service to its members. In October 2009, the International Olympic Committee announced that Rugby Sevens (the seven-a-side version of the game) will appear in the 2016 Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro. Visit www.usarugby.org for more information.