University of South Carolina Men's Rugby - Aviv Shamah ('08) represents U.S. at Maccabiah Games

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An elite member of USA Rugby Collegiate Division One.

Article by Erik Geib
04 January 2010

Tel Aviv, Israel – Summer is typically the time for many ruggers to relax, play recreational sevens, and train for the coming Fall. For a select group of Jewish athletes, however, it was an opportunity to represent their country in the 18th edition of the Maccabiah Games, the world's third-largest sporting event.

Held once every four years, and featuring over 9,000 athletes competing in 31 events from 54 countries, Maccabiah (מַכַּבִּיָּה) is an international athletic event similar to the Olympics. It is sanctioned by both the International Olympic Committee and the World Federation of Sports, and was originally held in 1932, 16 years prior to Israel's re-birth as a nation. Since 1957 the event has been held once every four years. Last year's games (2009) were held July 12-24 in locations throughout Israel.

Unique to this event is a 15-a-side rugby tournament, which is rare for a format with such a condensed schedule. The coming inclusion of rugby as an Olympic event in 2016 will feature rugby sevens, a compressed version of the game featuring seven players per side playing two seven-minute halves - 15s is the more typically played version of rugby featuring 15 members per team playing two forty-minute halves.

Tryouts for the 2009 USA side were held in Chicago on August 14-16, 2008, and at the 2009 Fort Lauderdale Ruggerfest, held February 28 and March 1, 2009. From there, the team was whittled down to a 22-man roster, which eventually contained many Super League and Division 1 players, as well as national 7s and U20 Eagle team member Zachary Test. Among the final 22 also stood Aviv Shamah ('08), a four-year starter for the University of South Carolina from 2004 through 2008.

Known for his hard-hitting tackles and relentless enthusiasm in the ruck, Shamah was a natural fit among the elite players to represent the United States. During his tenure at USC, Aviv consistently set the tone for the Gamecock forwards, exerting himself at prop, lock, and flanker. This flexibility served him well, as though he was listed as a prop for Maccabi USA, Shamah found his playing time as one of the team's starting locks.

According to Shamah,

"The experience I had in Israel was beyond what I could have imagined. About an hour after we landed we were already practicing... We trained every morning for 10 days. We worked on set pieces, cardio, and overall strategy. The team had an amazing set of backs and a very dynamic group of forwards, so our game plan was to move around a lot and quickly. When we were not practicing, we were traveling around Israel with other groups of athletes (Hooray USA women's Volleyball)."

Maccabiah is an event that transcends athletics, serving as a chance for many Jewish athletes to connect with their heritage while experiencing the camaraderie of their teammates. Though Aviv had already been to Israel multiple times himself, for many of the players it was their first experience in the holy land. Shamah remarked that "many of my teammates were moved by some of the sights we visited during our travels," citing the Wailing Wall and the Holocaust Museum as two examples.

Of course, eventually, the games began. The United States' first match was against its northern neighbor, Canada, a "hard fought game" played in mid-day Israeli heat. Following the 34-13 victory over its rival, the USA breezed past Chile 90-05 to set up a semi-final match against Great Britain.

Though the Americans gave the Brits a run for their money, the result was a heartbreaking loss for the United States. Britain, of course, is the birthplace of rugby, and many of the British players have a chance to play at a much higher level of competition than their American counterparts. Following the match, the Brits went on to face Australia for the gold medal while the U.S. took on host-country Israel for the bronze. In front of a boisterous home crowd, the United States walked away with an easy victory, defeating the Israelis 43-03.

The experience was a unique and special one, and Shamah is sure to treasure it for the rest of his life. "I learned so much about rugby during those three weeks. Playing at such a higher level than what I was used to made me step up my game. The tournament itself has reignited my rugby passion, and I am sure that I will be playing for many more years to come. "

Results:
Matches held at Wingate Stadium in Netanya, Israel
Sun., July 12	USA	34 - 13	Canada
Thu., July 16	USA	90 - 05	Chile
Sun., July 19	USA	03 - 16	Great Britain
Wed., July 22	USA	43 - 03	Israel*
*Bronze Medal Game


2009 Maccabi USA Roster:
Position	Player	Club
HK	Elan Hoffman	Santa Monica Dolphins
HK	Daniel Pammer	Northern Illinois University RFC
PR	Joseph Finnern	New York Athletic Club
PR	Ben Glauser	Second City RFC
PR	Ken Schulman (Vice Captain)	Chicago Griffins
PR	Aviv Shamah	not affiliated
LK	Seth Cohen	New York Athletic Club
FL	Joji Kurosaki	University of Oregon RFC
FL	Joshua Slater	Queen City RFC
N8	Jaron Fragner	Loyola College RFC
N8	Jesse Taylor	Santa Monica Dolphins
SH	Zachary Abbott	Sacramento RFC
SH	Max Levine	Middlebury College RFC
SH	Adam Zelazny (Captain)	Dallas Harlequins
FH	Jonathan Schaefer	Olympic Club RFC
CE	Jared Braun	Peninsula Green RFC
CE	Derek Ostreicher	Phoenix RFC
CE	Blake Regan	Ohio University RFC
WG	Kenneth Bernstein	not affiliated
WG	Zachary Test	not affiliated
WG	Daniel Gordon	Maryland Exiles RFC
FB	Ryan Diehl	Denver Highlanders RFC

Links:
"Rugby ready to feature at Maccabiah Games," International Rugby Board

Maccabi USA

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About Men's Rugby at the University of South Carolina:

Founded in 1967, the University of South Carolina Men’s Rugby Club is the oldest club sport at USC, boasting a long and distinguished record of success. In 2007, the club was promoted to USA Rugby South Division 1(one of only seven Southern universities) where we have competed against some of the most renowned teams in the nation. In 2008 and 2009, USC continued to demonstrate its national notoriety with proud showings in the National Top 25 collegiate rankings (American Rugby News), reaching as high as 22nd overall.

at 25th in the Fall collegiate rankings (American Rugby News). Starting in 2010, we will be playing in the new Carolinas Rugby League with two of our current Division 1 opponents (North Carolina & Clemson), as well as four additional teams which include Wake Forest, East Carolina, Appalachian State, & North Carolina State. Our hard work is evident throughout the school year, as our season encompasses both the Fall and Spring Semesters. In addition to scheduled matches, we compete in a number of tournaments including the Southeastern Conference Championship Rugby Tournament and the Palmetto State Tournament, which we have won more times than any other club in South Carolina. Several club members are also annually selected to the Palmetto Rugby Union Collegiate All-Star team and compete in the USA Rugby South Collegiate All-Star Tournament each November, where they are selected to tryout for the USA Rugby South Collegiate All-Star side that plays in Glendale, CO each summer.

With the direction of seven full-time USA Rugby certified coaches, our club not only teaches the love of the game, but also the many skills and techniques that are necessary to compete. As a note of great pride for our club, Head Coach Geoff Mason is one of only a few former professional players coaching a collegiate rugby club in the nation today.

We maintain a policy that everyone has the opportunity to play regardless of ability. With this philosophy, we are able to sustain a roster of 70+ players, which enables us to field three sides on any given game weekend. In fact, during the Fall 2009 season, Men's Rugby at USC was the nation's third largest rugby club. Our C side serves as our developmental side, currently competing in Division 3 with its own schedule and coaching staff. USC Men’s Rugby is proud to boast that we are the only team in all of USA Rugby South competition that has three sides of competitive ruggers.

The Men's Rugby Club is a proud tenant of the Strom Thurmond Wellness & Fitness Center's showcase field, and we also have an additional pitch on which we practice and play when necessary. Less than three years old, our field is widely considered by visiting coaches, teams, players, and fans as "the most beautiful pitch in the South.” The Men's Rugby Club at the University of South Carolina is proud to call this pitch home for many years to come.

Our alumni, the Carolina Olde Boys, are among some of the most dedicated in the nation, with many donating both time and money to continue to support the club that taught them the game they love. C.O.B. members regularly attend USC home matches, including the club's annual affair with Clemson, and are generally very supportive of the the club through the purchasing of new equipment and providing assistance when necessary to fund the team's playoff runs. Each fall, C.O.B. members trek back to Columbia to take on USC in the annual alumni game and to recall the many stories of their college years. In 2007, the club celebrated its 40th Anniversary in style, with over 120 participants in the weekend's activities.

The Men's Rugby Club at the University of South Carolina regularly participates in various philanthropic activities through the school year and beyond. Our commitment to growing the game, as well as our community, is a testament to the character and values instilled in our players and our program. On campus, the Men's Rugby Club is a regular partner with the annual Carolina-Clemson Blood Drive, wherein we assist the American Red Cross in its on-campus operation. The club also regularly works with the South Carolina High School Rugby league, as the league's founder and several of its coaches are among our alumni. In the summer of 2009, USC began a tradition of sponsoring a local U19 Sevens squad, with the side victorious in numerous tournaments around the southeast. In 2010, the club will be supporting the newly-founded South Carolina Youth Rugby League through the donation of various equipment kits to be used in area elementary & middle school P.E. classes, further promoting the sport of rugby with the players of tomorrow.

If you require additional information, or if you like to arrange a visit during the season, you may contact us directly at sorugby@mailbox.sc.edu.