Saunders Makes U.S. Rugby Team

Tommy Saunders has made the U.S. National Rugby team. Saunders, former standout wide receiver at Missouri, is a fledgling rugby player. The U.S. team is not in the upper, or even, mid echelon of the world rugby circuit. But that fact opens the door for super-conditioned athletes like Saunders to get in on the ground floor of a building national sports effort.

Saunders got interested in rugby when former teammate Tony Temple introduced him to the coach of a local rugby team. The Nation Team coach became interested, and asked Saunders to try out for the team, in San Diego.

Saunders has been in San Diego for a week. On Friday morning he was told he'd made the team.

On Saturday the team leaves for Australia and then it will be on to Hong Kong for competitions.