Mike Hercus to Return to the States and the U.S. Eagles
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by user BigPPup
United States Eagles Captain1 and standout player Mike Hercus announced on Monday he will be returning to the United States, and plans on living there. Hercus will be returning to California, and his American Rugby Club Belmont Shore of the Rugby Super League.
Hercus announced Monday that he is retiring from his professional rugby career in England, in favor of coming back to the States, and continuing to help the growth of American rugby, and preparing his teammates for the upcoming Rugby World Cup in 2007. Mike Hercus has lived in England for the past three rugby seasons. While there he traveled back and forth to join the Eagles for international test matches. Also while there, Hercus gained large amounts of on and off the field experience on how to approach the game of rugby. All of that knowledge he will definitely impart onto his fellow Eagle teammates.
Hercus plans on arriving in the United States as early as Wednesday afternoon. He will immediately join his Belmont Shore club, and sets his return date for Saturday March 24. The return of the star flyhalf means that fellow Belmont teammate, and Eagles co-captain Francois Veljoen can return to his normal position of fullback. More importantly Hercus’s return to RSL play thrust Belmont Shore back to the front of the pack as a contender for the Clubs third RSL title. This after coming off a second place performance, and a close lost to instate rival OMBAC last season.
Hercus’s return to the States will also have an impact on upcoming international play. Hercus will be available and will participate in the upcoming NA4 competition between the United States and Canada. There is no doubt having a seasoned veteran of his talent will have a large impact on the young players on both NA4 squads who are still struggling to make the U.S. Eagles team.
