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It is with much excitement and pride that Old Penarthians can confirm that Steffan Crimp, a product of Stanwell School; King’s College, Taunton; Cardiff Metropolitan University and Old Penarthians Mini & Junior section has been selected to play for the USA Under 20s in a Junior World Trophy Qualifying match against Canada this evening, Tuesday 6^th June.

Steffan was in the first intake of players into the Club’s Mini & Juniors in season 2010/11, which was a section developed by his father Robert as he recognised the need for the Club to create a system to produce the next generation of players for the senior team.

Steffan played throughout the intervening period before making his Old Penarthians 1st XV debut on 8^th August 2021 in a post Covid game against Penarth RFC in which he kicked a conversion. In that time, he also represented Cardiff Blues Region in age grade rugby and played international touch rugby for Wales in tournaments in France, Scotland and England.

A talented all-round sportsman Steffan also captained Wales at age grade cricket.

But having finished his secondary education in Taunton Steff decided to take a gap year before starting a sports science degree at Cardiff Met University and travel to the country of his mother, Tina’s, birth to enhance his rugby career with a season with San Diego Old Aztec RFC.  Based on the West Coast of the United States this amateur club has a close association with San Diego Legion which is a professional franchise.

During his time with the Old Aztecs Steff was invited to train with the professional team’s Under23s team and he met and trained with the  likes of former All Black, Ma'a  Nonu and English international, Chris Robshaw who were the marquee signings for the Legion.

From here Steffan was recognised by the California State team, where he came under the radar of the USA Under 20s management.

After his gap year, Steffan’s Fresher Year at the university has seen him rise from the fifth team to selection for the 1^st XV and he played in their last game of the season against Pontypool in early May.

At Easter he was invited back to California for representative honours at state level before being invited to train with the National team in preparation for two play-off games against Canada to determine which team will progress to the World Rugby U20 Trophy to be held in Nairobi, Kenya starting on 15^th July. The winner of the games against Canada will progress to Pool A of the tournament to play against Scotland, Uruguay and Zimbabwe.

Steffan will in fact be the second Old Penarthian to feature in an American international rugby shirt as he follows Tim Naylor who represented the USA Junior Eagles U23 team in the early 2000s when he was studying at Harvard University.

The two play-off matches are to be played at Spartanburg, South Carolina on 6^th and 10^th with tonight’s game kicking off at 6.00pm (Eastern Time) and all at Old Penarthians wish Steffan good luck with his international progress.

To view the USA U20 team in full and to watch the match on a streaming service please visit Match Day 23 named for Men's U20s first World Rugby Trophy against Canada | Latest Rugby News | USA Eagles and Watch Live on FloRugby