HOUSTON, TX — December 13, 2025 — National Collegiate Rugby has unveiled the finalists for the 2025 Men’s Player of the Year Awards, announced live during the halftimes of the Men’s National Championship matches. The recognition is a key component of NCR’s expanding national awards platform, introduced this fall to spotlight the country’s top collegiate rugby talent.
The finalists represent the most outstanding performers from the Fall 2025 season, athletes who consistently elevated their programs through exceptional on-field ability, leadership, and competitiveness. One finalist from each division will ultimately be named the 2025 Men’s Player of the Year.
“These finalists have delivered impressive, season-defining performances and demonstrated the high standard of rugby being played across the country,” said NCR Men’s Director, Brad Dufek. “Their impact goes far beyond the stat sheet, they’ve pushed their teams, embraced tough moments, and shown what it means to compete at the collegiate level. We’re excited to recognize their achievements on a national stage.”
A panel consisting of rugby administrators, competition officials, and collegiate coaches will now vote to determine the Player of the Year recipients in each division. Winners will be named in January, with several honorees receiving their awards during NCR’s All-Star events in Atlanta.
Reynard Boshoff | St. Bonaventure | Hooker | Grad
The Bonnies’ engine runs on success in the set piece, and Reynard Boshoff has his hands on the wheel. A calming presence on the field, he leads by example with an endless motor.
Alex Nyamunda | Wheeling | Center | Junior
Acceleration, Aggression and a big smile, Alex Nayamunda is the total package. He can run around just about any defender, but usually chooses to go through them. A shark with blood in the water on defense.
Kaspar Pitblado | Brown | Back Row | Senior
The leader of the revered Brown pack, Pitblado is just the latest in a long line of outstanding Bear back rowers. Hangs his hat on work rate and smart play.
Roan Shawver | Queens | Utility Forward | Senior
“Wherever you need me, coach,” will be written on this utility playmaker’s headstone. Fast, physical, and a high motor.
Jack Waterhouse | Notre Dame | Number 8 | Junior
At 6’7”, the former age-grade Springbok has a unique blend of pace, power, skill and experience unmatched in college rugby. Faster than most teams’ fastest guys, bigger than their biggest, etc.
Division I-AA
Bliss Archibald | Louisville | Fly-half | Sophomore
Strong kicking game drives a high-powered Cardinal attack. Injured last fall, he’s enjoyed a breakout comeback year.
Gage Curry | Kentucky | Back Row | Junior
The athletic, rangy back rower is a mismatch for most opponents. Runs hard, arguably tackles harder, and has been a stalwart for Kentucky’s championship surge in recent years.
Jace Hernandez | Texas A&M | Center | First Year
With the size of a lock and the footskill of a halfback, he can chip kick over your head if you’re bracing for contact, or he can lower his shoulder and bounce you off the ground if you’re expecting a kick.
Nathan Rawls | Tennessee | Hooker | Sophomore
Any number of Vols could have been named a finalist, but the second-year hooker is the drive behind Tennessee’s reliably dominant pack with a nose for the try line.
Philip Tracey | Bowling Green | Back Row | Senior
Pivoting between the front and back rows, Tracey brings his trademark physicality to any position. He doesn’t go backwards, and he only goes to deck on his own terms.
Division II
Maxton Buckingham | UNC Wilmington | Back Row | Junior
The junior transfer from Belmont Abbey has been the wind beneath his hometown Seahawks; wings this season, providing unending jolts of electricity as a loose forward. UNC-W may have flown under the radar a bit this season but Buckingham loudly bolstered his case for POY with a hattrick in the opening round of regionals.
Malcolm Johnson | IUP | Center | Grad
The speedy center is a matchup nightmare for teams with his deadly combination of size and quickness. Johnson holds the record at IUP for tries in a single sevens season with 46, but is a threat to house it at any time no matter the code.
Will Johnson | Chicago | Fly-Half | Junior
Johnson was as dependable as they come for UChicago this season, starting and playing every minute of their 10 game regular season. The kiwi formed one of the most dynamic 9/10 duos in the country with teammate Joe Baldwin, masterfully orchestrating another historic offensive season for the Maroons
Reinhardt Stipp | Grand Valley State | Fly-half | Senior
Attending GVSU on a track scholarship, Stipp hadn’t plied his trade as a rugby player since his school boy days in South Africa. But this season, the senior has unlocked Grand Valley with his supreme athleticism and high rugby IQ, turning the Lakers into a dangerous contender in DII.
John Worobel | Vermont | Second Row | Senior
The Free Jacks made the right choice selecting Worobel in the third round of last year’s draft as the second rower has used his 6’3” 235lb. frame to power the Catamounts into the national playoffs. The senior excels at doing the dirty work all over the pitch and also led the team in tries with four during the regional round.
Division III
John Cox | Holy Cross | Center | Junior
The Crusaders have embraced the spirit of their hometown Worcester, MA this season and no player on the team embodies that grit more than team captain John Cox. The outside center has bullied opposing backlines all season with his size and physicality and has the short area quickness to make defenders miss in space and keep HC’s offense churning forward.
Josh Cullivan | Nichols | Scrum-half | Sophomore
Nichols took New England by storm this season, running all over NERFU teams on their way to an undefeated regular season and a conference championship. While the Bison had plenty of contributors to their stellar season, Cullivan was the one who kept things humming at the 9 spot with his crisp passing, excellent decision making, and dynamic carries.
River Hanson | Duke | Center | Sophomore
One of the greatest crossover athlete success stories, Hanson has blossomed into a full-blown superstar at Duke after leaving his football career in the rearview. The center is an unstoppable force in the open field and an immoveable object on defense.
Zach Herrington | Slippery Rock | Fullback | Senior
Herrington runs like he’s mad at the ground, and the sky, and most certainly the other team and it often leads to a plethora of points and plenty of Slippery Rock victories. The senior also has a boot to boot.
Joseph Moleski | Franciscan | Scrum-half | Sophomore
Talented sophomore Joe Bob Moleski has every skill in his toolbelt - a silky outpass, a deadly box kick, he can carve gaps in defenses with ball in hand. He can even sink dropgoals from 35 meters out in the middle of open play, like he did against VMI in the Round of 16 this fall.
