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Psalm Wooching
Birth namePsalm Fa'afoisia Pulemagafa Wooching
Date of birth(1994-01-16)January 16, 1994(age 30)
Place of birthKailua-Kona,Hawaii
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight238 lb (108 kg)
SchoolKealakehe High School
UniversityUniversity of Washington
Notable relative(s)Hero Wooching (Professional Singer)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
c.2006 –c.2012 Kona Bulls ()
c.2016 –c.2017 Seattle Saracens ()
Correct as of November 21, 2018
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017 Harlequin F.C.10s ()
2017 Hong Kong Scottish10s ()
2019 San Diego Legion 19 (15)
2021 Rouen ()
Correct as of 07 May 2022
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017–2018 USA Selects 6 (6)
2018– United States 5 (5)
Correct as of 10 July 2021
College football career
Washington Huskies – No. 28
PositionLinebacker
Personal information
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight238 lb (108 kg)
Career history
College
Bowl games 2015 Heart of Dallas Bowl

Psalm Fa'afoisia Pulemagafa Wooching(born January 16, 1994) is an Americanrugby unionplayer who plays for theUnited States men's national team.He formerly played for theSan Diego Legionin theMajor League Rugby(MLR).

He has previously played for theUSA SelectsandSeattle Saracens.Prior to his career in rugby, Wooching playedcollege footballfor theUniversity of Washington Huskies,playing as afullbackandlinebacker.Despite significant interest fromNFLteams, Wooching announced that he would be pursuing a career in professional rugby, and not football, ahead of the2017 NFL draft.Wooching made his debut for the United States men's national rugby team in 2018 in theAmericas Rugby Championship.

Early life

[edit]

Wooching is a Hawaiian ofSamoandescent.[1]He first played rugby as a youth before being introduced to football in high school.[2]

College football career

[edit]

Woochingredshirtedhis true freshman season for theWashington Huskiesin 2012.[3]Originally recruited as a fullback, Wooching was eventually converted to linebacker and made contributions both ondefenseandspecial teams.[4]In his junior season (2015), he played in all 13 games and recorded two tackles in the2015 Heart of Dallas Bowl—a 44–31 victory overSouthern Mississippi.[3]In his senior season (2016), he played in all 14 games, starting 13, and had 42 total tackles, with two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.[3]Following the regular season, he received an honorable mention to the2016 All-PAC-12 Conference Team.[5]He served as a captain for the Huskies at the2016 Peach Bowlin that season'sCollege Football Playoffsemifinal.[3]He made three tackles and forced one fumble in that game—a 24–7 loss to theUniversity of Alabama.[3]

On February 16, 2017, after the conclusion of his senior season with Washington, Wooching announced his intention to forego a potential career in theNFLand pursue a career in professional rugby.[2][1]In his announcement about the decision, he described rugby as his "first love" and the first sport that he ever excelled in.[6]

Club rugby career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

After his announcement that he would be pursuing a career in professional rugby, Wooching participated in a tryout with French clubPau.[7]In May 2017, Wooching signed a contract for a trial atHarlequin F.C.as a member of theirWorld Club 10ssquad.[7][8]Also in 2017, Wooching had a brief stint withHong Kong Scottish,playing as ahookerfor their GFI Hong Kong Tens squad.[9]In 2016 and 2017, he played for Seattle Saracens in theCDI Premier Leagueof theBritish Columbia Rugby Union.[10]

Rugby Viadana

[edit]

In March 2018, Wooching signed a contract to play forRugby Viadanain the ItalianEccellenzafor the 2018–19 season.[11][12]In June 2018, it was announced that Wooching's contract with Viadana had been cancelled by mutual consent due to "physical problems".[13][14]

San Diego Legion

[edit]

In late 2018, Wooching signed with theSan Diego LegionofMajor League Rugbyfor the2019 season.[15]

Rouen Normandie

[edit]

In 2021, Wooching signed withRouenofRugby Pro D2in France. He began playing for them in the 2022 season.

International rugby career

[edit]

USA Selects

[edit]

Wooching made his first appearance representing the United States in the USA Selects' 48–26 defeat toSamoain the2017 Americas Pacific Challenge.[16]Wooching scored his first try in international play on October 11, 2017, in a 49–36 Americas Pacific Challenge victory overUruguay.[17]In September 2018, it was announced that Wooching had been selected for the Selects roster for the2018 Americas Pacific Challenge.[18]

USA Eagles

[edit]

Wooching made his debut with the USA Eagles on February 17, 2018, starting atflankerin the Eagles' 45–13 victory overChilein theAmericas Rugby Championship.[19]Wooching scored his first try for the Eagles as a substitute in the Eagles' 61–19 victory overUruguayon March 3, 2018.[20]

References

[edit]
  1. ^abRamsay, George; Thomas, Alex (March 31, 2017)."Psalm Wooching: College football star chooses rugby over NFL".CNN.RetrievedMarch 13,2018.
  2. ^abHamilton, Tom (April 26, 2017)."Why Psalm Wooching chose rugby over 'American dream' of the NFL draft".espn.co.uk.ESPN.RetrievedMarch 13,2018.
  3. ^abcde"Psalm Wooching – 2016 Football Roster".GoHuskies.University of Washington Athletics. 2017.RetrievedMarch 13,2018.
  4. ^Jude, Adam (August 26, 2014)."Psalm Wooching's passion burns for his Samoan culture, football and rugby".The Seattle Times.RetrievedMarch 13,2018.
  5. ^"Pac-12 Football Awards And All-Conference Team Announced".Pac-12 Conference.November 29, 2016.RetrievedMarch 13,2018.
  6. ^Wooching, Psalm (February 16, 2017)."Family, Friends & Fans please read 💯".Twitter.RetrievedMarch 20,2018.
  7. ^abDeGroote, J.R. (January 26, 2018)."Rugby: Psalm Wooching followed his passion, and it's paying off".West Hawaii Today.RetrievedMarch 12,2018.
  8. ^"Former NFL prospect Psalm Wooching joins Harlequins for World Club 10s".Premiership Rugby.May 30, 2017.RetrievedMarch 12,2018.
  9. ^"2017 Taikoo Place Scottish Exiles".Hong Kong Scottish Rugby Football Club. March 30, 2017.RetrievedMarch 13,2018.
  10. ^"Psalm Wooching".USA Rugby.RetrievedMarch 13,2018.
  11. ^"Psalm Wooching Signs In Italy".This is American Rugby.March 26, 2018.RetrievedApril 10,2018.
  12. ^DeGroote, J.R. (March 29, 2018)."Rugby: Kealakehe grad Wooching signs pro deal in Italy".West Hawaii Today.RetrievedApril 10,2018.
  13. ^"Wooching's move to Italy cancelled".Americas Rugby News.July 2, 2018.RetrievedSeptember 20,2018.
  14. ^"Comunicazione riguardante il giocatore Psalm Wooching"[Communication Regarding the Player Psalm Wooching] (in Italian).Rugby Viadana.June 28, 2018.RetrievedSeptember 20,2018.
  15. ^"Psalm Wooching heading to San Diego".Americas Rugby News.November 19, 2018.RetrievedNovember 21,2018.
  16. ^DeGroote, J.R. (October 12, 2017)."Rugby: Wooching shines for USA Selects".West Hawaii Today.RetrievedApril 6,2018.
  17. ^"USA defeat Uruguay in back-and-forth thriller".Americas Rugby News.October 11, 2017.RetrievedApril 6,2018.
  18. ^"USA Selects named for Americas Pacific Challenge".Americas Rugby News.September 13, 2018.RetrievedSeptember 20,2018.
  19. ^"USA Earn Dominant Win Over Brazil".Americas Rugby News.February 24, 2018.RetrievedMarch 12,2018.
  20. ^"USA claim ARC Grand Slam in Uruguay".Americas Rugby News.March 3, 2018.RetrievedMarch 12,2018.
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