Falcon Of The Week: Ryan Hedum

The name is Hedum. The game is rugby. The stage is worldwide.

Christian Brothers junior Ryan Hedum (’14) has recently been added to the roster of the USA High School All-American rugby team in the under-17 age group. 

The Talon spoke with Ryan for a glimpse into the work that the Falcon 8-man has put in to attain his recent success.

Beginning to play rugby at the ripe age of 11, Hedum carries six years of experience with him into the 2013 rugby season. But no single year of play has been more exciting for Ryan than the past 12 months.

Over the past two years, the Junior Falcon has been playing for the Northern California Rugby All-Stars — and has put on quite a show.

For his impressive display at various tournaments and camps, Hedum was offered an invitation to try out for the national rugby squad.

After several days of tryouts, Hedum stood out as one of the premiere rugby players for his age group. The coaches of the USA team informed him that he had secured a spot on the team.

Hedum, who is accustomed to playing 8-man as one of the biggest players on the CB rugby squad, will be playing with much larger teammates on the USA team. Because of this, Hedum will transition to the position of hooker for both the CB and USA teams, and play a role which requires less size and more agility.

Hedum quickly jumped on board and signed up to play with the team in a two-week long tournament in England at the end of this March.

From March 24th through April 6th, Hedum will live a life of relative liberty in his own dorm in in a town west of London, and could not be more enthused.

“I’m staying at Wellington College in England in my own dorm and I’m getting pretty excited about that,” the rugby player explained.

The third-year Falcon will likely face some of the most imposing individuals and teams he has ever seen in his rugby career.

The USA team will be preparing for play against formidable foes South England, Belgium, and Wales.

However, Hedum is excited to play against a level of such high talent this spring. The young rugby star has been presented with a rare opportunity and approaches it with the utmost optimism.

“It’s going to be a tough couple of weeks, but I’m looking forward to the challenge and getting better,” he says.

[pullquote]” It’s going to be a tough couple of weeks but I’m looking forward to the challenge and getting better.” [/pullquote]

Hedum believes that his tenure in England will prove invaluable to his progress as an individual and will allow him to help his teammates get better through the 2013 CB rugby season.

But whatever the outcome of the camp, fans and opponents alike will be on the lookout for Ryan Hedum.