Viking Rugby Welcomes 2026-2027 Recruiting Class

Coming off a national championship and a promotion to D1A, WWU Men's Rugby is building on the momentum with a new class of incoming players for the 2026-27 season. The group draws from Washington's strongest club programs and reaches across the country and overseas, a reflection of the program's growing national profile.

Local Roots

Several of the newest Vikings come from Whatcom County's own Chuckanut Bay club, a pipeline that has become increasingly important to the program's local identity.

• Jasper Ingram – Chuckanut Bay
• Jaxon Hester – Chuckanut Bay
• Aiden Holmes – Chuckanut Bay

Washington state contributes further depth from Camas High School and beyond:

• Carlos Del Puerto – Camas HS
• Kenyon Thompson – Camas HS
• Jack MacDonald – Schoolhouse Rugby
• La'au Maka – Rainier Highlanders
• Sione Kongaika – Rainier Plateau RFC
• Silas Wright – Eastside Rugby
• Merak Wright – Liberty Rugby
• Sefa Leapai – Liberty RFC

National Reach

The class also reflects WWU Rugby's expanding recruiting footprint outside the Pacific Northwest:

• Bryn Jones – Motherlode RFC, California
• Tristan Lael – Gridley Barbarians, California
• Jack Wylde – Arvada Rugby, Colorado
• Keau Hiroshi – Kona Royals, Hawaii
• Liam Ralph  – Montana Rugby, Montana

International Addition

Rounding out the class is a signing from overseas:

• Sam Rijke – Leinster, Ireland

Building on a Championship Foundation

This incoming class arrives at a pivotal moment for the program. After claiming the first-ever CRAA D1AA 15s National Championship and earning promotion to D1A for 2026-27, WWU Rugby is looking to this group to help carry that standard forward at the next level of competition.