UCR's Kent Currie talks to Brendan McCarthy of Army
30 Oct 2006
Army is again dominating the New England competition. Army have been so impressive, they have actually jumped up the ranking’s to be currently 2nd in the nation. One of Army’s best contributors has been fullback Brendan McCarthy, who has scored a phenomenal amount of points in just four games. Brendan has scored 90 points and scored 11 tries, and looks certain to crack the hundred mark this weekend against Amherst. He is currently the top point- scorer and top try- scorer in New England.
www.usacollegerugby.com was fortunate to interview Brendan, and we thank him for his interesting and informative answers. Good Luck for the rest of the season Brendan!
How old are you?
I am 21 years old.
What state were you brought up in?
I was born and raised in the great state of Maryland.
How long have you played rugby for?
I started playing rugby when I came to West Point. This will be my fourth year playing rugby.
What’s your preferred position?
My preferred position is Fullback. I like the autonomy of the position and I enjoy having the ability to join the attack whenever/wherever I can. I like to be extremely active during a game and being #15 allows me to get involved all over the field.
What training do you perform to maintain your speed and endurance?
Our team has specific training sessions with the sole purpose of developing both our speed and endurance. We also have individualized speed training that can be done on our own time. I’ve found that the most effective way to train for rugby conditioning is to play rugby, specifically sevens.
Have Army got the team to go all the way this year?
We definitely have what it takes this year. We are returning a large number of starters from last season and we are building upon our successes from last year. We are a determined team, with a very strong bond between all the players from number 1 through 15. Our coach, Rich Pohlidal, is doing great things and gives us all the tools that we need to succeed on the rugby pitch.
How often does the team train?
The team trains everyday during the week.
Who have been the major influences in your rugby career?
My cousin, Robert “Ogre” McCarthy, was my first connection to the game of rugby. He has played since he was in college and has played and coached for the Combined Services and Marines. Obviously, being a relatively new rugby player, my Coaches have played a huge role in my rugby career. Coach Rich Pohlidal and Colonel Brian Mennes both shaped me a great deal into the rugby player that I am.
What made you play rugby?
The rugby team at West Point gets a lot of respect throughout the Corps of Cadets and it is truly an honor to play rugby here at USMA. I always found rugby to be an interesting sport and when I came here to West Point, I immediately knew that I wanted to play rugby here. I could not be happier with my decision to start playing rugby 3 years ago.
What are your individual goals as a rugby player?
My only individual goal is to be the best possible player I can for Army so that we can achieve our goal of winning a national championship. I, like all of my teammates, am driven to get better everyday so that we do not feel the disappointment like last year when we lost to Utah 8-5 in the round of 8.
Will you continue to play rugby after college?
Yes I will continue to play rugby after college. Given my military commitment and the current deployment of the United States military across the globe, I cannot guarantee that I will have much time for rugby but I will definitely play rugby whenever I am available.
