BYU ruggers will represent U.S.

Kimball Kjar and Silesi Siki are making names for themselves at the World Cup this month, but these aren't female soccer players playing in the high-profile Women's World Cup.

Instead, Kjar and Siki are Utah County residents who will be leaving Friday for Australia to represent the United States in the World Cup of Rugby.

"Just to play for the U.S. is always an honor, and to be selected to go to the World Cup is about as big of an accolade as you can get," Kjar said.

Added Siki: "I always have dreamed of playing in the World Cup of Rugby, and hopefully I represent the U.S. well."

The two players took vastly different routes to get where they are today.

Kjar was a standout football player and wrestler for Bountiful High and decided to continue to pursue wrestling at BYU. But when BYU eliminated intercollegiate wrestling, Kjar was without a sport. His roommate convinced him to try rugby.

He was 18 years old at the time and picked up the game rather quickly for having started so late in life. In fact, after serving an LDS Church mission, he became so efficient at his position of scrumhalf, that he received All-American honors and an invite to play with the national team.

Kjar has been with the Eagles — the name of the U.S. national team — for three years and enjoys playing the sport. "I'd like to play rugby as long as I am physically able," he said.

But Kjar has a wife and daughter to support and realizes that rugby is not a sport that can pay him enough professionally to support a family.

"They pay a small per diem, and you get winning bonuses, and you do get paid," he said, "but nothing like any of the other professional sports."

Conversely, Siki has been playing rugby his whole life. "I started in primary school, and have been playing now for about 10 years," he said.

Siki was born in Tonga and came to the United States to attend BYU. One of the qualifications of playing with the U.S. team in the World Cup is to be a resident for at least three years. However, once you sign on as a member of the team, you cannot play for another country for at least four years.

"I was kind of hesitant to sign the paper," he said, "(but) this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Tonga will also be playing for the World Cup in Australia, but will most likely never have a match against the U.S. team. Siki might run into some friends from his native country at the World Cup, though.

"I know some of the people that are playing for the Tongan squad — I played with the guys on the (World Cup) team."

Siki is also only 22 years old and a sophomore at BYU. Most of the players selected to play for the U.S. team are in their mid- to late 20s.

"I think it is going to be a great opportunity to be exposed to another level of rugby out there," he said.

Siki took the fall semester off because of his selection, but plans to rejoin BYU's club rugby team upon returning from Australia.

"I hope them all the best of luck, they have a lot of great guys," he said.

The U.S. team leaves for Australia this weekend to begin practice for the month-long round-robin tournament. After the completion of the round-robin portion, the tournament will move onto the quarters, semis and finals.

The tournament is set to begin Oct. 10, with matches scheduled all over Australia.