8 Man Pick Up with Kort Schubert

Kort Schubert is a battle-tested and well decorated American rugby player. Notches on Kort’s rugby belt include winning collegiate national championships with Cal, captaining the USA Eagles, playing in the Rugby World Cup, and competing professionally in the Celtic League. His past and present club memberships have included:

Ashton Freebooters
Jesuit High School
Northern California Pelicans (High School)
University of California at Berkeley
Pacific Coast Grizzlies (Collegiate and Men’s)
Collegiate All Americans
USA Eagles (7s and 15s)
Northampton Saints (England)
Cardiff Blues (Wales)
Glamorgan Wanderers (Wales Premiership)
Olympic Club

Photos: At 29 years old, Schubert has an impressive competition resume, most notably with the Cardiff Blues, right, and the USA Eagles.

Kort is teaming up with RugbyZone on a weekly Q&A called “8 Man Pick Up”. Here you will be able to get inside the head of someone who has banged heads on the International rugby battlefields for almost 10 years. RugbyZone and Kort have only one goal: To get you fired up about rugby!

Like many of you, there was a time when Kort didn’t know much about the game of rugby. We thought it would be a good idea to ask him a few questions about how he started and get some insight into his rugby roots.

RZ: How did you first discover rugby?

KS: I first discovered rugby watching my brother Greg play for the St. Mary’s Gaels in the late 80’s. My family would take day trips from Sacramento to Moraga to watch Greg play against the likes of Cal and Sacramento State. An interesting fact is that Greg’s 1991 team was the last St. Mary’s team to beat Cal.

RZ: What other organized sports have you played?

KS: Throughout my athletic career, other than rugby I have played organized soccer, football (tackle and flag), basketball, baseball, and volleyball.

RZ: When did you first play rugby as an organized sport?

KS: I first played rugby as an organized sport during my junior year of high school, for a club team called the Ashton Freebooters. The Freebooters were comprised of high school students from Jesuit, Rio Americano, and El Camino high schools. In 1997, Jesuit formed its own club rugby team and has gone on to win many state and national championships.

RZ: Who are some of the players and/or coaches who have influenced you throughout your rugby career?

KS: Many coaches have influenced my rugby career, however none more so than Jack Clark and Tom Billups. Coach Clark and Billups have had the biggest influence on my development and success on the rugby field. Coach Clark recruited me to Cal and taught me the basic skills of rugby. Tom Billups, as a coach at Cal and with the national team, has acted as a mentor to me throughout my domestic and professional careers.

In terms of players, I would have to say that Dan Lyle and Dave Hodges have had the most influence on my rugby career. Dan and Dave through their words and actions helped guide me as a young player with the national team. Both being former national team captains and tenured professionals in Europe, Dan and Dave paved the way for players like myself.

Photos: Tom Billups, left, and Dan Lyle represent the elite of American rugby, those who have played professionally overseas.

If you have any questions for Kort, please post them in the comments. We will reply on the blog or in Kort’s next Q&A.

-RugbyZone

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