NEWS

MLR Nurtures Future Eagle Ben Cima

Written By: Mark Janzen

With less than two minutes to play in USA’s 2016 World Rugby U20 Trophy qualifying match against Canada, Ben Cima missed a penalty that likely would have sent the Americans to the second-tier world championship. Hooking his offering wide left, USA trailed 18-16 with just seconds left in the contest.

Had that been his last kick of the campaign, his career may have looked vastly different.

However, two minutes later and as the clock rolled beyond 80 minutes, Cima got a second chance.

With USA earning a penalty off the restart, the Buenos Aires-born leg, who hails from Washington, D.C., got a walk-off opportunity from inside his own half.

Cima, 22, who now plies his trade with the San Diego Legion of the MLR, thumped a 55-yarder between the posts at the death, sending the USA to the U20 Trophy as the Rugby Americas North representative, while etching his name into rugby lore.

“It was a defining moment in my career and really catapulted me into the USA squad,” Cima says.