NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Two members of the Norwich University men's rugby team have been selected to compete at the 2026 National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) Rising Stars Showcase, while assistant coach
Austin Manhey '19 has been tapped to serve as head coach of the North Rising Stars Team, as announced by NCR this week.
Freshmen
Hyan Mesa (Talofofo, Guam) and
William Nguyen (Glenmoore, Pa.) will represent the Cadets at the national development event, which runs from Jan. 17 to Jan. 18 at Silverbacks Park in Atlanta, Ga.
The NCR Rising Stars Showcase features top-performing freshmen and sophomore student-athletes from across the country, with four regional teams - North, East, South, and West - competing in a two-day tournament in front of professional and national team scouts. The North team, which includes players from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, will be led by Manhey.
Mesa emerged as a key playmaker throughout the fall 15s season, making his mark in both open play and set pieces. He played a critical role in Norwich's postseason run, including a try and conversion in the CRC Division II Sweet 16 matchup against Scranton University. Nguyen, a first-year forward, stood out for his impact in the scrum and lineout phases, providing physicality and consistent support throughout the campaign.
Manhey, now in his fourth year on staff, brings firsthand experience to his Rising Stars head coaching role. A four-year starter for the Cadets from 2015 to 2019, he helped lead Norwich to multiple national tournament appearances in both 15s and 7s and was part of a squad that went undefeated in conference play from 2017 to 2019. Named a U-20 All-American as a sophomore and a team captain as a senior, Manhey earned the prestigious Chris Munn Rugby Scholarship for his leadership on and off the pitch.
The Cadets finished the 2025 fall campaign with an 8-3 overall record and their ninth straight CRC Division II Sweet 16 berth. Norwich entered the national tournament after finishing as runner-up in the North Atlantic Collegiate Rugby (NACR) Championship and remains one of the most consistent postseason programs in the country.
With this year's selections, Norwich continues to showcase a developmental pipeline that produces talent recognized on the national stage. All stadium matches at the 2026 Rising Stars Showcase will be streamed live on NCR TV, with additional coverage available on YouTube via VEO AI.
