Will Sherman, the 22-year-old second-row forward for Anthem Rugby Carolina in Major League Rugby (MLR), is being tipped as a key player for the United States' 2031 home World Cup campaign. His father, Wade Sherman, played for a champion Cal Berkeley team that included Mark Bingham, one of the Flight 93 passengers who fought hijackers on 11 September 2001.
Sherman's father discovered rugby as a teenager in Australia, later playing at Cal and BYU before becoming his son's first coach in Salt Lake City. The younger Sherman grew up in Utah's established rugby scene, heavily influenced by the local Pacific Islander community. 'The rugby roots run deep with that community,' he said. 'Most of my friends growing up were of that background, most of my teammates too.'
Standing at 6ft 4in, Sherman is not the tallest second-row but compensates with hard-hitting play and versatility as a flanker. He admitted he initially struggled with the physicality of rugby as a child but grew to love the sport's toughness and respect. 'You need to be tough to play, which is a big reason I love it. There is so much respect involved,' he said.
Sherman made his MLR debut last weekend against the California Legion, playing 50 minutes and making 19 tackles before receiving a yellow card for persistent infringements. This followed a standout performance for Randwick in Sydney last year, where he made 36 tackles in a single game. He previously played for UCLA, where he faced challenges balancing club rugby with academic demands at the prestigious university.
Sherman credits his development to coaches including Harry Bennett at UCLA and Agustin Cavalieri at Anthem, who is focused on developing American talent for the 2031 World Cup. 'Coach Cuca was a big reason why I entered the MLR draft,' Sherman said.
