Ben Cima

Benjamin Cima (born March 20, 1996) is an American rugby union player who plays fly-half for the United States men's national team. Cima also plays for the Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby (MLR).

Ben Cima
Date of birth (1996-03-20) March 20, 1996
Place of birthBuenos Aires, Argentina
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight189 lb (86 kg)
SchoolGonzaga College
UniversityUniversity of Maryland
Notable relative(s)Matias Cima (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-Half
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015–2017 Rocky Gorge ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018
2018
2019–
2019
2020–		 San Diego Legion
New England Free Jacks
Seattle Seawolves
Viadana
Ohio Aviators		 7
1
18

1		 (15)
(4)
(34)

(6)
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014–2016
2016–2017
2017–		 United States U20
USA Selects
United States		 8 
6 
10		 (88) 
(40) 
(42)
Correct as of 25 December 2020

Cima formerly played club rugby for Rocky Gorge and also played at the international level for the United States men's national under-20 team and the USA Selects.

Early life

Ben Cima was born in Argentina,[1] the son of former La Salle rugby player, Marcelo Cima.[2] At the age of seven, Cima moved to the United States.[3] Cima was named an All-American in rugby during each of his final three years in high school, and in 2014 led Gonzaga College to its first national championship in rugby at the High School National Invitational tournament.[4]

Club career

Following his high school graduation, Cima played rugby at the University of Maryland, where he was a teammate to his older brother, Matias.[1] Cima played senior level club rugby for Rocky Gorge[5] in Columbia, Maryland. In January 2018, Cima signed with the San Diego Legion to play in Major League Rugby's inaugural season.[6] Cima currently plays for the Seattle Seawolves.[7]

International career

USA Junior All-Americans

Cima made his debut in international play with the United States men's national under-20 team (Junior All-Americans) in 2014 and played at the 2014 Junior World Rugby Trophy.[5] Cima also represented the United States at the 2016 Junior World Rugby Trophy.[5] From his tenure with the Junior All-Americans, Cima is best-known[5] for kicking a game winning penalty goal, from beyond 50 meters in the eightieth minute of play, in a victory over Canada in a 2016 Junior World Rugby Trophy qualifying match.[8]

USA Selects

In late 2016, Cima made his debut with the USA Selects in the 2016 World Rugby Americas Pacific Challenge.[5] He also represented the United States in the 2017 World Rugby Americas Pacific Challenge, scoring in a defeat to Samoa,[9] and in victories over Uruguay[10] and Canada.[11]

USA Eagles

Cima made his debut with the USA Eagles on February 4, 2017, starting at fly-half in the Eagles' 29–23 victory over Uruguay in the Americas Rugby Championship.[12] Cima scored three penalty goals and one conversion in his debut.[13]

References
  1. Janes, Chelsea (July 12, 2014). "Ben Cima leads USA Rugby all-American team to Argentina before studying at Maryland". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  2. Campana, Martín Ignacio (February 18, 2016). "Ben Cima, un argentino que hace ruido en Estados Unidos" [Ben Cima, an Argentinian who makes noise in the United States]. ESPN Deportes (in Spanish). ESPN. Retrieved March 31, 2018. Ambos son hijos de Marcelo Cima, ex jugador de La Salle... (trans.: Both [Ben and Matías] are sons of Marcelo Cima, a former player for La Salle...)
  3. "Foreign-Born Players in 2018 Americas Rugby Championship". Americas Rugby News. February 2, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  4. Janes, Chelsea (May 20, 2014). "Gonzaga rugby caps unbeaten season with first national championship". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  5. "Benjamin Cima". USA Rugby. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  6. "Ben Cima signs for San Diego Legion". Americas Rugby News. January 24, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  7. "USA Eagle Ben Cima Ready To Soar With Seattle Seawolves". www.seattleseawolves.com. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  8. Hipolito, Chad (February 14, 2016). "Canada falls to U.S. at Americas Rugby Championship, will miss U20 Trophy". The Globe and Mail. Austin, Texas. Canadian Press. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  9. "Samoa overwhelm 14-man USA". Americas Rugby News. October 7, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  10. "USA defeat Uruguay in back-and-forth thriller". Americas Rugby News. October 11, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  11. "USA fend off Canada in Montevideo". Americas Rugby News. October 15, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  12. "USA fight back to Secure Victory over Uruguay". Americas Rugby News. February 4, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  13. "San Antonio hosts first test, Eagles win in Americas Rugby Championship". USA Rugby. February 4, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
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