ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington men's rugby team has announced the signing of 16 student-athletes for the 2024-25 athletic season.
 
"We welcome all these young men into our program and thank them for choosing us as their home to continue their academic and athletic careers," CWU Head Men's Rugby Coach Todd Thornley said. "All 16 men are extremely talented and will push a strong returning core to grow our performances and take our program to the next level. We look forward to supporting these student-athletes in every way we can and are extremely excited to go on this journey with them."
 
Darius Andaya will stay in 'The Burg' after graduating from Ellensburg High School this past spring. The son of Wildcat Volleyball Head Coach Mario Andaya will join the men's rugby team after playing club ball with the Ellensburg Rugby Club. Andaya had quite the high school career at EHS earning First Team All-State as a safety on the Bulldogs football team, a three-time All-CWAC member in football, two-time team MVP in football, two-time All-CWAC in basketball, helped the 4x1 relay team in track and field to a fourth-place finish at state and the Bulldogs team to a third-place finish at state, as well as earning 11 Scholar Athlete Awards. He plans to major in Construction Management, and on why he chose CWU Andaya said this, "I chose to come to CWU for the all-around great environment and experience it has to offer. The rugby team is very welcoming and will push my athletic career to the next level. The Construction management program at CWU is also exactly what I was looking for in a college."
 
Wyatt Boyer is the second Ellensburg native to join the Wildcats in 2024 after playing for the Ellensburg Bulls. Boyer, who graduated from EHS this past spring, is undecided on a major to pursue. He chose CWU because, "it's close to home, and CWU has great athletics."
 
Charlie DeSpain-Tonjes will join the crimson and black after graduating from Ferndale High School this past spring. DeSpain-Tonjes played last for the Chuckanut Bay Rugby Club and also played for the Pacific Northwest Loggers for four years. He lettered twice in both football and wrestling and was on the Honor Roll all four years of high school. He plans to major in Biology and chose CWU "for the rugby program and the location."
 
Keaunuiokekamaiki Higashi will join the Wildcats after playing for the Konawaena High School Wildcats where he earned All-Academic honors and helped guide KHS to the D1 HHSAA State Championship. The Kealakekua, Hawaii native plans to major in Mechanical Engineering. Higashi chose CWU because, "I like the rugby team and the coaching staff. I also like the location and what the school has to offer regarding education."
 
Bryn Jones continues the Jones/Wildcat men's rugby connection as Bryn becomes the fourth Jones to join the crimson and black men's rugby program as he will join current 'Cats Kye and Taine next season and former 'Cat Rhys (2020-23). Bryn heads north to Ellensburg from Folsom, Calif. graduating from Vista del Lago High School this past spring. Bryn joins the Wildcats after playing for the Mother Lode Rugby Club and earned rugby captain for 14 years as well as played varsity soccer for the Vista del Lago Eagles. He plans to major in Ecology and chose CWU because of "the rugby program, and my brothers."
 
Kawa Kiri is the sole Kiwi joining the Wildcats in 2024-25, hailing from Auckland, New Zealand. Kiri most recently played with Te Awamutu Sports and graduated from Saint Kentigern College in Auckland. With Saint Kentigern, Kiri earned First 15s, he also earned Saint Paul's Collegiate First 15s, was a member of the Te Awamutu Premier Team, and participated in the Waikato Rugby Academy and the Mondial Amateur World Cup in France. Kiri plans to major in Sport Management. He chose CWU because, "I'm a fan of their culture and values, and I enjoy their style of play and structure. I think Coach Thornley and I have made a good connection, and I believe I'll enjoy my time at Central Washington University."
 
Kellan LaFave will join teammate DeSpain-Tonjes on their adventure to Ellensburg after also playing for the Chuckanut Bay Rugby Club. The Ferndale, Wash. native will join the Wildcats after earning Second Team All-WESCO honors both on the offensive and defensive line of the Ferndale High School football team. LaFave was a four-year letterwinner on the football team and a four-year Honor Roll student. He plans to major in Business and on why he chose CWU said this, "because of its fantastic business and rugby programs."
 
Imaree Lawson will travel over from the westside after graduating from Timberline High School in Lacey, Wash. in 2024. Lawson played club ball for the Budd Bay Barbarians helping earn the 2024 D2 Rugby State Championship. To pair with his rugby championship, Lawson also earned Second Team All-SSC as a linebacker and was a three-year varsity football player for the THS Blazers. Lawson plans to major in Exercise Science and on why he chose CWU said, "it was the first team that reached out to me in my high school rugby career, it's close to home and I know a few people who already go to school there and will be in the future."
 
Jacob Mattingley will join DeSpain-Tonjes and LaFave in Ellensburg with all three hailing from Ferndale and the Chuckanut Bay Rugby Club. He also played for the Washington Selects and the Pacific Northwest Loggers. Mattingley graduated from FHS in 2024 and plans to major in Business Marketing. He chose CWU because, "It has a great rugby team, and has a good business school."
 
Duan Nell continues his world travels coming over to Ellensburg from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Nell, a Pretoria, South Africa native, graduated from Gems Wellington Academy in Dubai and played for the Dubai Hurricanes club rugby team. He was the Rugby Coaches Player of the Year in 2023, served as the Gems Wellington Academy's first ever 15s and 7s rugby captain, and was a National Dubai 7s U19 Plate Winner in 2019 and Second Place in 2023. Nell plans to major in Construction Management and chose CWU because, "the combination of the great coaching staff, history of the team, and the campus made CWU an easy choice for me."
 
Patrick Sale will trek over from Big Sky Country after graduating from Sentinel High School in Missoula, Mont. and spending one year at the University of Montana. While attending SHS, Sale earned a state title in rugby and was nominated for the All-Select Rugby Team. He plans to major in Business Management and decided to come to CWU because, "I wanted to further pursue my academic and athletic career."
 
Logan Shea comes to The Burg from Bellevue, Wash. after graduating from O'Dea High School in Seattle. Shea played for the Eastside Lions Rugby Club becoming a two-time state champion. He plans to major in Business and chose CWU because, "of how close it is to home, and the strong sense of community that the school has."
 
Aidan Stewart will continue his rugby career with the Wildcats after graduating from Sedbergh School in Cumbria, England. The Fall City, Wash. native had a stellar prep career competing for Sedbergh School in the World Schools Festival in 2022 and placing fifth. Stewart was also selected for the Newcastle Falcons U18 Academy Team for the 2024 Premiership Rugby Academy Season and played for the Eastside Lions Rugby Club in the High School Nationals during the 2021 season. He won the National Sedbergh 10s Rugby Competition for Sedbergh School in 2024 and was selected for the USA Rugby U18 tour to South American this summer. Stewart plans to major in Exercise Science and chose CWU because, "after spending the last three years of school in England and attending a USA U18 rugby camp, I decided I wanted to come back home to the U.S. for university. Knowing CWU has a great rugby program, and after I was offered an opportunity to play there, I felt that it was the best choice to further improve my rugby ability."
 
William Toohey will come to Ellensburg from 'Down Under' as the Melbourne, Australia native will join the crimson and black for 2024-25. Toohey most recently played for the Melbourne Rugby Club and graduated from Haileybury College in 2023. He served as the Haileybury rugby captain and earned the best player honor in 2022 and in 2023, while also serving as the Melbourne Rebels U18 Captain in 2023. Toohey will pursue a degree in Business Administration and Marketing and on why he chose CWU he said this, "It's a great experience and a growing team with a lot of support from the coaches and staff."
 
Sawyer Troupe joins the crimson and black after graduating from Flathead High School in Kalispell, Mont. Troupe played for the Black and Blue Rugby Club and was a four-time First Team All-State Selection in rugby, a two-time State Finalist in wrestling, a state Heavyweight Champion wrestler, an NWCA All-American, and was a member of the Honor Roll. Troupe plans to major in Business Administration and chose CWU because, "of the people all around the amazing rugby team, including some of the best education available."
 
Tevita Valikoula heads to the continental U.S. from The Aloha State. The Hauula, Hawaii native played for the Kahuku Rugby Club and is a 2024 graduate from Kahuku High School. Valikoula plans to major in Construction Management and when asked on why he chose CWU said, "because it had the classes I wanted to join and is one of the top rugby schools."