California Golden Bears Athletics
Bears Place Nine on All-American Teams
Photo by: Troy Jones
9 Bears Named All-Americans
6/3/2026 11:25 AM | Rugby
Cal Has 8 Multiple-Time Honorees and 1 First-Time Honoree
Nine California rugby players were honored as 2026 D1A All-American selections, announced Tuesday by the Collegiate Rugby Association of America.
Seniors Cade Crist and Rand Santos collected the fourth All-American recognitions of their respective collegiate careers. Crist made 15 starts for the Bears in 2026 action and scored three tries. Santos captained the Bears this season, starting in 14 games, scoring nine tries, and converting 24-of-27 conversion kicks.
Seniors Solomon Williams and Max Threlkeld earned the third All-American honors of their career. Williams became the first Golden Bear to win the prestigious Rudy Scholz Award given to the nation's top collegiate rugby player, starting in 13 matches and scoring nine tries. Threlkeld played in nine matches, scoring 10 tries, and twice recording a hat trick this season.
Four Bears – Masi Koi, Byron Finley, Oliver Kirk, and Seamus Deely – earned All-American status for the second time in their careers. Koi played in 11 matches this season, scoring 11 tries. Koi was also named Man of the Match in the national championship game against Navy, helping lead Cal to their second straight title.
Finley started in 13 matches, scoring seven tries in 2026 XVs action. Kirk also started in 13 matches, scoring two tries at loosehead prop. Deely played in 14 matches, scoring three tries, including one in the national championship game.
Talae Tuimaunei earned his first All-American selection after playing in 15 games and scoring three tries this season.
"We are truly proud of these players and appreciative of their recognition," head coach Jack Clark said. "I'm thinking we had a couple or few others that had extraordinary seasons and were deserving of similar recognition, but there's always next year for them, and today we celebrate those selected."
STAY POSTED
For complete coverage of Cal rugby, please follow the Bears on X/Twitter (@CalVarsityRugby), Instagram (@CalVarsityRugby) and Facebook (/CalVarsityRugby).
Seniors Cade Crist and Rand Santos collected the fourth All-American recognitions of their respective collegiate careers. Crist made 15 starts for the Bears in 2026 action and scored three tries. Santos captained the Bears this season, starting in 14 games, scoring nine tries, and converting 24-of-27 conversion kicks.
Seniors Solomon Williams and Max Threlkeld earned the third All-American honors of their career. Williams became the first Golden Bear to win the prestigious Rudy Scholz Award given to the nation's top collegiate rugby player, starting in 13 matches and scoring nine tries. Threlkeld played in nine matches, scoring 10 tries, and twice recording a hat trick this season.
Four Bears – Masi Koi, Byron Finley, Oliver Kirk, and Seamus Deely – earned All-American status for the second time in their careers. Koi played in 11 matches this season, scoring 11 tries. Koi was also named Man of the Match in the national championship game against Navy, helping lead Cal to their second straight title.
Finley started in 13 matches, scoring seven tries in 2026 XVs action. Kirk also started in 13 matches, scoring two tries at loosehead prop. Deely played in 14 matches, scoring three tries, including one in the national championship game.
Talae Tuimaunei earned his first All-American selection after playing in 15 games and scoring three tries this season.
"We are truly proud of these players and appreciative of their recognition," head coach Jack Clark said. "I'm thinking we had a couple or few others that had extraordinary seasons and were deserving of similar recognition, but there's always next year for them, and today we celebrate those selected."
STAY POSTED
For complete coverage of Cal rugby, please follow the Bears on X/Twitter (@CalVarsityRugby), Instagram (@CalVarsityRugby) and Facebook (/CalVarsityRugby).
Players Mentioned
Hooker
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Lock
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Lock
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Prop
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Wing/Flyhalf
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Flyhalf
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Center
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Lock/Flanker
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Scrumhalf
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