User:Leahjelaco9

John Jelaco

USA vs Canada 1982

Jelaco with World Cup Trophy

John Jelaco (born January 6, 1952) is a former USA National Team rugby union player who represented the United States National team twice in 1982. He played both prop and second row as an Eagle trialist between 1979 to 1986. John was also selected for the North American Barbarian tour to South Africa and the US Cougars in 1982. Later In 1987, he founded Team America/Classic Eagles as the official Eagles Alumni team while serving as Captain and President from 1987 to 2007. He also represented the U.S. National Team as the Manager of the USA 7’s National Team from 1992 to 1997 as World Cup Bowl Winners.

In 2003, John was awarded by Team America/ Classic Eagles with the President’s Award by the players and later the prestigious Craig Sweeney Award in 2007. The Sweeney award is also chosen by the current Craig Sweeney receptions to "an individual who had played for the Eagles, who is respected by his peers and the rugby community, while making a significant contribution back to the game following his playing career, and to be of exemplary character." John also served as Trustee and Director for the United States Rugby Foundation and Hall of Fame between 2007-2016 and was instrumental in the development of the HOF while bringing over the Sweeney award to the HOF site. Later in 2017, John was elected as Honorary Member to the World Ruby Classics as the only American along with JPR Williams, Willie John McBride, Andy Hayden, Alan Martin, and Mike Roberts.

FOOTBALL CAREER

Played Semi Professional Football (1973-1977) in Sacramento Statesman/Condors/Buffalo’s in the California Football League (CFL) replaced Continental Football League and later became USFL (Oakland Invaders). John received the Resolution Award from the State of California Legislation as a player with the Sacramento Statesman with an undefeated 11-0-1 Season in 1973 & 1974.

Rugby Career
Sacramento Capitals	1973-1976
Valley Oaks Representative Side	1975-1976
B.A.T.S (Bay Area Touring Sides San Francisco)CA	1976-1983
Northern California Pelicans Rep Side	1976-1983
Pacific Coast Grizzles	1976-1986
California Poppies	1977-1983
US Cougars Barbarians	1982-1985
North American Barbarian Team	1982
U.S National Team Eagles	1982-1983
US National Team Eagles	1982-1983
Southern California Griffins	1984-1986
Los Angeles Rugby Club	1984-1988
Founder of Eagles Alumni and Team America:	1987-Present

While Jelaco was with the US Eagles Team in Australia during the 1987 World Cup, he founded and established an Eagles Alumni Team, Team America/ US Eagles Alumni Association. Jelaco received a sanction by the US Rugby Union as the official Eagles Alumni in 1991. Jelaco recruited past ex-eagles to continue the tradition in 1988 of playing against other countries at the World Classics in Bermuda. As team captain, they compiled a winning average of 80% of their games against other Alumni International Teams such as New Zealand, Australia, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, France, England, Argentina and many other countries.

MAJOR GAMES & TOURS

BATS tour to Russia, Italy, England and Wales (Llanelli) 1978

Poppies vs. Manawatu (Golden Gate)

Poppies vs. Pontypool (Golden Gate)

Grizzlies vs. Auckland 1983 (San Diego)f

Grizzlies vs. Queensland (Cal) 1977

Grizzlies vs. Scotland (SEA) 1984

Grizzlies tour to Argentina (3 matches) 1985

Grizzlies Tour to New Zealand (4 matches Mid Canterbury, Taranaki, Hawks Bay and Counties) 1984

Grizzlies vs. Japan (SEA) 1986

Grizzlies’ vs. Fiji (UCLA) 1981

Grizzlies vs. British Columbia (Sacramento) 1983

USA Cougars vs. England (SEA) 1982

Old Blues to Australia 1987 World Cup

North America Barbarians Tour to South Africa 1982( 3 Matches)

USA vs. England (Hartford) 1982 The USA vs. Canada (Albany) 1982

Captain for Team America (over 65 Caps) against International sides

References

www.espnscrum.com/timeline/rugby/player/9467.html

http://usrugbyhalloffame.org/

www.classic-eagles.com/

www.usarugby.org/classic-eagles

http://www.worldlibrary.org/articles/list_of_united_states_national_rugby_union_players

www.rugbytoday.com/columns/down-memory-lane-bermuda-classic-february-1991

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LA_Rugby_Club

www.usrugbyfoundation.org

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LA_Rugby_Club

www.thisisamericanrugby.com/2017/06/past-eagles-attending-hall-of-fame.html

emilito.org/rugby/USA7s/eagle7s-es-1993-99m.html

https://www.facebook.com/ClassicEagles/about

https://www.wyomingrugby.com/wyoming-plays-united-2018-campaign