Ben Cima Explained

Ben Cima
Birth Date:20 March 1996
Birth Place:Buenos Aires, Argentina
Weight:189lb
School:Gonzaga College
University:University of Maryland
Relatives:Matias Cima (brother)
Ru Position:Fly-Half
Ru Amateuryears:2015–2017
Ru Amateurclubs:Rocky Gorge
Ru Proclubs:San Diego Legion
New England Free Jacks
Seattle Seawolves
Viadana
Ohio Aviators
Ru Clubcaps:7
1
18

1
Ru Clubpoints:(15)
(4)
(34)

(6)
Ru Clubyears:2018
2018
2019–
2019
2020–
Ru Nationalteam:United States U20
USA Selects
United States
Ru Nationalyears:2014–2016
2016–2017
2017–
Ru Nationalcaps:

10
Ru Nationalpoints:(88) 
(40) 
(42)
Ru Ntupdate:25 December 2020

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).

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. 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. Cima also represented the United States at the 2016 Junior World Rugby Trophy. From his tenure with the Junior All-Americans, Cima is best-known 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. 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]

Notes and References

  1. News: Janes . Chelsea . July 12, 2014 . Ben Cima leads USA Rugby all-American team to Argentina before studying at Maryland . . March 31, 2018.
  2. Web site: Ben Cima, un argentino que hace ruido en Estados Unidos . Campana . Martín Ignacio . February 18, 2016 . . . March 31, 2018 . Spanish . Ben Cima, an Argentinian who makes noise in the United States . 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. Web site: Foreign-Born Players in 2018 Americas Rugby Championship . . February 2, 2018 . Americas Rugby News . March 31, 2018.
  4. News: Janes . Chelsea . May 20, 2014 . Gonzaga rugby caps unbeaten season with first national championship . . March 31, 2018.
  5. Web site: Benjamin Cima . USA Rugby . April 6, 2018.
  6. Web site: Ben Cima signs for San Diego Legion . January 24, 2018 . Americas Rugby News . March 15, 2018.
  7. Web site: USA Eagle Ben Cima Ready To Soar With Seattle Seawolves. www.seattleseawolves.com. 2019-02-22.
  8. News: Hipolito . Chad . February 14, 2016 . Canada falls to U.S. at Americas Rugby Championship, will miss U20 Trophy . . . Austin, Texas . April 6, 2018.
  9. Web site: Samoa overwhelm 14-man USA . October 7, 2017 . Americas Rugby News . April 6, 2018.
  10. Web site: USA defeat Uruguay in back-and-forth thriller . October 11, 2017 . Americas Rugby News . April 6, 2018.
  11. Web site: USA fend off Canada in Montevideo . October 15, 2017 . Americas Rugby News . April 6, 2018.
  12. Web site: USA fight back to Secure Victory over Uruguay . February 4, 2017 . Americas Rugby News . March 15, 2018.
  13. Web site: San Antonio hosts first test, Eagles win in Americas Rugby Championship . February 4, 2017 . USA Rugby . March 15, 2018.