Todd Clever
Encyclopedia
Todd Stanger Clever is an American rugby union
player. He is currently the Captain
of the USA rugby union team. His current club is Suntory
in Japan. In rugby Clever plays as a flanker
, but while playing for the USA Sevens
side he plays as a prop.
of Japan
in June 2010. He previously played with the South African Lions franchise in the 2009 Super 14
. Clever is the first American player to ever play in the Super 14 and scored the first try for an American in Super 14 against the Hurricanes on March 28 of 2009. Clever began playing rugby in high school and was named to the USA U19 team in 2000. In college, he played for University of Nevada, Reno
and was a 3-time College All-American while there. Previously he also played for North Harbour
in the National Provincial Championship
.
scoring the USA Eagles best try of 2007.
Recently Clever has become the face of the USA Eagles. He has been chosen as the team captain and has been used in countless ads highlighting the sponsorship relationship between USA Rugby and Canterbury of New Zealand
. Among other accolades, Clever was named the 2008 USA Rugby Men's Player of the Year by World Rugby Shop. Clever recently missed two test matches for the Eagles while playing for the Lions against the British & Irish Lions. One of the reasons he has stated for his move to Japan is that he wishes play and promote the game more in the USA, and the move will allow him to do this. Clever rejoined the national team in time for a successful Churchill's Cup campaign that saw the Eagles clinch the Bowl by beating Georgia. Clever further led the 2009 USA Eagles to success by beating Uruguay in a home-and-away series to clinch a berth into the 2011 IRB Rugby World Cup. In late 2009, Clever, returning to Sevens to play for the United States, scored what was deemed the try of the day and is undoubtedly one of the tries of the season in George
. In the final match for the US
on the day against Scotland, Clever leaped over an injured player and physio and glided into the try zone for what amounted to a consolation try.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player. He is currently the Captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
of the USA rugby union team. His current club is Suntory
Suntory Sungoliath
Suntory Sungoliath is owned by the Suntory beverage company and is one of the Japanese rugby union teams in the Top League. The team is based in Fuchū, Tokyo, as is their local rival Toshiba Brave Lupus...
in Japan. In rugby Clever plays as a flanker
Flanker (rugby union)
A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
, but while playing for the USA Sevens
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
side he plays as a prop.
Club career
Todd joined SuntorySuntory Sungoliath
Suntory Sungoliath is owned by the Suntory beverage company and is one of the Japanese rugby union teams in the Top League. The team is based in Fuchū, Tokyo, as is their local rival Toshiba Brave Lupus...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in June 2010. He previously played with the South African Lions franchise in the 2009 Super 14
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
. Clever is the first American player to ever play in the Super 14 and scored the first try for an American in Super 14 against the Hurricanes on March 28 of 2009. Clever began playing rugby in high school and was named to the USA U19 team in 2000. In college, he played for University of Nevada, Reno
University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
and was a 3-time College All-American while there. Previously he also played for North Harbour
North Harbour Rugby Union
The North Harbour Rugby Union , commonly referred to colloquially as North Harbour or simply Harbour, is a provincial rugby team which competes in the ITM Cup , the successor to the country's former domestic competition, the National Provincial Championship .-Area:Harbour Rugby encompasses a...
in the National Provincial Championship
National Provincial Championship
The National Provincial Championship, or NPC, is the major domestic rugby competition in New Zealand. The NPC has seen many alterations to its format and brand. Since 2006 the National Championship has been split into 2 competitions, the ITM Cup and the Heartland Championship...
.
International career
Clever made his international debut against in August 2003, at the age of 20. Clever was included in the USA squad for the 2007 World Cup, where he intercepted a pass against South Africa that led to Takudzwa NgwenyaTakudzwa Ngwenya
Takudzwa Ngwenya is a rugby union player who plays on the wing for the United States national rugby union team and French power Biarritz...
scoring the USA Eagles best try of 2007.
Recently Clever has become the face of the USA Eagles. He has been chosen as the team captain and has been used in countless ads highlighting the sponsorship relationship between USA Rugby and Canterbury of New Zealand
Canterbury of New Zealand
Canterbury of New Zealand is a New Zealand-based sports apparel company that focuses on rugby football. The company is named after the Canterbury area in New Zealand where the company started to make knitwear. Other than producing rugby kits, the brand is also known for their rugby protective wear...
. Among other accolades, Clever was named the 2008 USA Rugby Men's Player of the Year by World Rugby Shop. Clever recently missed two test matches for the Eagles while playing for the Lions against the British & Irish Lions. One of the reasons he has stated for his move to Japan is that he wishes play and promote the game more in the USA, and the move will allow him to do this. Clever rejoined the national team in time for a successful Churchill's Cup campaign that saw the Eagles clinch the Bowl by beating Georgia. Clever further led the 2009 USA Eagles to success by beating Uruguay in a home-and-away series to clinch a berth into the 2011 IRB Rugby World Cup. In late 2009, Clever, returning to Sevens to play for the United States, scored what was deemed the try of the day and is undoubtedly one of the tries of the season in George
2009 South Africa Sevens
The Emirates Airlines South Africa Sevens is played annually as part of the IRB Sevens World Series for international rugby sevens . The 2009 competition took place on 11 December and 12 December at Outeniqua Park in George, Western Cape, the second of eight Cup events at the 2009–10 IRB Sevens...
. In the final match for the US
United States national rugby union team (sevens)
The United States National Rugby Union Sevens team competes in the IRB Sevens World Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens, World Games, and Pan American Games. The Team will also represent the United States in the Summer Olympics beginning in 2016. Under current head coach Al Caravelli the Eagles have...
on the day against Scotland, Clever leaped over an injured player and physio and glided into the try zone for what amounted to a consolation try.
Honors
- U-19 National Team Member (2000–2002)
- 3-time College All-American (2002–2004)
- USA Eagles (7s)
- USA Eagles (XVs)
- Captain USA Eagles (XVs)
- First American to play in the Super 14
- First American to score a try in the Super 14
- 2006 ARN Player of the Year
- 2008 World Rugby Shop's USA Rugby Men's Player of the Year
- 2008 USA Rugby Men's Player of the Year
- 2009 RUGBYMag.com Player of the Year
- 2009 RUGBYMag.com Overseas Performer of the Year
- North American Rugby Player of the Decade 2000-2009
- RuggaMatrix USA Player of the Decade 2000-2009