BYU Rugby Lock Kyle Sumsion: Interview of the Week

This week's featured guest for the continuing "Interview of the Week" series is BYU Lock Kyle Sumsion. A model of tenacity on the field, Kyle's persistent efforts aided in the BYU Rugby team's first National Title. His relentlessness and endurance as a lock enabled him to be in the right places at the right times to keep the drive alive: running the ball, gathering line-outs, rucking, tackling, and supporting his teammates... all as a freshman. As a result, Kyle was named an All-American Honorable Mention.

And along with Apenisa Malani, Kyle was also recently recognized for his consistent and supportive play, both defensively and offensively throughout the entire season, with a BYU Rugby Forever Anchor Award. (Photo courtesy of Paul Meyers)


BYU Rugby Forever:
As you are preparing to leave and serve a mission for the LDS church in the coming months, has it been a tough decision for you to make, to walk away in the midst of so much momentum and success on the collegiate level? Thoughts?

Kyle Sumsion:
I recently received my mission call to the Argentina Buenos Aires South mission. Even though the decision to walk away was hard, I know that I will be so much more blessed because of it. I was invited to play for the US Under-20 team and that would have been an awesome experience, but I am going to miss playing with the BYU team a lot more.

BYU Rugby Forever:
How did it feel to score a try as a freshman in a National Title match against Cal? What were your thoughts up to and in that crucial moment?

Kyle Sumsion:
As far as scoring the try, I just placed [the ball] down. Jordan Lowry and Mikey Su'a did all the grunt work to get it right down by the try zone. However, it was a very cool feeling scoring the try. All I was really thinking about at that moment was just making sure I scored.

BYU Rugby Forever:
You were recently selected as a Collegiate All-American Honorable Mention as well as a BYU Rugby Forever Anchor Award recipient. What do these accolades mean to you? What are your ambitions and goals for your rugby career in the future?

Kyle Sumsion:
To receive both of those awards was such an honor. But all of the credit goes to my coaches and teammates for helping me progress to where I am. I'm not really sure what the rugby future holds for me other than BYU has 4 more national titles to win while I am there.

BYU Rugby Forever:
What were the greatest moments/highlights of the 2008-09 season for you? Any humorous experiences?

Kyle Sumsion:
Winning the National Championship was definitely the highlight of the season. Also, Mike Price and I were competing to see who could score more varsity trys; I scored 1 and he scored 0, so that was a definite highlight. All the players and coaches were so close this year that we were always joking around at the appropriate times, and that made rugby so much fun.

BYU Rugby Forever:
For a freshman, you displayed an exceptionally high level of consistency and dependability on the field, starting nearly every match of the 2008-09 season. If you could offer any advice or counsel to incoming freshmen recruits, what would you say?

Kyle Sumsion:
Work hard and make your tackles.

BYU Rugby Forever:
Any words you'd like to offer to all BYU Rugby alumni and fans out there?

Kyle Sumsion:
Thank you so much for all of your support. You are the reason why we are where we are today. BYU has the best fans in the world.

BYU Rugby Forever:
Kyle, congratulations on the National Championship win and national honors! Good luck on your mission!