July 7- Arizona announced the second batch of their 2023 recruiting class today, building on last week’s forward announcements in the 21-player recruiting class.

Two Scrumhalves make their way to Tucson with different stories. Lucas Smith (Felsted School) joins the side after a successful career at the English schoolboy level. Smith also helped lead his side to the quarterfinals of the U18 National Cup as well as a regional championship last season. He is currently on tour in South Africa with the England Lambs. Blake Liddell (Tempe) makes the short trek to Tucson and becomes the fourth Wildcat in his family. Liddell is also the third to join the program, joining his older brother Ashton, currently a rising Junior. Liddell has helped Tempe to four straight state titles in addition to two trips to national championships. He is also an Eagle Impact Rugby Academy player, earning selection to Ireland as well as multiple Sevens events.

The Wildcats have made a move to bring in three prospects at Flyhalf, with another legacy player following in PJ Enegren. The Wichita standout and son of former Wildcat Paul Enegren has had a decorated career in Kansas, winning team most valuable player twice while also playing for Gorilla Selects in Sevens. Further east, Andrew Newell is one of two New Orleans athletes headed to Tucson. The three-time all-state selection and two-time state championship MVP helped steer New Orlans Jesuit to the last two state championships. Newell has also showed well in Sevens, helping Rebel Rugby Academy to a 2022 North American Invitational Sevens title. He is currently in France training with ASM Clermont Auvergne as part of an exchange with MLR’s New Orleans Gold. From overseas, Flyhalf/Scrumhalf Will Rohrsheim makes the long journey from Sydney and brings a wealth of experience at both school and regional level. The Shore School standout was also selected to New South Wales Gen Blue side the last four seasons. 

The versatile Jude Beatty brings an ability to contribute in a number of positions, having excelled at Flyhalf, Scrumhalf, Center, and Fullback. Beatty captained two-time state champion Fort Hunt in Virginia while also advancing through the academy system for professional squad Old Glory DC. Joining Beatty in the centers is Washington state prospect Karl Watland. Despite missing a large portion of last season due to injury, the hard-running Watland has also featured in a number of positions across the backline. He follows in the footsteps of Pacific Northwest talents like Jacob Broselle in continuing his career with the Wildcats.

“This group of inside backs has a couple of themes, one of them being a very demonstrable desire to learn, grow, and challenge themselves. We have two legacy guys in this group. We have two others currently testing themselves overseas ahead of their time here. This is a driven group of guys,” said Duffy. The Wildcats will announce the last set of signings soon, with a group of outside backs set to join the recently announced forwards. The squad returns a large portion of last year's side that finished in the top ten and looks to continue their rise in the coming seasons.

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